13:00 Fairyhouse

Saturday 25 January 2020

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Celebrating 150 Years Of The Irish Grand National Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 4m 31.2s

From Eden^b,t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| C

11/2

Off the mark for connections at the sixth time of asking over the larger obstacles landing a 2m5f beginners contest at this venue in November. Better than last run over hurdles suggests and very much a leading player.

Form: 223710

Dakota Moirette^b¹⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

12/1

14-race maiden over fences and needs to recover the form 12 months ago finishing third of eight beaten 1½L off a 2lb higher mark. Struggling on good ground in the summer but a little early to be writing off just yet.

Form: 3P-23PF

Velocity Boy⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: William P Murphy| OR: 123

6/1

Veteran, winner of just one of his 15 starts over the larger obstacles. Well held over hurdles towards the end of the year and hard to see where improvement is coming from.

Form: PP-3097

Halsafari¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Bowe| OR: 121| C

10/3

Winner of one of his seven starts over fences off the mark at the sixth attempt in a novice chase at Limerick over Christmas. Fell in a Grade 3 contest earlier this month and worth a market check here.

Form: 04P51F

Roconga⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 118| C| D

15/2

Without a win in 14 starts over the larger obstacles but the Rakti gelding usually runs his race and merits plenty of respect representing leading connections.

Form: 33-7345

Spare Brakes^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 107

7/2

More recently seen over hurdles the Westerner gelding appeared an improving sort in seven starts over fences last term. Looks progressive and a lively contender in this group.

Form: 33/01-02

Pound A Stroke^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 105

6/1

Promising in a couple of initial efforts over fences since making his debut on the first of the month. More progress possible and not dismissed.

Form: 250-355

Shrewdoperator^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 90| CD

25/1

Winner of three of his 22 starts over fences with last win coming over 18 months ago in a Cork 2m handicap chase. Now racing 5lb lower than last winning mark and remains easy to oppose.

Form: 3-P6PP6

Forecasts

Halsafari (10/3), Spare Brakes (7/2), From Eden (11/2), Velocity Boy (6/1), Pound A Stroke (6/1), Roconga (15/2), Dakota Moirette (12/1), Shrewdoperator (25/1)

DAKOTA MOIRETTE may have been kept on the go in 2019 suffering defeats well into the summer. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding can get back on track here on return to action in a contest he finished third of eight in 12 months ago off a 2lb higher mark. The seven-year-old can get back to winning ways ahead of the Robert Tyner-trained Spare Brakes who appears an interesting contender returning over the larger obstacles. Course winner Halsafari, the J P McManus-owned Roconga, Pound A Stroke on handicap debut and top weight From Eden should not be taken lightly.