13:05 Fairyhouse

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Fairyhouse Members 2020 Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 30.00s

De Benno^t²⁷¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-12| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Grace| OR: 109| C| D

16/1

Veteran of 39 national hunt starts winning three of his 16 contests over hurdles. Course winner who has also won over this trip previously but may be up against it here still racing 11lb higher than last winning mark.

Form: 520/795-

My Manekineko²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 108| D

16/1

Three from 28 starts over hurdles including hitting the frame over C&D. Running with plenty of credit over the larger obstacles in a number of starts since September. Can go well with conditions to suit.

Form: 363232

Reine Fee^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S Crawley| OR: 105| D

10/1

Off the mark for connections at the ninth time of asking in a Clonmel handicap hurdle in February off a 4lb lower mark. Well held on a disappointing return to action over 2m3½f last month and looks up against it here.

Form: 021-4R0

Empire Burleque^t¹⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 104| CD

13/2

Will have disappointed leading connections in a number of dismal efforts over hurdles in the last 18 months. Not seen since July but a must for any shortlist.

Form: 45730-4

Cluan Dara⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 103| C

8/1

One from 23 starts over hurdles. Improved effort at Cork earlier this month but form overall since August has not been up to standard and is always susceptible to one of two better handicapped sorts.

Form: 74P-785

Billy's Angel^h¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 101

13/2

Off the mark for connections at the 20th time of asking on his 17th start over hurdles when landing a Clonmel 2m½f contest on soft ground in October off a 8lb lower mark. Well held from his revised mark since and market possibly best guide here.

Form: 777510

Fight For Love^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 94| BF

6/1

Posted a career best effort on handicap debut in a Fairyhouse yielding to soft 2m contest before returning another below-par effort at Thurles when last seen in October. No surprise to see an improved performance.

Form: 5/00-930

Best Not Argue¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 93

50/1

Multiple Flat winner, but yet to translate that form to hurdles despite flashes of form. Well held to finish down the field when never a factor at Thurles last month and plenty to prove here.

Form: 0250P0

Important Message^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J M Moore| T: D P Dunne| OR: 91

8/1

Posted a career best effort over hurdles on his latest start over timber in a 2m4½f handicap at this track on soft to heavy ground last month. Open to more improvement.

Form: 074463

Fighting Fit¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 92

10/3

Well held in four dismal returns over hurdles since the Kayf Tara geldings debut in September. Thought to be better than those efforts suggest and market likely to reveal expectations on handicap debut.

Form: 0F00

Jack Wade^b1,t1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 86

16/1

Four-race maiden well beaten and never a factor in a number of starts over hurdles since August. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 80-6050

My Club Colours⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 86

12/1

Improvement needed on balance of a couple of wretched performances over 2m4f since October both at Cork when beaten over 34L on each occasion.

Form: 0-68

Forecasts

Fighting Fit (10/3), Fight For Love (6/1), Empire Burleque (13/2), Billy's Angel (13/2), Cluan Dara (8/1), Important Message (8/1), Reine Fee (10/1), My Club Colours (12/1), My Manekineko (16/1), De Benno (16/1), Jack Wade (16/1), Best Not Argue (50/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained EMPIRE BURLEQUE can get off the mark for connections at the eighth time of asking on his first start since July. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old can progress in this company at the expense of recent third at this course, Important Message who ran well in defeat last month behind The Chapel Field, in a race where the winner has gone on to win again. Fight For Love and the J P McManus-owned Fighting Fit are two that need to bounce back to form and are worth a check in the market as post time approaches. The solid and consistent, My Manekineko should go well once again.