14:00 Fairyhouse

Sunday 31 March 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 28.4s

Lucky Lyreen⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

17/2

Didn't need to improve to win 9-runner novice hurdle at Punchestown (23.7f, soft, 6/4) 55 days ago, driven out. Open to improvement now handicapping. Yard also saddles Pacini.

Form: 12-4321

Barry Lyndon¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 123

18/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Fell in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20f, soft, 14/1) 14 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 125F

The Other Mozzie^t1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122

16/1

Fifth of 7 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 18/1) 28 days ago. Up in trip and tongue strap on 1st time for this handicap hurdle debut. Has work to do.

Form: 526135

Banprionsa^t⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118

12/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. Successful at Tramore in November. Makes handicap hurdle debut and needs to raise her game.

Form: 1-21P

Prince Palace⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy| OR: 118

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 7/1, seventh of 8 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.9f, soft) 55 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Can make presence felt.

Form: 5-25237

Buachaillbocht⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 117

6/1

Promising individual. 7/4, career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (22.8f, heavy) 42 days ago, always holding on. 11 lb rise demands more but he further progress is certainly possible.

Form: 00-1311

Silver King^h,t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 116| D

8/1

Winner at Punchestown in January. 17/2, creditable second of 6 in novice hurdle at that course (20f, heavy) 62 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 345U12

Ceroc^p²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 114| D

50/1

2 wins from 5 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle at Wexford in May. Fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.4f, good to soft, 15/2). Off 7 months. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 9-116R4

Pax³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 114

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fourth of 16 in novice hurdle (13/2) at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy) 39 days ago, not knocked about. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should improve.

Form: 864

Joyeux Vivo⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr J L Gleeson⁽⁵⁾| T: J & T Kiely| OR: 111

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden under Rules. 11/2, very good second of 17 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, soft) 76 days ago, running on. Back up in trip and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 3-2602

Secrecies Of Stone⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: P Nolan| OR: 111

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Second of 15 in novice hurdle (5/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) 94 days ago. Back up in trip for this handicap hurdle debut.

Form: P/F-342

Explosive Boy^t⁴⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: D King| T: A J Martin| OR: 109| BF

22/1

Running well when falling 2 out in handicap hurdle at this course (20.2f, soft, 13/8) when last seen in December 2022 (was going better than winner at the time of his departure). Resumes on a 2 lb lower mark but 16-month absence is naturally a concern.

Form: 055/62F-

Our Boy Rocky⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Deegan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 109| D

12/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. Won 14-runner novice hurdle (2/1) at Thurles (19.8f, soft) 47 days ago, kept up to work. Likely there's more to come now that he ventures down the handicap route.

Form: 651

Pacini^b1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 118| C

8/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Course winner. Up in trip and blinkers on 1st time for this handicap hurdle debut. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 54132

Shraheen²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| OR: 102

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden under Rules. Good fourth of 21 in novice hurdle at Naas (19f, heavy, 80/1) 21 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should have more to offer.

Form: 6504

Chosen Diamond^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: E Cawley| OR: 98| D

14/1

Chase winner at Naas in November. 4/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Limerick (17.5f, heavy) 21 days ago, ridden when jumping left 3 out. Switches from chase to hurdles. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 1U4F2P

Forecasts

Joyeux Vivo (5/1), Buachaillbocht (6/1), Pacini (8/1), Silver King (8/1), Lucky Lyreen (17/2), Banprionsa (12/1), Our Boy Rocky (12/1), Chosen Diamond (14/1), Secrecies Of Stone (14/1), Pax (14/1), The Other Mozzie (16/1), Prince Palace (16/1), Barry Lyndon (18/1), Explosive Boy (22/1), Shraheen (25/1), Ceroc (50/1)

The finish may well be dominated by JP McManus-owned representatives, with handicap debutant PAX taken to strike. He shaped as though getting the hang of things when fourth in a big-field Punchestown maiden last month and this step back up in trip looks a good move. It's no great surprise that the owner's retained jockey, Mark Walsh, sides with the progressive Buachaillbocht and, despite going up 11 lb for his latest success, he is a big danger. Joyeux Vivo is third choice.