15:27 Fairyhouse

Saturday 22 February 2020

All13:4514:1714:5215:2716:0216:3717:12

Easter Festival 11th - 13th April Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 15:28 | Winning time: 5m 41.8s

Shar Whats Therush^t¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hassett| OR: 102| CD

7/1

C&D winner in 2017 unsuccessful since although twice placed including off today's mark since. Unimpressive return in stronger race but no back number in below-average weekend handicap.

Form: 0223P-8

Ballymadun^p⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 101| CD

14/1

A three-time winner over hurdles, he could only finish sixth of 12 in a handicap hurdle here over (2m7f) in December before pulled up at Down Royal over fences. Others preferred.

Form: 01-676P

Dark Decade¹⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 100

17/2

Eight-race maiden never finished better than fourth and beaten out of sight in three most recent starts. Hard to fancy here despite yard he represents.

Form: 884P-08

Offshore Oscar⁴²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 100| BF| D

16/1

Consistent though latter half of 2018, winning at Killarney in August over 2m4f. Pulled up lame at Limerick over Christmas that year on soft going, break since and should relish this surface. Possibilities are there.

Form: 0/8123P-

Toushan^p²³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: K C Sexton| T: T Foley| OR: 100| D

14/1

Four-time winner ran best race since a 552-day absence latest when second at Limerick last month. That run entitles him to respect here despite his advancing years.

Form: 234-P82

Benefit North^h,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: C A McBratney| OR: 99

22/1

10-race maiden only once placed under Rules and never over hurdles. Bits and pieces of form to suggest him competitive here but hardly a compelling profile.

Form: 6FU640

Lagenod^p⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Sweeney| OR: 99| CD

7/1

Heavy ground C&D win in November his first. Third next over 2m5f at Limerick despite a 9lb rise to today's mark a solid showing and looks progressive now so among the more fancied runners here.

Form: 2-05213

Hell On Earth³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 95

7/1

Yet to place over hurdles and heavy defeats the last twice since sent handicapping temper enthusiasm that his yard often provides.

Form: 0-56750

Punchers Path²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: N C Kelly| OR: 97

33/1

Son of Carlotamix finished fourth and third in two point-to-points but never competitive in three races under Rules and hard to fancy on handicap bow.

Form: 3-4500

Birdie Blitz³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 95

10/3

Made a huge leap forward latest when a keeping on third of 12 beaten less than 3L over 2m at Gowran and the evidence there suggested she will be better still over this trip. Leading contender now.

Form: 76783

Bracka Lily¹¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C D Maxwell| T: N C Kelly| OR: 90

25/1

1-26 record overall but not made the frame since that rather surprising summer success. As usual she isn't on the shortlist.

Form: 317098

Lady Mccabe²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: M P Fitzgerald| OR: 90

16/1

Handicap debutant twice placed in bumpers and fourth in two most recent hurdle starts; one over C&D. Not ignored by any means and market support would boost confidence.

Form: 336-P44

Walk Me Home²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 92

25/1

Handicap debut for a well-bred mare from a top yard but her three races so far unfortunately just not shown enough evidence to be able to suggest investment.

Form: 000

Cousin Harry³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 91

10/1

Generally struggling in five efforts over hurdles since making his debut at Down Royal in August. Going comparably well on latest start when falling at the last at Punchestown in January.

Form: 7F680F

James Boru^t¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 89

33/1

Dual point winner but 0-10 over hurdles and yet to make the frame. Dismal efforts when last seen in August so hard to fancy here.

Form: 45-F670

Whoyakodding^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Jodie Townend⁽⁷⁾| T: G Ahern| OR: 89| D

25/1

Hardly prolific or consistent but sound second under today's rider at Limerick penultimately. Only ninth of 13 there since on similar ground further evidencing his overall profile.

Form: 04P729

Plentiful²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 89

25/1

Handicap debut but shown next to nothing in four races over hurdles in maiden company so probably best watched until seeing a ray of light.

Form: 08F0

My Newbrook Rose⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: A Murray| OR: 85

16/1

Slight improvement in first handicap where she finished fifth at Clonmel over this trip on heavy ground beaten just over 13L. That a building block that gives here each-way claims today.

Form: 6-07P95

Golden Silence⁴⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: V C Ward| OR: 80

66/1

27-raced maiden who has placed just once in 12 hurdle starts. Recent runs done little to suggest his record likely to improve anytime soon.

Form: 08P/P07-

Pino Boy^t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 80

12/1

Maiden's fifth here on the inner course over 2m4½f led to joint-favouritism at Clonmel but he pulled up there and was again well-beaten back here latest. Others preferred.

Form: F985P9

Ricky Langford⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

25/1

10-race maiden never made the frame and the vast majority of his form suggests him one to cross off any shortlist today.

Form: 8-05005

Forecasts

Birdie Blitz (10/3), Hell On Earth (7/1), Shar Whats Therush (7/1), Lagenod (7/1), Dark Decade (17/2), Cousin Harry (10/1), Pino Boy (12/1), Toushan (14/1), Ballymadun (14/1), Lady Mccabe (16/1), Offshore Oscar (16/1), My Newbrook Rose (16/1), Benefit North (22/1), Whoyakodding (25/1), Ricky Langford (25/1), Bracka Lily (25/1), Plentiful (25/1), Walk Me Home (25/1), Punchers Path (33/1), James Boru (33/1), Golden Silence (66/1)

A big field here but on the basis of recent form very few of them actually appeal. After her very pleasing third at Gowran latest BIRDIE BLITZ gets the vote and the extra 4f here should only be a benefit to her. Recent C&D winner Lagenod may now be at the mercy of the handicapper to some degree but few of these are even in the ballpark of their current marks so he may still go close. There are a host of handicap debutants and in a weak race it's highly likely one or two improve. Most appealing of them is Lady McCabe.