15:30 Fairyhouse

Sunday 7 April 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:05

Fairyhouse Easter Festival Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 53.9s

Easy Game²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

9/2

Has plenty experience and a dual graded hurdles winner. Eased when well beaten in the Grade 1 Ballymore novices' hurdle at the festival finishing eighth of 16 beaten 27L. Should be among the leading players dropping down a grade.

Form: 123118

Gallant John Joe^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D F O'Regan| T: O McKiernan| OR: 138

8/1

Won a Listed contest at Naas last month beating Mister Blue Sky (Runs 2.55) ½L following a gallant effort when third of 16 behind Commander Of Fleet in a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown in February. Entitled to be in the mix.

Form: 421231

Cap York^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 139

12/1

Not disgraced when stepping in to Grade 1 company finishing ninth of 20 beaten 26L in the Albert Bartlett at the festival. First time cheekpieces to assist dropping down a grade but plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 26/1419

Castlebawn West²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

16/1

Showed likeable attitude to win a maiden at Leopardstown over Christmas before pulling up after blundering his way through the third last in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the festival behind City Island. Stable jockey rides Easy Game.

Form: 41-21P

Dommage Pour Toi³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

33/1

Progression continued from his debut run at Down Royal in January when finishing a gallant, beaten a nose behind the Red Menace in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle last month. More needed but trainer/jockey combination in great form.

Form: P32

Espanito Bello²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming

33/1

Gelding out of a Ungaro mare by Turgeon related to French Grade 1 winner Shannon Rock and Grade 3 Topham Chase victor Ma Filleule. Won his maiden on hurdling debut at Naas last month in taking style. Can go well again without troubling the judge.

Form: 1-1

Final List²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

25/1

Has looked a solid progressive type before landing the spoils in a Navan maiden hurdle last month comfortably winning by 2½L over 2m. More required in this company.

Form: 123321

Harrie⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF

8/1

Off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Tramore two starts back before finding a Grade 2 a bit too much at Punchestown behind Felix Desjy in January. Fell at Thurles when last seen in February and looks the stable second-string.

Form: 2/2-13F

Milan Native²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

9/1

Broke his maiden at the first attempt over hurdles when taking a 2m contest at Navan in February. Beaten since but has been running well in defeat on a couple of occasions including finishing 3½L behind Chosen Mate. Worth a market check.

Form: 3132

Zero Ten³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: E Mullins

5/4

The 168-day break made no difference to the Shantou gelding when landing a hat-trick of wins in good style winning a novice hurdle over 2m last month. Expected to improve once again for the step up in trip.

Form: 7/16-111

Awayinthewest²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy| OR: 128| C

66/1

Exposed sort is 2-20 over timber and gained latest success over 2m5½f at Galway in September. Tailed off at 100/1 in the Grade 2 Mares' novices' hurdle at the festival. Hard to enthuse over in this company.

Form: 132700

Court Maid²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: T Mullins| OR: 124| D

25/1

Three minor wins in Ireland earlier in the season at 2m-3m on ground ranging from good/soft. One paced but not disgraced in the Grade 2 Mares novices' hurdle at the festival but looks up against it here.

Form: 211100

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Capuccimix⁵²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: R M Power

School Boy Hours¹⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: Mark Walsh

Voix Des Tiep²⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Brian Hayes

Forecasts

Zero Ten (5/4), Easy Game (9/2), Gallant John Joe (8/1), School Boy Hours (8/1), Harrie (8/1), Milan Native (9/1), Voix Des Tiep (10/1), Cap York (12/1), Castlebawn West (16/1), Capuccimix (20/1), Court Maid (25/1), Final List (25/1), Dommage Pour Toi (33/1), Espanito Bello (33/1), Awayinthewest (66/1)

Trainer Willie Mullins has saddled three of the last eight winners of this contest, two, Shaneshill and Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo coming in the last four renewals. The handlers EASY GAME can take the prize here and get back to winning ways following a below par run in the Grade 1 Ballymore novices hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. The five-year-old gelding can see off the attentions of potential improver Zero Ten and last time out conqueror of Mister Blue Sky, Gallant John Joe.