14:05 Fairyhouse

Wednesday 1 January 2020

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Fairyhouse Launches New Brand In 2020 Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 6m 29.00s

Notice To Close³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: S Neville| OR: 109| D

10/1

Maiden hurdle he won at Clonmel (2m) in October was uncompetitive, and he's been well held in handicaps since. Has dropped just 1lb for those efforts, and hard to make a strong case for him on balance.

Form: 15-21P0

Askann^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 108| BF| D

12/1

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Down Royal in November, and caught out by shorter trip when sixth of 17 to Howaya Aoife in mares handicap at Punchestown last time. Not beaten far there, and return to this trip is in her favour.

Form: U0-2U16

Good Luck Hope³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J Nash| OR: 107

25/1

Best effort over hurdles when third of 22 behind Rhinestone at Naas in November 2018, but almost certainly flattered by that, having been allowed a long lead, and well held twice since. Needs to settle better to stay 3m.

Form: 73-87

Ard Na Carraig^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 102| D

8/1

Fell over fences on penultimate start, and appeared to run well when second to easy winner Wolfofallstreets at Thurles last time. That form will be tested in the previous race here, but he looks a player on form.

Form: 2837F2

Mossy White^b³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 99| D

10/1

Blinkers refitted when getting off the mark narrowly in a handicap hurdle at Thurles last time. Not the most consistent, however, and headgear not sure to be as effective again.

Form: 682P51

Howaya Aoife¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: S G McDermott| T: G Keane| OR: 95| BF| D

6/1

Won off a 6lb lower mark at Punchestown in November, and ran even better when narrowly beaten over 2m7f here last time. Stays well, and even stiffer test here should be right up her street.

Form: 070-912

Geesala Scorpion²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98

12/1

Well enough bred, but has shown modest form at best so far, and only ninth on his handicap debut last time. Dropped 5lb for that, but must improve markedly.

Form: 08079

Kayf Thou^b1¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jody McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 94| BF| C

9/2

Placed on her last three visits here, all in handicaps. Back over hurdles when 6L third of 13 to Goulane Jessie in a 2m7f handicap last time, but needs blinkers to eke out more if she's to reverse form with runner-up Howaya Aoife.

Form: 136-343

Nicole's Milan^b1¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 94| CD

14/1

Has been out of sorts for some time, and while he hinted at a revival here last time, he needs the addition of blinkers to have a galvanising effect if he's to get competitive.

Form: P-59908

Empirion²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 92

8/1

Best effort when mid-field in a handicap hurdle here in November, and might do better, but has been let down by his jumping on all three starts over fences since. and this has the look of a confidence restorer.

Form: 0-08FUF

Zambezir⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 94

9/1

Has finished mid-field in all three qualifying runs in this sphere, but has shaped as if capable of better, and is one to note in the betting now switching to handicaps for his respected yard.

Form: 350-767

The Reaping Race^p1⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 88| BF

8/1

Has a modicum of ability, but he's not progressing in handicaps, and his last two efforts have been woeful. Cheekpieces tried now, but can't be backed with confidence.

Form: 00-9880

Lee Valley Legacy^p1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 83

12/1

A modest and exposed performer on balance, but is running fairly well at present, and not discredited when fourth here last time. If cheekpieces have a positive effect, she could sneak into the money.

Form: 087054

Fr Gilligansvoyge^t¹¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: M A Enright| T: J G Carr| OR: 80

33/1

Third over an extended 3m at Kilbeggan in June, but hasn't hit such heady heights subsequently, and returns from a break with a bit to prove.

Form: P-3P086

Pino Boy^t1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C D Maxwell| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 80| BF

14/1

Finished a respectable fifth of 16 here on his penultimate start, and sent off favourite at Clonmel last time, only to run poorly. Tongue tie suggests he had a breathing issue there, and he may do better.

Form: 9-F985P

Forecasts

Kayf Thou (9/2), Howaya Aoife (6/1), The Reaping Race (8/1), Empirion (8/1), Ard Na Carraig (8/1), Zambezir (9/1), Notice To Close (10/1), Mossy White (10/1), Lee Valley Legacy (12/1), Askann (12/1), Geesala Scorpion (12/1), Nicole's Milan (14/1), Pino Boy (14/1), Good Luck Hope (25/1), Fr Gilligansvoyge (33/1)

ARD NA CARRAIG comes from a yard whose last three runners in handicaps have won, and he was best of the rest behind the impressive Wolfofallstreets at Thurles in November. He can go one better here, at the main expense of Askann, who was doing her best work late last time, and will appreciate the return to 3m, a remark which also applies to Howaya Aoife, who was beaten narrowly over a furlong shorter here last time.