December 16 / 13.40 Fairyhouse

13.40

Heavy

Happy Christmas From All @Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5743.36
  • 2m 0f 30y
  • 12 runners
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Happy Christmas From All @Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

20/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 340-P8

Last run: 70 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Promise over hurdles and fences last term but really struggled in two runs this season and he was tailed off over C&D in October; tongue-tie on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 5f 0y

12:23 Fairyhouse

Dont Talk

11st 9lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Gained back-to-back wins at Down Royal and at this course last January, latterly off 104; huge improvement needed judged on first two runs of the season but tends to come alive around this time of the season; monitor the betting.

20/1

7

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Dont Talk

10st 6lb

J: Aileen O’Sullivan

T: Karl Thornton

Followed up a 2m4f win at Down Royal in January with a 2m1f success at this venue four days later, beating subsequent 8l Gowran winner Champagne Mahler; should be better for a run at Limerick earlier in the month; has 3-8 record at this track.

10/1

7

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Dont Talk

10st 6lb

J: Aileen O’Sullivan

T: Karl Thornton

Followed up a 2m4f win at Down Royal in January with a 2m1f success at this venue four days later, beating subsequent 8l Gowran winner Champagne Mahler; should be better for a run at Limerick earlier in the month; has 3-8 record at this track.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: -75109

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
2m6f winner at Downpatrick in August but poor form twice since and 2m unlikely to help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 185y

14:42 Downpatrick

Robindevidastar

10st 7lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Veteran is 3-38 over hurdles, the last win coming at Punchestown (2m4f, good) in November 2024 off 84; decent fourth at Clonmel (2m4f, heavy) before dismal effort at Punchestown next time (2m3f, heavy); bounced back with rallying runner-up finish at Clonmel last time (2m, heavy); on career low mark and can't be ruled out.

15/2

2nd

11

26th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 76y

13:59 Clonmel

Robindevidastar

10st 12lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Veteran is 3-37 over hurdles, the last win coming at Punchestown (2m4f, good) in November 2024; handles testing ground and ran well when fourth here (2m4f) last month; needs to bounce back from dismal effort at Punchestown.

16/1

9th

8

26th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 0y

15:40 Punchestown

Robindevidastar

10st 9lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Veteran is 3-36 over hurdles, the last win coming here over 2m4f (good) in November 2024; handles testing ground, is 3lb below that last success and ran okay at Clonmel latest; could go well.

8/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 841233 BF

Last run: 71 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Got his head in front at Tramore in August and has been running consistently well in defeat since; needs to prove he's as effective at this trip but testing ground may help bring his stamina into play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

15th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 73y

14:25 Punchestown

Mr Social

10st 6lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Eoin Griffin

raced wide, midfield, not fluent 5th, headway and in touch with leaders when not fluent 3 out, went second and pressed winner when ridden before last, mistake last, kept on

13/2

3rd

11

16th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 30y

13:40 Fairyhouse

Mr Social

10st 9lb

J: Jody McGarvey

T: Eoin Griffin

towards rear, headway from 3 out, went fourth approaching last, ran on well and went third run-in, no match for first two

3/1

Form: 9-0969

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Shown a bit of promise in bumpers and maiden hurdles; makes handicap debut but probably wants a step back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

5th Aug 2024

Good

2m 2f 100y

17:05 Cork

Magic Olinger

11st 4lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gerard Keane

Has shown promise in three of her four handicap hurdle starts; best effort yet when narrowly beaten over 2m2f at Ballinrobe last month off 97; 2lb higher now but could be more to come.

4/1

2nd

9

23rd Jul 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 64y

17:53 Ballinrobe

Magic Olinger

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gerard Keane

Not the first time she's failed favourite backers in handicap company last time but an excuse did come to light; has the ability to be competitive and a tongue-tie may help.

9/2

Form: 38PP/4

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
26-race maiden (0-8 over hurdles); ran okay when fourth in similar ground over this trip at Limerick last month; not ruled out despite poor record.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

7th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 130y

14:50 Galway

Brilliant Question

10st 4lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: K A Heffernan

Sole success came at Limerick (2m, heavy) in January 2024; ran okay at Gowran in March but last three runs (Flat, hurdle and chase) have been poor; others appeal more.

16/1

11

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 120y

14:48 Tipperary

Brilliant Question

11st 1lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: K A Heffernan

Dual-purpose mare; sole win came in a Limerick handicap hurdle (2m, heavy) in January 2024; shaped well over hurdles at Gowran (2m, soft) in March but below par on Flat and back over hurdles since; watch on chase debut.

25/1

9

27th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 57y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Brilliant Question

10st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: K A Heffernan

Record of 1-15 over hurdles; was a 9l runner-up at Gowran last hurdle run but was poor there on the Flat since; 4lb out of the handicap.

12/1

Form: 0580

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
A bit of promise on her second start in a Sligo maiden hurdle but lesser efforts twice since including when a tailed off 66-1 shot at Cork last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:05 Listowel

Letters To Juliet

10st 13lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Downey

Only beat four rivals at Bellewstown (2m1f, good) and never threatened to defy the 5lb rise at Downpatrick; still commands some level of respect.

