17:05 Fairyhouse

Saturday 30 March 2024

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

RYBO Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 4m 28.6s

Westport Cove^h,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| CD

8/1

Latest win in hurdle at Thurles in November. 40/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, heavy) 15 days ago, beaten quickly. Could get back on track returned to calmer waters with Townend back on board.

Form: 0-1P24P

Risk Belle¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| CD

3/1

C&D winner. Latest win in hurdle here in December. Respectable eighth of 17 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Cheltenham (16.8f, heavy) 15 days ago. Remains with a bigger performance in her.

Form: 16-1358

Comfort Zone²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| D

9/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Creditable second of 14 in handicap (4/1) at Leopardstown (12.8f, good to firm), conceding first run. Not seen in this sphere since winning the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham last January but remains with loads of potential.

Form: 1311-

One Last Tango^p1⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens| T: E Griffin| OR: 130| D

14/1

Latest win in hurdle at Leopardstown in December. Below form tenth of 21 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Leopardstown (16f, soft) 55 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Worth a market check.

Form: 20-5410

Little Mixup²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M M McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 127| D

25/1

Latest win in hurdle at Thurles in January. Bit below form tenth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, soft, 33/1) 28 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 50-0310

Samui^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| D

13/2

Latest win in hurdle at Listowel in September. Creditable ninth of 17 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Cheltenham (16.8f, heavy) 15 days ago. Needs to do more.

Form: 124159

Helvic Dream²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Meade| OR: 125| D

15/2

Useful winner at 12f on flat. 14/1, 10 lengths fourth of 6 to Fun Fun Fun in Kingsfurze Novices' Hurdle at Naas (15.5f, heavy) 20 days ago. Not discounted returning to handicap company.

Form: 5514

By Your Side¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jake Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| D

16/1

80/1, respectable tenth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, heavy) 15 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Not discounted in this less-competitive affair.

Form: 602270

Conyers Hill^h⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| OR: 123| D

13/2

Latest win in hurdle at Cork in November. Below form eleventh of 21 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 17/2) 55 days ago. Hood back on. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 711350

Effernock Fizz^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Carl Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: C Collins| OR: 123| D

33/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2023. Below form third of 6 in minor event hurdle at Leopardstown (18.3f, soft, 18/1) 27 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Form: 223493

Morning Soldier^t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J B Foley| T: T Mullins| OR: 120

25/1

Unseated rider in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 40/1) 55 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: P4062U

Decimation^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: C P McNamara| T: E McNamara| OR: 119

22/1

Respectable fifth of 19 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Gowran (20.1f, heavy) 42 days ago. Down in trip. Tongue strap back on. Can't be ruled out.

Form: 7F0/4-25

Forecasts

Risk Belle (3/1), Comfort Zone (9/2), Conyers Hill (13/2), Samui (13/2), Helvic Dream (15/2), Westport Cove (8/1), One Last Tango (14/1), By Your Side (16/1), Decimation (22/1), Morning Soldier (25/1), Little Mixup (25/1), Effernock Fizz (33/1)

COMFORT ZONE looked well above average as a novice and, having run well on the Flat when last seen 6 months ago, he's fancied to add to an excellent strike rate in this sphere, with an opening mark of 132 potentially lenient. Risk Belle shaped better than the result in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, so he's one to consider, while Westport Cove is likely to put a tame run behind him.