15:18 Fairyhouse

Saturday 24 January 2026

All12:2813:0313:3814:1014:4315:1815:53

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁴⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 111| C

Improved form when getting off the mark in handicap here (20f) last season. Yet to fire this term, sixteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Leopardstown (23.4f, good) 27 days ago (not persevered with). Significantly down in trip but return to this course needs to spark a resurgence.

Form: 1395/00

Can Happen⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas O'Connor⁽⁴⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 110

Chased home fairly useful pair when third in Gowran maiden hurdle on debut in March. Likely campaigned with handicaps in mind since rejoining current yard and could do better.

Form: 530/57

Free Flowing²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: John Shinnick| T: N Lee| OR: 105

Dug deep to win an 11-runner maiden hurdle at Galway in October 2023 but well held in a 2½m novice at the same track later that month and offered little returning from significant absence at Limerick in December. Remains to be seen if he can get back on track now handicapping.

Form: 33716/4

Galavanting George³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Eoin Staples⁽²⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 105

Has shown promise in maidens, respectable fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Thurles (16.1f, soft, 80/1) 35 days ago. Yard off the cold list with notable winner earlier this week and he can improve on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 0064

Our Uncle Jack^h¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁴⁾| T: M P Fitzgerald| OR: 103| D

Back from a break, landing second hurdles win when making all (allowed his own way in front) in 14-runner handicap hurdle at Clonmel (16.9f, heavy) 16 days ago, won easily. Has 12 lb rise to overcome but isn't discounted if poaching another easy lead.

Form: 1005/71

Dairy Force^h⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Josh Williamson⁽²⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 102| D

Better than ever to hit frame in pair of 2½m handicaps earlier in the season for Liam G. O'Brien. Drops back to 2m on first start for Gordon Elliott and this lightly-raced 7-y-o looks an interesting contender if handling more testing conditions.

Form: 15/U024

Silent Guardian^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁴⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 102

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat who has been campaigned with handicaps in mind. Should have more to offer on handicap hurdle bow.

Form: 8/69

Ballyedward^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: James Smith⁽²⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 97

Placed in points and has shaped as if one for handicaps in bumper/hurdle starts under Rules. Better expected on handicap debut.

Form: 20/36-80

Build A Bridge^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Sexton⁽⁴⁾| T: A Sexton| OR: 96

Maiden got back on track when creditable fifth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.5f, good to soft, 18/1) 24 days ago. Ground is an unknown and would need to build on latest run to get off the mark.

Form: 954405

Halsafari¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-6| J: Niall Moore⁽²⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 90| C| D

Veteran course winner. Latest win in handicap hurdle at Cork (soft) in November. Seventh of 11 in handicap chase at Punchestown (19.5f, heavy, 10/1) 13 days ago, possibly finding race coming to soon. Switches from chase to hurdles and entitled to be in the mix on his Cork form.

Form: 010057

Felicity Smoak²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Aidan Kelly| T: P Nolan| OR: 98

Juvenile has yet to build on promise of hurdling debut, disappointed faced with more testing conditions on previous two starts. Others preferred.

Form: 258760

Ballyredinkingston⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Brian Barry⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 84

Placed in bumpers but fared no better on handicap bow when fifteenth of 16 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Naas (16f, heavy) 40 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 409400

Forecasts

Our Uncle Jack (6/4), Dairy Force (3/1), Galavanting George (10/1), Must Go Now (12/1), Can Happen (12/1), Ballyedward (12/1), Silent Guardian (12/1), Build A Bridge (12/1), Halsafari (14/1), Free Flowing (16/1), Felicity Smoak (20/1), Ballyredinkingston (25/1)

Plenty in with a chance, but DAIRY FORCE looks capable of making a winning start for Gordon Elliott, providing he handles more testing ground than previously faced over hurdles. Handicap debutants Silent Guardian, Ballyedward and Galavanting George are open to improvement and should be noted for support, with veteran Halsafari another to consider back over hurdles.