UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

Two of LETHAL STEPS' best performances have come when upped to this distance and Gordon Elliott's Cheveley Park youngster has been running with encouragement of late, which suggests an opening hurdles victory may be just around the corner. Stablemate Cats For Cash is respected having placed twice in bumpers, while Envol Pierji could provide the biggest danger following his second to the useful Dream Conti on debut.
Prediction : 1st Lethal Steps 2nd Envol Pierji 3rd Cats For Cash

GLOBAL JACKPOT has pockets of top-class form over hurdles, finishing second to Grade 1 winner Aramon at Kilbeggan in August, and with the six-year-old often thriving at this time of year, he is backed to make a bright start to his fencing career. Or Jaune De Somoza is yet to hit his peak over fences and has to be respected representing a team that do well in this sphere, while Stowaway Forever's placed form over the larger obstacles is rock solid and his handler won this in 2016.
Prediction : 1st Global Jackpot 2nd Or Jaune De Somoza 3rd Stowaway Forever

CAMELIA DE COTTE saw her three-race winning run come to an end last time, when bumping into the useful Kaiser Black at Naas, but the likeable mare has conditions to suit here and looks sure to be thereabouts back against her own sex. Stablemate Pravalaguna found life tough in the JLT at Cheltenham last time and this test should be more suitable if her jumping stands up, while Barra impressed on her switch to fences last summer and is interesting following a spell on the sidelines.
Prediction : 1st Camelia De Cotte 2nd Pravalaguna 3rd Barra

Katie O'Farrell was the winning rider in this last season and could repeat that feat aboard Jonathan Sweeney's 12-year-old BATTLING SPIRIT, who has been in good form the last twice and won well at Thurles latest. The Church Gate was arguably unlucky when squeezed for room as he made his challenge and running out at the second-last. He must rate as a huge threat off the same mark, while Presenting Julio and Surf Instructor are others of real interest.
Prediction : 1st Battling Spirit 2nd The Church Gate 3rd Presenting Julio

DEFI BLEU produced a career-best performance when third in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month and, although he is burdened with top weight in this similarly competitive event, the six-year-old can play a leading role under Davy Russell. Thermistocles was beaten less than 10 lengths in the Pertemps Final and warrants plenty of respect with first-time cheekpieces equipped, while Insult, The Gunner Murphy and My Sister Sarah are others to watch out for.
Prediction : 1st Defi Bleu 2nd Thermistocles 3rd Insult

Willie Mullins has won four of the last five runnings of this contest and Mr Adjudicator, who was eighth in the County Hurdle, looks to be the best of his three chances tody, but preference is for English raider COUNTISTER. Nicky Henderson's mare finished five places in front of the former at Cheltenham and with that being her first outing in 12 months, she is open to plenty of improvement. Jezki (second) and Ivanovich Gorbatov (third) are closely matched on their Dublin Racing Festival clash and both have a solid chance here.
Prediction : 1st Countister 2nd Mr Adjudicator 3rd Ivanovich Gorbatov

Ucello Conti was pulled up early on over the National fences at Aintree but don't be surprised to see a return to form back over the regulation obstacles, while loveable 14-year-old On The Fringe showed that he's still more than capable when winning between the flags earlier this month. However, 2015 Gold Cup third ROAD TO RICHES ran a blinder when third in the aforementioned Aintree event and he rates the one to beat for the ever-enthusiastic David Maxwell.
Prediction : 1st Road To Riches 2nd Ucello Conti 3rd On The Fringe

Larquebuse brings some solid form to the table and warrants plenty of respect representing powerful connections, similarly her stablemate Dona Katharina, who placed in a couple of starts before finishing a respectable fifth over 2m here last time. However, the experienced runners don't set the bar overly high, so it might be worth chancing WENDY HOWELL. This attractively-bred daughter of Yeats (closely related to the legendary Hurricane Fly) couldn't be in better hands and it would be disappointing if she doesn't show up well on her racecourse debut.
Prediction : 1st Wendy Howell 2nd Larquebuse 3rd Dona Katharina