14:45 Fairyhouse

Saturday 30 November 2019

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:15

Fairyhouse 2020 Membership Handicap Hurdle (80-130)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 5m 14.8s

Kasakh Noir^h1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 129

66/1

Steps back up in trip and reverts to hurdles. Produced yet another uninspiring run on second start for this yard when last of those who completed at Down Royal (2m; soft) at the start of the month.

Form: 16/53-56

Presented Well²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128

10/1

Unexposed sort who represents in-form trainer/jockey duo. Showed a lot of promise when third at Punchestown (2m4f; yielding) at the end of last season. Makes handicap debut on seasonal bow and it will be notable if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 2/2F18-3

Jukebox Jive²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124| BF

7/4

Made the perfect start to life for this yard when causing a 20-1 surprise to claim the November handicap at Naas (1m6f; heavy). Only had the two starts over hurdles, and could be open to plenty of improvement on first run over obstacles since 2017.

Form: 14/

Arthur's Quay²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 123| D

9/2

Only had the five starts, and shed his maiden tag not long ago. However, he will need to step up significantly after making a quiet handicap debut at Down Royal (2m; soft). Also looks high enough in the weights.

Form: 0F2-18

Nobody Home²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Cawley| OR: 123| CD

25/1

Turned this contest into a procession when winning this race last year off 10lb lower. However, he has not been in the same form since, and was pulled-up at Down Royal (3m; soft) on his seasonal return when struggling a long way from home.

Form: 01440-P

Foreign Secretary²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: J Halley| OR: 124

16/1

Failed to give Abacadabras much to think about when a distant third to that rival when returned to novice company at Navan (2m; soft to heavy) recently. Previously finished an encouraging fifth in a handicap before that. Steps back up in trip.

Form: 813-853

Drumacoo³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 118

25/1

Patchy recent record would advise extreme caution. Has managed to complete the last twice, but has suffered heavy defeats on each occasion. Eased down when a well-beaten sixth at Clonmel (3m; soft) most recently. Drops back in trip to 2m4f.

Form: PP/0P-56

Lucky Road⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 121| D

8/1

Chasing a four-timer when fourth in a very competitive handicap hurdle at Punchestown (2m4f; yielding). Profile would suggest he has a preference for faster ground, but he has only had the nine starts. Could be open to further improvement.

Form: 981114

Avellino^t²²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 115| BF| C

20/1

Lightly raced for an eight-year-old. Only had the one run last season which came as late as April when she could only manage midfield in a competitive handicap. Now makes seasonal return, and should have something to offer. Market check advised.

Form: P32/168-

Pivotal Flame³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 114

12/1

Has done well since switching to this yard, posting some respectable runs over hurdles throughout the year in handicaps, and produced another consistent effort when runner-up at Galway (2m6f; soft) last month. Place claims off a 3lb higher mark.

Form: P35412

Ocean Voyage²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

20/1

Yet to progress from shedding maiden tag at the sixth attempt, as she has unseated and then finished down the field on her first two starts this season. Pitched into a better race than she ran in last time. Needs to find much more.

Form: 8251-U7

Lily's Gem^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P E Corbett| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 108

14/1

Travelled well into the contest last time only to be denied a neck by Amberose at Carlisle (2m1f; soft). Looks to be returning to form and she is 3lb lower now. This race looks much more competitive than her recent assignment though.

Form: 1/643-32

Brawler²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 107

6/1

Still not fully exposed over hurdles, but the step up to 2m4f needs to unlock a fair deal of improvement, as he has shown none for the switch to the handicap sphere up to now.

Form: 2-5497

Forecasts

Jukebox Jive (7/4), Arthur's Quay (9/2), Brawler (6/1), Lucky Road (8/1), Presented Well (10/1), Pivotal Flame (12/1), Lily's Gem (14/1), Foreign Secretary (16/1), Avellino (20/1), Ocean Voyage (20/1), Drumacoo (25/1), Nobody Home (25/1), Kasakh Noir (66/1)

A contest which appears a tricky puzzle to solve, with small stakes advised. She has evidently had her injury troubles, but Avellino has plenty of ability and is unexposed on just her second handicap start. She may need the run but it will be interesting to see if there is market support for her. Presented Well has claims on handicap debut after he signed his novice hurdle season off with a respectable third in a decent race at the Punchestown Festival. However, we'll throw a few sheckles at JUKEBOX JIVE who could be well in on his first run over hurdles since December 2017. He proved his wellbeing when winning the November handicap on his stable debut for this yard.