13:02 Fairyhouse

Saturday 12 December 2020

All11:3012:0012:3013:0213:3714:1214:4715:22

Happy Christmas From Everyone At Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle (80-102) (Div 1)

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 6m 46.04s

Hostage To Fortune²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: M J Bolger| T: B Connell| OR: 102

7/5

13/8, career best when winning 13-runner novice chase at Gowran (20f) 22 days ago, always holding on. Definite claims from a potentially lenient mark if he can replicate that form back over hurdles.

Form: 064-321

Demophon^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 101

80/1

Eleventh of 16 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Limerick (24f, heavy) 11 days ago, going in snatches. Tongue strap on 1st time over jumps. Out of sorts recently.

Form: 01-0080

Ragin Cajun^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 100| D

4/1

First run since leaving Noel Meade when cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 18-runner handicap hurdle (9/1) at Down Royal 43 days ago. Solid claims if he can back that up.

Form: 00000/1

Ardhill²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 98

11/1

Very good third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (21f, heavy, 16/1) 25 days ago. Can give another good account, particularly if the pace is sound.

Form: 688093

Citizen Al^t²⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 98

40/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. Creditable sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (22f, heavy, 28/1). Off 9 months. Tongue strap back on. Others preferred.

Form: U/0F0U6-

Glenabo Bridge^t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 95| D

12/1

One win from 22 NH runs. Thirteen runs since last win in 2017. Respectable fourth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (21f, heavy, 7/1) 11 days ago. Should remain competitive.

Form: 0F6/524

Lord M⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 98

40/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fifth of 10 in novice hurdle (28/1) at Sligo (24f, good to soft) 50 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Needs to improve.

Form: 895

Vue En Seine⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: I J Power| T: Diarmuid P Ryan| OR: 92

16/1

8/1, good second of 13 in handicap hurdle at Navan (22f, good) 84 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 00459-2

Westy Fox²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 92| D

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, eleventh of 17 in novice hurdle at Naas 21 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Winning pointer, so type to show more now handicapping up in trip.

Form: P/F1-000

Nicole's Milan¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 90| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2018. 25/1, fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (22.4f, heavy) 16 days ago. Dropped to a handy mark and could be spot on for this.

Form: 4270-P4

Wake The Giant²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 90

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Tenth of 14 in novice hurdle (125/1) at this course (16f, heavy) 29 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. May yet do better.

Form: 7-9860

Mystic Embarr^b,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr C W McCormack⁽⁷⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 88| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle here in November. Below form eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Thurles (22.4f, heavy) 16 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 0/P6-418

Regina Dracones¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 88

15/2

16/1, very good second of 13 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (21.7f, heavy) 18 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 09P5F-2

Ballela Storm^t1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 83| D

33/1

Respectable sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle (18/1) at this course (19.5f, heavy) 32 days ago. Back up in trip. Tongue strap on 1st time. RESERVE.

Form: 8-74476

Non-Runners

Warreedy⁹⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 11

T: B McMahon J: Mr E Mahon

Hide Out²⁵

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Vodka Society²⁹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 12

T: D P Dunne J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Hostage To Fortune (7/5), Ragin Cajun (4/1), Warreedy (9/2), Regina Dracones (15/2), Nicole's Milan (8/1), Ardhill (11/1), Hide Out (11/1), Glenabo Bridge (12/1), Mystic Embarr (14/1), Vodka Society (14/1), Vue En Seine (16/1), Westy Fox (33/1), Ballela Storm (33/1), Wake The Giant (40/1), Lord M (40/1), Citizen Al (40/1), Demophon (80/1)

HOSTAGE TO FORTUNE has upped his game over fences this season and, if he's able to get close to that sort of form back over hurdles, he should be able to defy a mark of 102. It looks a competitive race for the grade, however, with in-form pair Warreedy and Regina Dracones just two of several dangers to the selection.