16.20
Soft To HeavyJack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase (Grade 2)
- Prize money: £48760.33
- 2m 3f 170y
- 7 runners
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Runners: 7 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £6.00
- Place: £2.60
Form: 1-11P5 C
Last run: 40 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 161
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat. |
7/4 |
|
3 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February. |
33/1 |
|
4th 2 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April. |
13/8 |
11/2
- Place: £1.90
Form: 211122 C BF
Last run: 65 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 160
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 10lb |
Six-time chase winner but no success since a Grade 2 win at Clonmel in November 2024; ran a cracker in this last year to finish a 0.75l second behind Found A Fifty; below par in both runs this season and needs to leave those tame efforts behind. |
7/2 |
|
3rd 3 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 90y |
11st 8lb |
Free-going front runner; 6-16 over fences; ran right up to his best at Fairyhouse last April (2m4f, soft to heavy), losing out by only 3/4l to Found A Fifty despite a costly error two out; made several mistakes when pulled up in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on seasonal debut; flopped in the Boyne Hurdle in 2023 on his only Navan appearance. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 4 |
21st Apr 2025 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 170y |
11st 10lb |
Front runner; 6-14 over fences; has alternated between hurdling and chasing since being pulled up in this race last season, winning over timber at Cork and Auteuil and adding a Clonmel Grade 2 Chase (2m5f, good) in November; has often raced too keenly, including when beaten at odds-on by a stablemate at Gowran in February. |
11/2 |
6/1
Form: 213P-3 C BF
Last run: 92 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
1st Jun 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Versatile ground-wise; won this last year and has since added a fourth chase win in a Grade 3 at Naas; ran second to Energumene in a Grade 2 in April before his no-show in a Grade 1 last time; has clear claims back at this level, even having to concede weight all round. |
Evs |
|
5th 1 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 98y |
11st 12lb |
One of four for Willie Mullins; gained a fourth chase win in a Naas Grade 3 in February; creditable effort when a 6l runner up behind Energumene in a Fairyhouse Grade 2 on latest; 3lb worse off with that rival here and looks set to play a supporting role again. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 7lb |
Four-time chase winner, including two Grade 3s; pulled up in a Grade 3 here on penultimate start but bounced back straight away with a Grade 3 win at Naas (2m, heavy); came up short in this last year when a 7.25l third and needs to find more to feature at the finish. |
11/2 |
40/1
Form: 266621 C
Last run: 17 days
W: 11st 4lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
7th Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 50y |
11st 12lb |
Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; continues to show plenty of zest, in front of Piccolo Player when third at Naas 13 days ago. |
11/2 |
|
3rd 15 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 1m 7f 110y |
10st 5lb |
Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; weakened into a 19.5l third here last time (2m3f, heavy); 13l behind Peaceinthevalley on that occasion; hit the front early that day, so perhaps can get closer more patiently ridden. |
16/1 |
|
3rd 8 |
25th Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 2f 150y |
11st 3lb |
Veteran six-time winner; produced several good displays off his much higher chase mark during 2025; hard to be sure how effectively he will cope on his return to hurdling at the age of 13 |
10/1 |
12/1
Form: 17-633 CD
Last run: 65 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
11th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Contested Grade 1s for Henry de Bromhead; reportedly not himself during the winter but got back on track in narrowly repelling 11-8f Asian Master over 2m4f at Cork last month; has a bit to prove over this far but his class is much respected. |
9/4 |
|
1st 7 |
6th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Achieved a high standard in his prime for Henry de Bromhead; three wins over fences, including at Grade 2/3 level; unconvincing form in points in recent months, beaten favourite in three of his last four races. |
11/2 |
|
5th 3 |
21st Apr 2025 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 170y |
11st 10lb |
Most recent of three chase wins came in this race last season on heavy ground, beating Appreciate It by 9l; nowhere near that level of form in three starts this season; beaten 44l at Windsor in January; 13l behind Saint Sam when last of three in the Red Mills at Gowran. |
12/1 |
11/10
Form: 3-1242
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 160
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
8yo who made his Grade 1 breakthrough in the Ryanair at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month; that 10l victory was a career-best performance and he will be tough to beat if reproducing the same scintillating form today; ran well in the Mildmay at this meeting in 2024 on sole run here. |
11/8 |
|
1st 4 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has yet to win at above Grade 3 level although he only just failed against Croke Park in a less competitive Grade 1 than this at Fairyhouse (2m4f, yielding) in December 2024; he enjoyed his front-running role when winning at Tramore (2m7f, soft) in January when never seriously challenged and it's likely he will be ridden more prominently today than when no match for Fact To File in this race (good to soft) last March; he will still do well to fend off that winner but another place is perfectly achievable. |
10/1 |
|
4 |
15th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 39y |
11st 0lb |
Beat Corbetts Cross readily in a three-runner event at Wexford (2m7f, soft) on reappearance last October; just denied by Croke Park in the Drinmore; faded into fourth in Savills Chase at Leopardstown; enhanced his reputation with a fine second to Fact To File in the Ryanair; pulled a shoe when flopping at Fairyhouse at Easter; can go well when fresh; big chance at these weights. |
11/8 |
20/1
Form: 00-573 D
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 4lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
21st Apr 2025 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 170y |
11st 4lb |
Has run only five times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; failed to beat a single opponent in his two races this season; only mild encouragement from last month's third over hurdles at Thurles. |
20/1 |
|
7 |
21st Apr 2025 Soft To Heavy 2m 3f 170y |
11st 4lb |
Has run only five times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; failed to beat a single opponent in his two races this season; only mild encouragement from last month's third over hurdles at Thurles. |
20/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
15th Mar 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 42y |
11st 0lb |
Has run only four times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; has failed to beat a single opponent in two runs this season, the first in a hurdle race at Limerick |
10/1 |
Non-runners
Ash Tree Meadow
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €21.60 |
| Straight Forecast | €25.98 |
| Trifecta | €74.60 |
Selections
The Irish Sun:
Heart Wood