December 02 / 14.35 Fairyhouse

14.35

Soft

WillowWarm Hurdle (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £15663.72
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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WillowWarm Hurdle (Grade 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.60
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 4F316- CD BF

Last run: 217 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Only beaten a neck in the Fred Winter before winning a valuable handicap in the stewards' room at this venue and respectable sixth at Punchestown to end the campaign; has to step up on what she's done so far but gets weight from all.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:20 Leopardstown

Risk Belle

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

midfield early, prominent behind clear leaders after 2nd

9/1

4

29th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:20 Leopardstown

Risk Belle

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

midfield early, prominent behind clear leaders after 2nd

9/1

2nd

1

24th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 2f 0y

12:40 Punchestown

Risk Belle

11st 4lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Won a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on return last year and some decent efforts in defeat since; however, below form the last thrice (an excuse in Galway Hurdle) and has to bounce back.

5/1

7/2

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 33134- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Won the Adonis last season before hitting the frame in an Aintree Grade 1 and finishing 8l behind Lossiemouth at Punchestown; improved form has come on decent ground and has to give a decent chunk of weight to his rivals back down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

13:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Nusret

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Dual Flat winner and was a smart juvenile hurdler two seasons ago, winning twice and competitive at the top level; handicapped accordingly and left Joseph O'Brien under a bit of a cloud, albeit when highly tried; if as good as he was and not held back by his fitness after 233 days away, he'd go close; unraced over this far as a hurdler but stayed well on the Flat.

7/2

14th

6

1st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

17:05 Galway

Nusret

10st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Two wins on the Flat and a good juvenile hurdler two seasons ago, including winning the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton; no match for Daddy Long Legs at Punchestown and down the field in the Ascot Stakes; others preferred.

14/1

11th

12

(8)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

18:05 Ascot

Nusret

9st 3lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Grade 1 placed as a juvenile hurdler in April 2023 and won a 1m6f Flat handicap at the Curragh that June; while his hurdles performances in December and this April were satisfactory, he appears to be much more interesting today away from soft ground (ran on good to firm just once, creditably) and with this new stamina test, which could be just his cup of tea.

14/1

Form: P-2616 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a Grade 3 last season and bolted up in a maiden hurdle at Gowran in September; however, last of six in a novice at Naas since and has a bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Hypotenus

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Won a novice handicap chase at Taunton (2m, good) for Joe Tickle in January and fair third over same C&D next time; changed yards last month having had a wind op, and was a well-beaten third of three at Chepstow on stable debut (2m, good); hung right there so this track should suit better.

13/2

3rd

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

18:37 Chepstow

Hypotenus

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Able to dominate when cashing in a career-low mark at Taunton in January (2m, good), his sole win in 14 chasing starts; hasn't gone on since, but back to within 2lb of that figure now and one previous wind operation provoked a small spike in form; chance on first start for new yard.

11/4

3rd

2

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:26 Huntingdon

Hypotenus

11st 6lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

Off the mark at the 11th attempt over fences at Taunton (2m, good) in January, and he's run well on testing ground in the past; below par on his last two starts but drops back in grade today and could give a good account.

5/2

Form: 1-3 BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won at Auteuil in the spring and respectable yard debut when third of six at Naas last month but much more on his plate here; might be one to be interested in when he goes back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Golden Joy

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Pulled up after making a bad mistake in the race in which Release The Beast was second at Leopardstown in December; stepped up from a fourth placing at Naas when second in a valuable DRF handicap; Western Diego fourth then, Ballysax Hank sixth; each-way chance.

12/1

21

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Golden Joy

10st 7lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Reserve; up and down since winning at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) last March on second chase start but returned to form with 5l second of 14 in handicap there (2m1f, soft) last month in first-time visor (retained); not ruled out.

25/1

2nd

8

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

16:05 Leopardstown

Golden Joy

10st 9lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won a C&D beginners' chase last March (yielding); disappointed on subsequent handicap chase debut when tailed off (made a bad mistake four out); pulled up after making a bad mistake in the race won by Addragoole here in December, needs to step on more recent Naas effort.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Elusive Pimpernel gelding; half-brother to a winner over jumps but this is a huge ask for a newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

29th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 180y

16:50 Tramore

Giant Haystacks

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Winning hurdler is 0-3 in chases and rated 95; kept on well for a 2.75l fourth of 14 in Down Royal beginners' on latest (19.5f, gd-yld); place claims again if sees out this longer trip but that's not guaranteed.

11/2

4th

5

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:00 Downpatrick

Giant Haystacks

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Second runner for yard; top-rated of these over fences; third on sole point start; 1-13 over hurdles; tailed off on chase bow at Fairyhouse; improved fifth of 16 in Thurles handicap chase (2m2f, soft) in February; should be involved if the ground doesn't deteriorate.

12/1

5th

10

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 0y

13:42 Thurles

Giant Haystacks

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Third on sole point-to-point start; 1-13 over hurdles (rated 104), that win gained at Leopardstown at Christmas 2024; tailed off on chasing debut at Fairyhouse; probably wants better ground.

12/1

Form: 1543-

Last run: 236 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Auteuil winner last year and showed a useful level of form last term including a 10l fourth in the Triumph; ran to a similar level when third here on final start of last season and gave the impression he wasn't the finished article last season; should be more to come and drop in class will help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

2nd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:35 Fairyhouse

Gust Of Wind

10st 13lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Auteuil winner last year and showed a useful level of form last term including a 10l fourth in the Triumph; ran to a similar level when third here on final start of last season and gave the impression he wasn't the finished article last season; should be more to come and drop in class will help.

6/4

3rd

4

10th Apr 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

15:40 Fairyhouse

Gust Of Wind

11st 0lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Auteuil winner who was making his debut for Willie Mullins when well held in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival (behind Tekao) and he found plenty on that form to be fourth in the Triumph; a reproduction of that effort will see him in the mix and there's no doubt more to come from him.

3/1

4th

5

17th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Gust Of Wind

11st 2lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Won well at Auteuil (2m2f, very soft) in September on debut; just 8-1 for stable debut in Grade 1 at Leopardstown (2m, yielding) six weeks ago and should have come on since but he was readily left behind by four rivals from the home turn/ and ended up 21l behind winner Gala Marceau.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €17.70
Straight Forecast €21.09
Trifecta €92.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gust Of Wind

TOPSPEED:

Risk Belle

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Gust Of Wind

The Irish Sun:

Gust Of Wind

POSTDATA:

Risk Belle