6/1

7th

8

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:05 Listowel

Letters To Juliet

10st 13lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Downey

Only beat four rivals at Bellewstown (2m1f, good) and never threatened to defy the 5lb rise at Downpatrick; still commands some level of respect.

6/1

5th

5

9th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

18:32 Downpatrick

Letters To Juliet

11st 2lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Downey

Has had jumping issues but put them to one side when getting off the mark nicely at Bellewstown last time; up 5lb but can go well with a repeat.

4/1

Form: 2076P0

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe in August but struggled in handicaps since and best form has come on quicker ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Cork

The Vegas Raider

12st 0lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: K A Heffernan

Dual-purpose sort is 1-16 over hurdles, the win coming on yielding to soft ground off 94 at Ballinrobe (2m1f); fine run back there over 21.5f (good) on return from a break latest; up 3llb and different trip/ground here; not discounted.

15/2

11th

2

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Cork

The Vegas Raider

12st 0lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: K A Heffernan

Dual-purpose sort is 1-16 over hurdles, the win coming on yielding to soft ground off 94 at Ballinrobe (2m1f); fine run back there over 21.5f (good) on return from a break latest; up 3llb and different trip/ground here; not discounted.

15/2

2nd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

18:47 Ballinrobe

The Vegas Raider

11st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: K A Heffernan

Won over 2m1f here last summer but not as good off higher marks since; needs best on return off 3lb higher than that winning rating.

11/1

Form: 0000-

Last run: 271 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Shown nothing in four runs in maiden hurdles and has been off 271 days; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

31st Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 128y

18:12 Limerick

Shanroe Act

10st 10lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Won over hurdles and fences within five days in January but was pulled-up over hurdles since; this same mark looks stiff back over fences.

10/1

15

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 50y

14:38 Fairyhouse

Shanroe Act

10st 9lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Came good here when an easy 9l winner over hurdles last month (2m4f, soft); sent chasing at Down Royal (2m4, yielding to soft) to take advantage of lower mark and landed the odds by 0.5l; must now run from 17lb revised mark, which makes things a lot tougher.

10/1

Form: 0-19P5 D

Last run: 78 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Made a winning return at Ballinrobe in August but has really lost his way since; well held fifth on the level latest; best jumps form on good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23th

27

(17)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

17:40 Curragh

Spanish John

8st 7lb

J: Julian Pietropaolo

T: P A Fahy

Dual-purpose sort won twice on the level last season at Tipperary and Bellewstown over an extended 1m4f on softish ground; tailed off over hurdles at Fairyhouse when last seen and 3lb wrong.

40/1

Form: 47443-

Last run: 455 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Several good runs in maiden hurdles in 2022 and was only beaten roughly 2l on handicap debut; almost certainly on a good mark but he's been off 455 days and may be best watched on yard debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

16th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 30y

13:40 Fairyhouse

Virtual Oscar

11st 6lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Darren Collins

chased clear leader

15/2

3rd

5

17th Sep 2022

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 170y

15:45 Navan

Virtual Oscar

11st 11lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

prominent, pushed along and made challenge after 2 out, soon ridden and every chance, kept on but no extra run-in, lost second towards finish

10/1

9

22nd Aug 2022

Good

2m 2f 0y

16:30 Ballinrobe

Virtual Oscar

11st 12lb

J: Jack Foley

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Creditable runs, including over C&D, in similar contests; rated 99 so has a bit to find but could place.

10/1

Form: 645

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Three promising runs in maiden hurdle company and handicapper has been fair with her opening mark but drop back in trip not sure to suit on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

18th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

13:45 Navan

Not Before Time

10st 8lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Has failed to finish closer than tenth in three handicap attempts; well held by Duffys Hodey on running at Tipperary in November; hard to make a case for her.

20/1

8th

9

18th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

13:45 Navan

Not Before Time

10st 8lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Has failed to finish closer than tenth in three handicap attempts; well held by Duffys Hodey on running at Tipperary in November; hard to make a case for her.

20/1

10th

11

10th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 7f 182y

15:20 Punchestown

Not Before Time

11st 2lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Lightly raced 6yo whose opening handicap efforts at 2m have been underwhelming; marked step up in trip here and good chance she'll improve for it.

20/1

Form: 357100

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at Downpatrick in October but he's been tailed off twice since and seems on a stiff enough mark for what he's done so far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

9

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

15:20 Downpatrick

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Course winner on soft ground in October last year off 90 over 21.5f and 2lb lower now; best run since when beaten 6.25l over this C&D in August but no impact in two runs since; visor now tried instead of cheekpieces and hard to know what to expect.

22/1

7th

4

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:50 Downpatrick

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Sole win did at least come here over hurdles last October and again ran well back here in that discipline two starts back; however, he was soon in trouble when tailed off on his chase debut at Kilbeggan only last Friday (beaten too far out to blame the trip of 3m1f); cheekpieces tried.

20/1

10th

6

23rd Aug 2024

Good

3m 1f 100y

18:55 Kilbeggan

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

towards rear

10/1

Non-runners

Katherine

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €71.10
Straight Forecast €67.27
Tricast €360.49
Trifecta €559.50

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Not Before Time

SPOTLIGHT:

Brilliant Question

The Irish Sun:

Not Before Time

POSTDATA:

Brilliant Question