Fairyhouse New Brand Rated Hurdle

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 4m 38.4s

Ejayteekay¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130| D

11/1

Triple Flat and four-time hurdle winner who was last seen getting her nose in front in a mares; handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe last spring. Form tailed off later in the summer, and not yet back to her best this season. Could do better at this level.

Form: 20F060

Future Proof¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 124

11/8

Debut Flat winner for Ger Lyons in 2018, but despite running numerous good races since, he has proved a little frustrating for supporters with five placed efforts but no further success. Should be thereabouts if back to his best.

Form: 22-43P0

Heatstroke^t²⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: H P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 121| D

16/1

Sole hurdles win came on his stable debut for Nicky Henderson last February at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie). Was fairly useful for that trainer. Changed hands since last seen in May. Market check on stable debut.

Form: 1420-7

Hot Beat^h³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: T M Walsh

20/1

Scored both on turf and AW in the other code (stays 2m), but although the more recent of his two hurdles starts was a step up on his first, his level of form suggests he needs plenty of improvement in this field.

Form: 3/4

Lean And Keen^p,t⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: M J Bolger| T: S Byrne| OR: 112| D

20/1

Dual hurdle winner in 2014 and hasn't won in either code since 2015. New headgear fitted, and handles heavy, but looks to have a very difficult task on his hands on these terms.

Form: U24-9F0

Shumaker¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 120| CD

5/4

Rattled up a hat-trick at around 2m on slow ground in the autumn and was not far off making it a four-timer. Has excuses (badly hampered and lost shoe) in big field contest at Leopardstown latest, but a big player if bouncing back.

Form: 71113P

Forecasts

Shumaker (5/4), Future Proof (11/8), Ejayteekay (11/1), Heatstroke (16/1), Lean And Keen (20/1), Hot Beat (20/1)

An interesting contest where we will give another chance to SHUMAKER, who had excuses last time, and has been in tremendous form in recent times. Heatstroke could go well on his stable debut, but a market check looks prudent, while Future Proof and Ejayteekay both look potential contenders.