February 05 / 14.25 Fairyhouse

14.25

Heavy

Book Your Advanced Tickets Now Rated Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7070.25
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Book Your Advanced Tickets Now Rated Novice Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 05-431

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Struggled on the Flat last autumn after running in three maiden hurdles; got back on track when fourth of 15 on handicap debut at Clonmel; produced another solid display when third at Limerick; recent win was gained over 2m4f at Navan, possibly vulnerable over this shorter trip
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 100y

17:35 Ballinrobe

Collaborative

11st 2lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

2-14 over hurdles; is 10lb above last win but has hit the frame in each of his last four runs; beaten just 2.75l at Limerick latest (21.5f, soft); new visor could eke out more, but he would prefer softer ground.

6/1

3rd

2

16th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 100y

13:35 Limerick

Collaborative

11st 12lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Won Navan handicap hurdle (2m4f, soft) in January of last year off 102 before following up in Fairyhouse novice (2m, heavy); moderate seasonal return at Punchestown but pair of runner-up finishes followed at 2m4f/3m; fair fourth at Naas (15.5f) on latest; solid chance in first-time blinkers.

4/1

4th

6

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 110y

15:00 Naas

Collaborative

11st 3lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Winner of a Navan (2m4f, soft) handicap hurdle in January last year off 102 and followed up next time in a Fairyhouse novice contest (2m, heavy); moderate seasonal return at Punchestown but good effort when second at Navan in December (2m4f, soft to heavy); tried 3m for first time at Limerick later that month and saw out the trip well for second; he's solid.

8/1

Form: 31 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful 84-rated Flat performer who won over 1m2f on good ground at the Curragh last summer; improved from his hurdling debut at Punchestown to win on soft at Cork; good chance if coping with more demanding conditions now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

6

30th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 11y

16:30 Galway

Puturhandstogether

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won 4yo handicap hurdle at 2025 Cheltenham Festival and had a massive payday in last season's Irish Cesarewitch; down the field in three big handicap hurdles between late November and April; not much luck when unplaced favourite for the Chester Cup; flopped when well-fancied for the Ascot Stakes; questions to answer but could not be ruled out.

7/1

16th

16

(5)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Puturhandstogether

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won 4yo handicap hurdle at 2025 Cheltenham Festival and took a huge prize for Irish Cesarewitch on Flat at the Curragh (2m1f, yielding) last September, in the latter bursting clear 1f out and scoring with considerably more authority than the margin suggests; underwhelming over hurdles before last month's Chester Cup, in which he also had the widest draw, but he started favourite nevertheless and made some headway from the back to finish seventh of 15; he didn't have the rub of the green that day and is shortlisted even though connections also now resort to headgear.

6/1

7th

10

(17)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Puturhandstogether

8st 11lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

One of three for Joseph O'Brien; won 4yo handicap hurdle at 2025 Cheltenham Festival and also took a huge prize for last September's Irish Cesarewitch on Flat at the Curragh (2m1f, yielding); underwhelming in his three handicap hurdles in November-April, which is a concern, as is today's widest stall, but his Curragh win (bursting clear 1f out) was delivered with considerably more authority than the winning margin suggests; respected.

9/1

Form: 722-23

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
3-14 on Flat, 0-9 hurdles second on five occasions, including behind last Saturday's Grade 1 third Mozzie's Sister at Galway in October; may be able to make her experience count on ground that she handles, and which may inconvenience a few of her rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

(17)

2nd Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:08 Navan

Whimsy

11st 13lb

J: Miss A B O’Connor

T: Anthony McCann

Useful Flat performer, winning three times and placing on a further nine occasions from 17 turf starts; took third at Gowran in April (1m4f, soft) and went one place better when beaten a neck at Musselburgh next time (2m, good); has often been frustrating, as shown by hurdles record 1-20; second eight times.

