April 01 / 15.15 Fairyhouse

15.15

Heavy

Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £12826.09
  • 2m 6f 45y
  • 8 runners
RTE2
View Course
Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £17.10
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 28-435 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Course maiden winner has not prospered as might have been hoped since second to Ashroe Diamond in the mares' Grade 1 novice at this venue last year; cheekpieces tried now after Naas fifth; plenty to find with Kilbree Warrior on that running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:45 Fairyhouse

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 2lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Dual hurdles winner has shown poor form in five runs over fences, including on handicap chase debut at Down Royal last time when beaten by 29l; others bring more pressing claims.

25/1

4th

3

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 12lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Two wins over hurdles, rated 132; nowhere near her best over fences; beaten a long way in three starts in beginners' races and out of her depth in a Grade 2 event at Limerick last time; 12lb below her hurdles rating, but does not appear well handicapped.

8/1

4th

8

25th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 200y

18:25 Kilbeggan

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 7lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

towards rear, not fluent and dropped to rear 3rd, detached 3 out, kept on and went remote fourth towards finish

4/1

OUR TIP

5/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 223/31 C

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Point winner for Pat Doyle in October 2021 and placed in three bumpers; raced a bit keenly and was not altogether fluent when third over 2m7f here late last year on first run after a long absence; showed the benefit of the run when making all to win a 2m4f course maiden; jumping was untidy then and will need to be more fluent against experienced handicappers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

9th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

16:45 Killarney

OMoore Park

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Point and hurdle winner is yet to score over fences but has lots of fine efforts to his name; only beaten 13l in the competitive Topham Chase at Aintree last time; this is a bit easier so has to be on the shortlist even though is unproven over this far.

5/2

7th

17

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

OMoore Park

10st 8lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

0-11 over fences and 14l behind Madara when sixth of 23 in the Plate at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last month; however, that was still a respectable run and the fact he represents Willie Mullins, who has won three of the last six runnings and saddles three today, means he's not discounted.

25/1

6th

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

OMoore Park

11st 1lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Winless after ten chase starts but he ran two cracking races at about 2m4f on the New course here (good to soft and good) last spring off much the same mark as today's; has more to prove on this season's form but he has revival potential now back on less testing ground than last time and returned to a course that suits.

16/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 131/56 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Useful level of form for Tony Mullins when winning a novice hurdle at this venue in 2019 after finishing an excellent second in the 30-runner Cesarewitch; absent for more than four years; has shown he retains some ability in his outings at this track and at Gowran.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

1st May 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Party Playboy

11st 9lb

J: Michael J Molloy

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Useful level of form for Tony Mullins when winning a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2019 after finishing an excellent second in the 30-runner Cesarewitch; back after four years and has shown that he retains some ability; new headgear tried today and an interesting runner

16/1

10th

13

1st May 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Party Playboy

11st 9lb

J: Michael J Molloy

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Useful level of form for Tony Mullins when winning a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in 2019 after finishing an excellent second in the 30-runner Cesarewitch; back after four years and has shown that he retains some ability; new headgear tried today and an interesting runner

16/1

3rd

8

1st Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Party Playboy

10st 10lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: 132232

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Very consistent this season, mixing hurdling and chasing including winning 2m4f handicap chase at Gowran and just touched off over an extended 3m at this venue; an excellent effort to take second behind Irish Grand National candidate Hartur D'Arc, when running from 6lb out of handicap, at Naas last time; 11lb lower than over fences and has Cian Quirke's 5lb claim as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 110y

13:10 Gowran Park

Positive Thinker

11st 5lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: Michael J McDonagh

Useful money-spinner, only three wins from 23 starts but placed 13 times, notably when beaten a short head in last season's Cork National; not at his best in the Porterstown but enjoys heavy ground and is leniently treated back over hurdles.

