17:00 Fairyhouse

Saturday 4 April 2026

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

RYBO Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 11.30s

Karbau²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF| D

9/4

Lightly-raced 6-y-o. Well backed and unlucky not to finish closer when 6¼ lengths sixth of 23 to Wilful in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, meeting trouble and finishing with running left. Still has an air of untapped potential about him and looks capable of gaining compensation here.

Form: 1033-26

Hello Neighbour^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 146| D

11/2

Progressive as a juvenile, sixth in the Triumph prior to finishing third in Grade 1 Champion 4-Y-O at Punchestown in May. Hasn't hit same heights of late but was left poorly placed when 7 lengths tenth of 23 to Wilful in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. One to consider.

Form: 163-570

Puturhandstogether²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142| D

16/1

Impressive winner of last season's Fred Winter who also landing a gamble in the Irish Cesarewitch in the Autumn. Looked unsuited by step up in trip when down the field at Cheltenham last time, so return to 2m will suit. Market will prove best guide.

Form: 3-60260

Murcia^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

9/1

Much-improved winner of Aintree Grade 1 as a juvenile. Had very little go right when finishing mid-field in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Better expected here but it's notable that Townend prefers Karbau.

Form: 814-340

Helvic Dream^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 137| D

14/1

One-time very smart Flat performer who seemed hard done by when demoted in last year's Galway Hurdle, having beaten Ndaawi a head to finish first past the post. Shaped as if better for run in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, though yard have only a single winner to their name in 2026.

Form: 2525-20

Sony Bill^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

25/1

Kept company with some of the top juvenile hurdles last season but hasn't gone on as expected in handicaps this time around. Jockey bookings suggest he isn't the stable's leading hope.

Form: 350F-80

Lord Erskine^b⁶²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 134| CD

16/1

Evergreen veteran who won this race last year proved as good as ever when runner-up in listed handicap at Listowel in September before finishing fourth in Irish Cesarewitch. Latest effort was poor, but he's bounced back before. Place claims.

Form: 01-7120

Sea Of Sands^t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| D

33/1

Group 3 winner on Flat and has made up into a useful hurdler, jumping better than previously when winning 2m conditions hurdle at Punchestown in December. Didn't cut much ice on his 2 previous course outings, though, and latest effort in February was particularly poor.

Form: P580-1P

Zillow^p1,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Anna McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| CD

22/1

Progressive when completing a cross-code hat-trick in 2m listed handicap at this course in November, but wheels have come off since and arrives here with plenty to prove. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0-110F0

Davy Crockett²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| D

9/1

Son of Annie Power who made a highly promising start when winning a bumper and 2 novice hurdles on his first 3 outings: Has been disappointing up in grade since and needs to get his mojo back tackling a handicap for the first time.

Form: 11105

Powerful⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Simon Torrens| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 128| D

22/1

Progressive hurdler who won handicaps at Punchestown in November and last month. Beat San Hilario by 2 lengths on latter occasion, looking well suited by the step up to 21f. Will need to improve again if he's to figure back at 2m.

Form: 52-3181

Messerschmitt^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 127| D

15/2

Juvenile hurdle winner who shaped very well on second handicap start when third in a big-field contest at Galway in August and posted another solid effort when 4½ lengths fourth of 18 to Mondo Man in Imperial Cup at Sandown last time. Tongue tie back on and excellent value conditional booked.

Form: 55-3804

Bokamsin^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 124| D

14/1

Tongue tied, left previous hurdling efforts well behind when winning 7-runner novice at Naas last time by 6 lengths from Tip of The Wings. Impressed with his jumping on that occasion and less exposed than most making his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 68-3541

Playtime^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| D

22/1

Fairly useful winner for Andrew Balding. Belatedly matched that level over hurdles when winning 16-runner conditional jockeys maiden at Leopardstown last time by 8 lengths from Ehteyat, quickening to lead approaching last, Capable of better still over hurdles.

Form: 8931

Kalix Delabarriere^p1,t⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122| D

22/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who made it third time lucky over hurdles in Naas maiden in February last year, but has been disappointing on all 3 handicaps starts since. Wears first-time cheekpieces and races from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 4210P-P

Kotkito Bello^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 122| D

25/1

Highly progressive this season, typically made running/jumped fluently to land a hat-trick in 11-runner handicap hurdle at Thurles in December. Latest run suggests the handicapper has him in his grip now, though. Races from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 931115

Mode Avion^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| CD

22/1

Stepped up from previous hurdling starts when making a winning handicap debut at this course in February and then backed up that effort when chasing home Dschingis Desire in a juvenile event at Limerick last time. Faces much tougher assignment here and races from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 1-34312

Missus Beeton^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 121

25/1

Has been revitalised by the addition of cheekpieces this season, winning mares handicaps at Down Royal in January and at Leopardstown in March. Takes big step up in grade here, though. Races from 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 29-9411

Non-Runners

Putapoundinthejar⁶²

Weight: 10-1| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: Daniel King

Forecasts

Karbau (9/4), Hello Neighbour (11/2), Messerschmitt (15/2), Murcia (9/1), Davy Crockett (9/1), Bokamsin (14/1), Helvic Dream (14/1), Lord Erskine (16/1), Puturhandstogether (16/1), Putapoundinthejar (16/1), Kalix Delabarriere (22/1), Mode Avion (22/1), Powerful (22/1), Playtime (22/1), Zillow (22/1), Sony Bill (25/1), Missus Beeton (25/1), Kotkito Bello (25/1), Sea Of Sands (33/1)

KARBAU should have finished much closer than his sixth placing in the County Hurdle suggests and is taken to make amends back on home soil, though Messerschmitt and Hello Neighbour rate solid dangers in a highly-competitive handicap.