12/1

8th

2

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Whimsy

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Anthony McCann

Record of 1-19 over timber; three-time winner on the Flat has placed in two starts in that sphere since falling over hurdles at Leopardstown in March; recent form suggests she's fit and healthy but poor strike rate over hurdles is off-putting.

14/1

Form: 1F4 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Wide-margin winner on his hurdles debut at Tipperary in July and followed up in a Flat handicap at Sligo; beaten when falling in a Down Royal juvenile hurdle in August; needs to jump better than when fourth of six over C&D last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

4th Sep 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 95y

18:45 Kilbeggan

Butter Fingers

10st 5lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Off the mark over fences at Wexford in May (2m, gd-yld); came up short off revised mark at Galway (2m2f, good) but wasn't disgraced; return to softer ground no problem and still only a 5yo, so not ruled out.

8/1

7th

4

28th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

17:45 Galway

Butter Fingers

11st 11lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

One of three for stable; flat and hurdles winner off the mark over fences off 6lb lower at Wexford (2m, gd-yld) when last seen in May; this longer trip should be fine and yard made hay at this meeting last season; can't discount.

15/2

1st

6

7th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

17:35 Wexford

Butter Fingers

11st 5lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Flat/hurdle wins came in 2024; 0-4 chasing this past season (blood in nostrils fourth occasion) and back hurdling the last twice, notably when placed in 2m Naas handicap off 110; scope for improvement off this 7lb lower chase mark.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 321F73

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Downpatrick bumper and Sligo maiden hurdle winner; was running well when falling at Perth in September; not beaten far in third in a mares' handicap at Cork last month; missed an engagement at Punchestown on Monday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 60y

15:50 Galway

Gers Gigi

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Sligo maiden hurdle winner in August of last year (17.5f, soft); soundly beaten in mares' hurdles at Bellewstown (2m1f, good) and Listowel (2m4f, yld-sft) the last twice; could rebound back in handicap company but stamina to prove.

9/2

4

21st Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

14:58 Listowel

Gers Gigi

11st 1lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Lowest rated of the bunch; sole win came in a Downpatrick mares' maiden hurdle last year (2m1f, soft); has been chasing in recent times with little success; back over hurdles at Bellewstown late last month when beaten 17l by Adela Icon; hard to see her turning that around.

14/1

5

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 40y

18:55 Bellewstown

Gers Gigi

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Odds-on for mares' maiden hurdle win at Sligo last summer; made the frame in mares' events at Listowel and Kilbeggan this summer; none too fluent and faded tamely on chase debut at Wexford last month; two moderate chase runs since then; question to answer.

9/2

Form: 521228

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Decent bumper performer; won on good ground at Cork in August and creditable runner-up on first two maiden hurdle runs; below best at Punchestown last time; formerly trained by Brendan Duke, unraced during short spell with Katy Brown, now makes debut for Gavin Cromwell; overall form suggests a possible preference for a longer trip and better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Ballysax Hank

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gavin Cromwell

Summer Plate winner at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last July and went close in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm) in October; excuses on both winter starts; has around 5lb to find with Release The Beast on Cheltenham running; big task under this weight and would prefer further.

10/1

6th

14

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ballysax Hank

10st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gavin Cromwell

5l win in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last July and went close in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm) in October; excuses on both winter starts (3m then soft ground); the drop back to 2m poses a question but the stiff track and strong pace will help; possible player.

10/1

6th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

16:05 Leopardstown

Ballysax Hank

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

2-5 over fences, won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (21.5f, good) in July off 128; won sole Flat start next time at Gowran on good to yielding before a fine second to Zanahiyr over hurdles in the American Grand National (2m5f, firm); failed to stay 3m in the Paddy Power at Christmas; ground conditions not certain to suit.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €32.60
Straight Forecast €41.05
Trifecta €163.90

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Gers Gigi

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Puturhandstogether

The Irish Sun:

Collaborative

SPOTLIGHT:

Whimsy

POSTDATA:

Gers Gigi