15:15 Fairyhouse

Monday 22 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2017:0017:4018:10

Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle (0-140)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 5m 30.50s

Getaway John^p⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| C

11/2

Won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January beating 13 rivals ½L. Beaten into third place on his last two starts, both at Thurles. Looks open to improvement for Grand National winning trainer/jockey combination.

Form: 0-33133

Moyross^t1¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 130

20/1

Winner of two of his five starts over hurdles both wins coming on similar ground. Out of luck in a couple of chase starts towards the end of the year, but may be of interest back over hurdles for in form yard.

Form: 1766-34

Moratorium⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

18/1

Winner over hurdles at the turn of the year before a sketchy round of hurdling when stepped up in trip at Punchestown on handicap debut when last seen in February. Entitled to make the shortlist stepping up in trip once again.

Form: 143119

Eight And Bob⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| C

4/1

Solid and consistent sort finishing in the first two in his last seven hurdle starts winning on three occasions. Trainer has saddled Clondaw Warrior (2016) and Thomas Hobson (2017) to victory in handicap hurdles at this festival. Leading player.

Form: 122211

Mormon⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127

6/1

Stowaway gelding who has won two of his five starts over hurdles. Finished second on handicap debut when last seen in February beaten a little over 3L behind Cap York. Worth a market check.

Form: 5/4312

Mount Hanover³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| C

9/1

Dual winner over hurdles last season. Raced in rear before making his move four out to keep on well to finish third of 14 beaten a little over 1L on return to action following an 11 month lay-off. Open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 3101P-3

Spades Are Trumps⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127

11/2

Lightly raced gelding, winner of one of his six starts over hurdles but has missed most of this season. Sixth of 19 not disgraced on first start for 11 months at Naas last month. Can go well for champion hurdle winning yard.

Form: 312P0-6

Brex Drago³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126

33/1

Three from 14 over hurdles but has been seen struggling in a number of starts this season including a 13L defeat in the County hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month. Has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 2F0050

Champayne Lady^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 126| C

25/1

Robin Des Champs mare who won her maiden hurdle in February 2018 but was not seen for 12 months before reappearance last month. Well beaten and no impression at Limerick on latest start and looks up against it here.

Form: 0213-F3

Golden Jewel⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 122| C

14/1

Course winner who ran well in defeat at this venue in a 2m4f handicap in February. Followed that up finishing fourth of 19 beaten 8L at Naas last month. Can go well but may find one of two better suited to today's conditions.

Form: 320864

Miles To Memphis^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 122

25/1

Struggled in six runs since placing second in a 2m6f handicap hurdle here last season including three dour efforts this term including finishing last of 12 at Navan last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 520-800

Eoline Jolie¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 120

25/1

Filly didn't achieve a lot in three spring starts for champion trainer after arriving from France before an innocuous effort on return when last seen in November. Market likely to reveal expectations on return from another break.

Form: 168-40

Fred The Foot^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R M Power| T: J C McConnell| OR: 120| D

13/2

Solid and consistent in a number of handicap hurdle starts in the summer landing a double at Down Royal and Clonmel in the process. Beaten in a couple of starts in October and on return to the track at Limerick last month. Others preferred.

Form: 5-41174

Maeve's Choice^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Cooper| T: M J Smith| OR: 117| C| D

10/1

Won a weak maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse early last year, but didn't progress afterwards in a number of disappointing efforts before bouncing back to form in a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle earlier this month. Needs a repeat performance here.

Form: 09FU41

Non-Runners

Dromore Lad⁴³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: D A McLoughlin J: K J Brouder

Russian Bill³⁵

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: N Meade J: M Browne

Forecasts

Eight And Bob (4/1), Spades Are Trumps (11/2), Getaway John (11/2), Mormon (6/1), Fred The Foot (13/2), Mount Hanover (9/1), Maeve's Choice (10/1), Golden Jewel (14/1), Russian Bill (16/1), Moratorium (18/1), Moyross (20/1), Miles To Memphis (25/1), Champayne Lady (25/1), Eoline Jolie (25/1), Dromore Lad (25/1), Brex Drago (33/1)

The Willie Mullins team were in good form Sunday with across-the-card first and seconds at Cork and here. The trainers EIGHT AND BOB can continue a rich vein of form sparkling in a number of starts since October and land the spoils here for a yard who have saddled Clondaw Warrior (2016) and Thomas Hobson (2017) to victory in handicap hurdles at the Easter festival in the last three years. The Henry De Bromhead-trained Mormon has shown plenty of promise in two starts and can prove to be the biggest menace, while Mount Hanover and Eoline Jolie look capable of hitting the frame.