13:35 Fairyhouse

Sunday 30 November 2025

All12:0512:3513:0513:3514:0514:3615:1115:41

BAR 1 Betting Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 4m 0.5s

Blake²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade

8/1

Useful Flat winner and set to do at least as well over hurdles, comfortably winning Down Royal maiden 4 weeks ago. Open to further progress.

Form: 2-1

Eachtotheirown³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: B Connell| D

15/2

Runner-up both bumpers and went one better in Galway maiden hurdle on reappearance in October. This is a jump in class but the yard did win this with Marine Nationale in 2022.

Form: 22-1

Gameball⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| D

5/1

Bumper winner for Andy Slattery in July and followed up on Punchestown hurdle debut for Henry de Bromhead 12 weeks later. Definitely more to come.

Form: 11

Koktail Brut¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

8/13

Reached the frame in Graded bumpers and looked a smart prospect when making all on Punchestown hurdle debut 17 days ago. The mount of Jack Kennedy from the Elliott pair. Bold show likely.

Form: 14435-1

Sageborough³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| D

40/1

20/1, won 14-runner maiden hurdle at Wexford (16.4f, soft) on debut 34 days ago, bit in hand. Likely to improve but this is a jump in class.

Form: 1

Scope To Improve²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| D

40/1

Took his career record to 3-4 (including point win) when readily accounting for 8 rivals in a Clonmel maiden hurdle 24 days ago. Has the potential for considerable improvement but O'Keeffe seemingly prefers Gameball.

Form: 1/10-1

The Passing Wife²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| BF| D

16/1

Three-time bumper winner. Has reached the frame in both hurdles, showing fairly useful form back from a 15-month absence when third of 20 in maiden at Gowran 22 days ago. This demands a fair bit more, though.

Form: 423/11-3

Whimsy¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Alex Harvey| T: A McCann| OR: 122| D

16/1

Has been reluctant at the start but is consistent and typically gave her running when 4¾ lengths third of 7 in Grade 3 (7/1) at Navan (2m, heavy) 13 days ago. Engaged 11.55 Newbury Saturday.

Form: 15-2234

Non-Runners

Love Me Tender⁵⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: W P Mullins J: Mark Walsh

Port Authority²¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Sam Ewing

Forecasts

Koktail Brut (8/13), Love Me Tender (6/4), Gameball (5/1), Eachtotheirown (15/2), Blake (8/1), Port Authority (8/1), The Passing Wife (16/1), Whimsy (16/1), Sageborough (40/1), Scope To Improve (40/1)

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have won 10 of the last 11 renewals and may dominate this race again, with the former's LOVE ME TENDER taken to extend his unbeaten record to 4 at the expense of Elliott pair Koktail Brut and Port Authority.