17:15 Fairyhouse

Tuesday 23 April 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1517:45

BoyleSports Joseph R. O'Reilly Hunters Chase

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 6m 48.30s

Sizing Coal^p⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽³⁾| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 132| BF| CD

9/2

Winner of this contest 12 months ago, the Presenting gelding kept his form until it came apart last month at Gowran Park when pulled up behind Fenno's Strom. Strong place claims for the veteran.

Form: 114-21P

Ucello Conti^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

7/2

Completed a hat-trick in winning a 3m hunter chase at Navan in February before disappointing at Cheltenham and in the Grand National at Aintree. Cheekpieces on for first time and expected to go close back in this company.

Form: U-1115P

Chosen Dream^t³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: G J McKeever| OR: 123

28/1

Shock winner of a prestigious hunter chase over an extended 3m3f at Stratford last June at odds of 66/1. Has disappointed since including pulling up in the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham festival last month. Has plenty to find with Ucello Conti.

Form: 2-3124P

Coastal Tiep^p,t1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr B G Crawford⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 131

6/1

Point-to-point winner in the autumn before not disgraced behind Ucello Conti at Navan. Disappointed at Cheltenham pulling up in the Foxhunters but ran a cracker in the Aintree equivalent earlier this month, fourth of 27. Place claims.

Form: 1152P4

Gwencily Berbas^t⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: A Fleming| OR: 132| C| D

6/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Lightly raced since getting off the mark back in June 2017. Was giving Ucello Conti a decent race before unseating rider at the last in a Thurles Hunter chase in January. Worth a market check.

Form: 03U-2U3

On The Fringe¹⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Bolger| OR: 136| D

5/1

Popular veteran who is now without his regular jockey. Best days are clearly behind him but the gallant 13-year-old keeps on giving plenty winning his last Hunter chase start and a point-to-point start on return earlier this month. Top rider booked.

Form: 953-211

Road To Riches^p,t¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr David Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 133| C| D

4/1

Dual Grade 1 winner in late 2014 and finished sixth in last years Grand National. Ran well to finish third of 27 beaten 13L in a competitive Foxhunters at Aintree earlier this month. One to be interested in.

Form: 6-67213

Horendus Hulabaloo¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ms K Ferris⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 128

40/1

Winner for trainers Gordon Elliott and Mouse Morris previously now in the hands of Road To Riches owner. Finished well behind Fenno's Storm last month and looks up against it here.

Form: 0P/3-142

Lac Fontana^b1¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs G O'Connor

14/1

Originally French import for Paul Nicholls. Went on to win the Grade 3 County hurdle and Grade 1 Mersey novices' in the same season five years ago. Not seen under rules for two years and best watched here in first-time blinkers.

Form: 0/21-623

Non-Runners

Fenno's Storm²³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: D Queally J: Mr D L Queally

Forecasts

Ucello Conti (7/2), Road To Riches (4/1), Sizing Coal (9/2), On The Fringe (5/1), Fenno's Storm (5/1), Coastal Tiep (6/1), Gwencily Berbas (6/1), Lac Fontana (14/1), Chosen Dream (28/1), Horendus Hulabaloo (40/1)

Sizing Coal will be looking to retain his title, winning this contest 12 months ago beating FENNO'S STORM a head. The eight-year-old can put the record straight at the expense of last years winner and the Gordon Elliott-trained Ucello Conti in first-time cheekpieces and the Aintree Foxhunters third Road To Riches. The 14-year-old, On The Fringe demands respect and may need a couple of these to falter, but the veteran will be a willing partner for jockey Derek O'Connor.