17:12 Fairyhouse

Saturday 22 February 2020

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

Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race

Off time: 17:12 | Winning time: 4m 20.4s

Barrow Bounty⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P T Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: T Foley

66/1

Twice sixth beaten 39L and 29L in two bumpers nine months apart. Improvement likely but doubtful by enough to make the frame.

Form: 6-6

Bombay Blue¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: N Meade

10/1

By Vocalised out of a USA bred mare this now six-year-old finished second in autumn bumpers at Navan and Thurles. Much softer ground expected today but claims if he handles it.

Form: 22

Durity⁵⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

100/1

Dansili gelding and a half-brother to Listed winner Let's Go finished a remote 13th of 15 in a Galway bumper way back in July 2018. Not sure what's happened since but certainly best watched.

Form: 0-

It Could Be You⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins

40/1

Cost €16.000 as a three-year-old, his dam is an unraced half-sister to Western Warrior, who was effective at 2m3f/3m; bred to get a bit further in time evidenced from no show on bumper debut at Leopardstown in December.

Form: 8

On Eagles Wings²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁷⁾| T: T E Hyde

6/1

Flemensfirth gelding; showed a reasonable amount of promise in a point-to-point contest and on his racecourse debut at Limerick in December before very pleasing second at Down Royal latest. 66/1 winner there makes the effort harder to gauge.

Form: 2-52

Rent Day Blues

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N J Redmond⁽⁷⁾| T: S Byrne

66/1

Gelding by Rajj out of a Gold mark mare; dam 10-race maiden including five defeats in bumper contests; uphill task on debut.

Form:

Ruhm Und Ehre⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Traynor

80/1

Showed very little in three point-to-point appearances last year. He made his Rules debut at Thurles (2m) last month when he was seventh of 11 after going off at 7/1. Has to improve so others are preferred.

Form: P5P-7

Baptism Of Fire⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead

14/1

Cost €48,000 as a three-year-old before rising to £100,000 12 months later; showed up well for a long way on bumper debut at Limerick in December and plenty of improvement expected; respected.

Form: 1-5

Broomfields Jeremy²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: J P Dempsey

33/1

Jeremy gelding showed promise when fourth of eight at Limerick on debut beaten 21L. More to come but needs a sizable step forward to make the frame nevertheless.

Form: 4

Ferny Hollow^h1⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

4/11

Went for £300,000 at the Cheltenham sales in February; has shown real promise when placed on both bumper starts and should be getting off the mark soon; good opportunity. Wears a first-time hood.

Form: 1-22

Frontal Assault⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott

9/2

Cost €50,000 as a three-year-old but showed only modest form in two point-to-points; fair bumper debut at Thurles in January and can be expected to progress again; one to consider.

Form: P4-2

Forecasts

Ferny Hollow (4/11), Frontal Assault (9/2), On Eagles Wings (6/1), Bombay Blue (10/1), Baptism Of Fire (14/1), Broomfields Jeremy (33/1), It Could Be You (40/1), Barrow Bounty (66/1), Rent Day Blues (66/1), Ruhm Und Ehre (80/1), Durity (100/1)

A really hot bumper this with the majority of the top yards involved. Cheveley Park have quickly gained a reputation for having bumper horses of the highest calibre and although expensive purchase FERNY HOLLOW has twice found one too good both were very useful prospects in their own right so this looks his time to strike. As ever Gordon Elliott offers Willie Mullins the biggest threat with Thurles second Frontal Assault and Elliott has won this race in each of the last three seasons. This isn't a two-horse race by any means however with Bombay Blue, Baptism Of Fire and On Eagles Wings all horses with potential.