December 21 / 12.05 Fairyhouse

12.05

Yielding

tote Always SP Or Better At Fairyhouse Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £8924.37
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 7 runners
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tote Always SP Or Better At Fairyhouse Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.60
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 162P-1 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a fine spell of form between October and December last year, recording two wins and two seconds from four starts; failed to sustain that form, but returned in fine shape when scoring at Cork last month; versatile in terms of trip, but best over further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: BP2-13 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Former useful hurdler; experienced a series of mishaps in handicap chases when trained by Nicky Henderson; settled in well with Gordon Elliott in the spring, winning a Down Royal beginners' event; recovered from interference when a fair third on seasonal debut at Punchestown; should be sharper now, but best form is over longer distances than this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:35 Leicester

Gallyhill

12st 4lb

J: Mr Tom Hutsby

T: F A Hutsby

Formerly useful but just one chase win (in 2022) from 11 attempts and he ended his time with Gordon Elliott on a quiet note; well-held last of four finishers in a point for new yard and his BHA mark likely flatters him.

20/1

7th

2

12th May 2023

Yielding

2m 3f 20y

19:55 Kilbeggan

Gallyhill

11st 10lb

J: Corey McGivern

T: Gordon Elliott

Won a Down Royal beginners' chase over this trip a year ago; has mostly run well in defeat since but never got involved at Naas last time; has to find more just 1lb lower.

12/1

4

18th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 42y

16:25 Tipperary

Gallyhill

11st 7lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Gordon Elliott

Lots of sound runs in defeat over fences since winning at Down Royal last year; doesn't seem to be improving but has his chance in an open race.

4/1

Form: -7P212 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Improving young chaser; followed up a promising second at Sligo by winning a beginners' chase at Downpatrick in October; reversed form with the Sligo winner Broken Ice when 1/2l second on his handicap debut at Naas; 14-1 chance on that occasion, entitled to be a leading fancy now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Clonbury Bridge

10st 13lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: J P Dempsey

Won a couple of Fairyhouse chases last year (2m5f/3m) and handles goodish ground; last month's hurdling fourth probably a prep for this; can race close to the pace.

10/1

4th

4

18th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 5y

17:00 Bellewstown

Clonbury Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: J P Dempsey

Three wins apiece over hurdles and fences; was a 7l runner-up at Navan in a 2m4f handicap hurdle in November but pulled-up at Leopardstown next time; a squeak if back to form.

14/1

5

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:10 Down Royal

Clonbury Bridge

11st 7lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: J P Dempsey

Gained his third chase win in a Fairyhouse handicap (24.5f, yielding) three weeks ago; raised 5lb for that 1.5l victory so he'll need a career best to follow up off his new mark.

11/2

Form: 1529F4 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Gained the most recent of her four wins off a lower hurdles mark in a 2m6f contest at Ballinrobe in September; subsequent form has been erratic; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

11th Mar 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

15:45 Gowran Park

Kitty Galore

10st 3lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: John Patrick Ryan

Had been consistent enough this season but pulled too hard over 2m5f at Leopardstown last week; has a squeak down in trip on some of her earlier efforts but yard form is quiet.

18/1

4th

9

5th Mar 2023

Yielding

2m 5f 97y

16:55 Leopardstown

Kitty Galore

10st 3lb

J: Kieran Callaghan

T: John Patrick Ryan

Four-time winner and normally runs her race; decent third at Thurles last month; more needed but not one to discount.

14/1

3rd

4

23rd Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 149y

15:05 Thurles

Kitty Galore

11st 1lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: John Patrick Ryan

led, not fluent 2nd, headed but pressed leader from 3rd

10/1

10/1

Form: 4264-5 C

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
A 121-rated dual hurdles winner starts off in handicap chases off a 5lb lower mark; best of his four runs in beginners' events when chasing home the useful Fan De Blues at Punchestown in May; huge price when a poor fifth at Galway in October.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

4th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:50 Kilbeggan

Flindt

11st 4lb

J: E Walsh

T: Ciaran Murphy

Locally-trained Flat and hurdles winner but has struggled so far over fences and tipped up at the first at Tipperary.

12/1

4

18th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 1f 105y

15:50 Tipperary

Flindt

11st 12lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Ciaran Murphy

held up in rear, fell 1st

25/1

5th

4

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 1f 160y

16:00 Limerick

Flindt

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Ciaran Murphy

prominent in chasing group, pushed along and lost position after 3 out, no extra when jumped right 2 out

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: -43P3U D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner is 1-8 over fences; tendency to make mistakes has put a couple of blots on his record; if avoiding error, has some sort of chance on the form of his third at Down Royal on his penultimate start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Winner here over hurdles and third chase win came in 2m2f Listowel handicap chase last September (off 116) after more than a year's absence; another good comeback run at Haydock in February, not so good at Kelso a fortnight later over shorter trip; this probably the limit of his stamina.

10/1

5th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Bythesametoken

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ross O’Sullivan

12yo who has returned to his best this season, defying an absence to win at Listowel (2m1f, yielding to soft) in September before solid third at Haydock (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; the drop back in trip may well be a positive and he could be thereabouts.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Bythesametoken

11st 6lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Made light of a 13-month absence when landing 2m1f handicap chase at Listowel in September; 11lb higher today but that form worked out well so this Irish challenger can't be totally dismissed after another layoff.

5/1

Form: 5P-950

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back 2m4f handicap hurdles at Thurles and Leopardstown in the final months of 2021; lost his way later in campaign; has struggled in three beginners' chases this season and was beaten in excess of 100l when putting in a poor round of jumping at Navan last time; potentially well treated if recapturing best hurdle form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

18th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 5y

17:00 Bellewstown

Priory Park

11st 13lb

J: Mr L P Barnett

T: Edward F Power

Won his third race over hurdles when scoring at Ballinrobe last September off 4lb lower; some decent runs since but was pulled-up at Thurles last time; a squeak if bouncing back.

14/1

6

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 198y

16:38 Thurles

Priory Park

11st 9lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Edward F Power

Course handicap hurdle winner in 2021; bolted up on yard debut at Ballinrobe in September (2m6f, soft) before solid fifth at Listowel; below best at Cheltenham next time; ran well for a long way here (24.5f, yielding) over fences in December.

10/1

5th

13

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Listowel

Priory Park

10st 10lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Edward F Power

Won a 3m2f Limerick handicap chase in May for the late Edward O'Grady; pulled up on next two outings (coughing on the first occasion); return to hurdling did the trick when he scored readily on recent stable debut at Ballinrobe; can remain competitive off 7lb higher, with the same talented 7lb claimer up.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €16.50
Straight Forecast €21.37
Trifecta €57.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Clonbury Bridge

TOPSPEED:

Gallyhill

RP Ratings (IRE):

Clonbury Bridge

The Irish Sun:

Clonbury Bridge

POSTDATA:

Gallyhill