14/1

Form: /2411- C

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Arrives bidding for a belated hat-trick after 359-day absence; best form is on better ground, and now a stone higher than when scoring over a longer trip at last year's Easter fixture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 198y

16:05 Thurles

Western Walk

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Jonathan Sweeney

Very useful hurdler at up to 3m (rated 132); yet to shine in spell over fences, but not disgraced in Grade 1 behind Final Demand at Limerick in December; behind two smart types in Navan Grade 2 on latest; return to hurdling could spark a revival; Jack Kennedy's sole ride on the card.

7/2

3rd

5

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Navan

Western Walk

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Jonathan Sweeney

Useful handicap hurdler at up to 3m (rated 132); yet to shine over fences, though he was only 2 3/4l behind Gold Dancer when third of four in the Grade 1 Limerick event won by Final Demand.

10/1

6th

5

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

17:25 Punchestown

Western Walk

10st 10lb

J: Mr A P Ryan

T: Jonathan Sweeney

held up in rear

25/1

Form: U15F1P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden at Gowran (2m, heavy) in November on fourth start; major improvement to score by 15l in a novice at Down Royal (2m1f, soft) in January; weakened from three out after being ridden prominently in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham; perhaps not sure to stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Western Fold

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive in the first half of the season; won the Galway Plate, beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory; badly hampered and unseated two out in Fairyhouse Grade 1 won by Fleur In The Park.

12/1

8

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Western Fold

11st 10lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and a defeat of subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory

10/1

10th

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Western Fold

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and he beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; good second to Kaid d'Authie at Dublin Racing Festival last time and enters each-way calculations.

12/1

Form: 73-514 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Did well to land a 2m7f maiden hurdle at Punchestown in January after a bad mistake at the last; remote fourth of five finishers over a shorter trip at this venue in his first handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Slanagaibhgoleir

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Gordon Elliott

Won at Down Royal (2m4f, good to yielding) in December and ran well in defeat on next two starts (2m3f/2m4f, heavy/good to yielding) prior to failing to stay 3m4f in the Ulster National at Downpatrick; could play a leading role back down in trip.

11/4

8th

5

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Slanagaibhgoleir

11st 5lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

122 rated hurdler; got off the mark at the second attempt over fences in a 2m4f beginners' event at Down Royal at Christmas; beaten 6 1/4l in a handicap chase at Gowran, where heavy ground may not have been ideal; better when second in a rated race at Down Royal; hard to be sure how effectively he will stay.

11/2

2nd

3

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

16:13 Down Royal

Slanagaibhgoleir

11st 9lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

122 rated hurdler got off the mark at the second attempt over fences over this C&D (gd-yld); beaten over 6l in a handicap chase at Gowran (19.5f, heavy) latest but ground may not have been ideal; return to this venue a plus and will like the ground; chance.

3/1

Form: 44U-34

Last run: 235 days

W: 10st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Better-known as a nine-time Flat winner who has recorded six of those victories on AW at Dundalk; two wins over hurdles but more effective on sound surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

15th Oct 2024

Good

2m 6f 166y

16:50 Punchestown

Wild Shot

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: John C McConnell

Prolific Flat and dual hurdles winner at a fairly modest level; long losing run but twice placed in claiming hurdles including latest when 6l off Cozone at Clonmel (2m4f, good); rider's claim brings the pair closer but still needs to find more.

10/1

2nd

7

3rd Oct 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 206y

15:20 Clonmel

Wild Shot

10st 8lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: John C McConnell

Prolific Flat and dual hurdles winner; fair form under both codes this summer, placed in claimer over this trip at Bellewstown and not shamed in handicap company last time; well in at the weights, for what that's worth in a race of this nature, and good ground important.

3/1

6th

3

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 6f 11y

16:35 Ballinrobe

Wild Shot

11st 9lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

midfield

10/1

Non-runners

Kilbree Warrior, Starzov, Mighty Jeremy, Explosive Boy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €63.70
Straight Forecast €39.35
Tricast €251.78
Trifecta €417.60

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Western Fold

SPOTLIGHT:

Positive Thinker

The Irish Sun:

Slanagaibhgoleir

TOPSPEED:

Western Fold

POSTDATA:

Positive Thinker