UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

Paul Townend takes the mount on CHAVEZ and the Yeats gelding may be able to put a blip at Down Royal behind him. He was sent off favourite in a similar event on his chase debut but exited at the first fence. The seven-year-old had been a good winner over timber at Ascot back in March for his previous trainer and looks an interesting type for this kind of restricted event. Stablemate Henn See was still in contention when falling two from home on his chase debut at Clonmel last month and he is another leading contender here. Tony Martin runs five in the race and Brookie may be the pick of them. The Policy Maker gelding was a good second in handicap company over hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas and this looks a nice starting point for him over fences.
Prediction : 1st Chavez 2nd Henn See 3rd Brookie

The in form SWEET WILL can make the most of a lower mark back over fences here. The Dragon Pulse gelding has won his last two over timber, most recently at Cheltenham in November, and is now rated 115 over hurdles. He has a 10lb lower mark over the larger obstacles so it looks an obvious move to switch tack. Difficult Decision won well down in Limerick three weeks ago and he has to be respected here despite a 9lb rise for that victory. The Tack Room, who was fourth behind him then, could get a bit closer now on revised terms.
Prediction : 1st Sweet Will 2nd Difficult Decision 3rd The Tack Room

IN EXCESS ran a nice race on his jumping debut at Limerick on St Stephen's Day and with that experience under his belt he looks the one to beat now. The French-import had also been runner-up on his sole outing in a bumper in his native land and is open to more improvement on just his third start. Sam Magee, a point-to-point winner, drops back in trip here after a promising run to finish third on his hurdling debut at Down Royal over two-and-a-half miles. He looks like an obvious danger. Abbeydale was a big price when just losing out by a neck to Ms Agartha Yeats on his hurdling debut at Wexford. That was a big step forward from his bumper run at Listowel and he is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st In Excess 2nd Sam Magee 3rd Abbeydale

This appears a good opportunity for THREE CARD BRAG, despite the fact he would probably appreciate further than this. He went down by just a neck on his most recent start at Navan, finishing strongly in a race run over a slightly longer trip. The son of Jet Away holds plenty of big race entries and is a general 12-1 chance for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March. Spanish Harlem is the clear danger. Successful on his sole start in France, he was sent off favourite on debut for Willie Mullins at Gowran in November, finishing third behind two smart performers. Upped in trip now, it'll be interesting to see how he fares. The other four contenders look up against it, with Dovlator appearing the most likely to take third.
Prediction : 1st Three Card Brag 2nd Spanish Harlem 3rd Dovlator

While not one of the leading lights at Closutton, HAUTURIERE might be able to get her turn. She went down by just three-parts of a length in this very race 12 months ago and ran well at Limerick over Christmas when returning from a break. The chestnut six-year-old may ideally want further than this, but with Willie Mullins and Paul Townend in such prolific form, she is difficult to oppose. Desert Heather is given second preference after filling the runner-up spot on her most recent start. Prior to that, she won three point-to-points in a row and is clearly in good heart. Purse Price has some solid form to her name and is sure to give a good account of herself, while others for the shortlist in what looks quite an open contest are Broomfield Bijou, Mag Dillane and Kates Hill.
Prediction : 1st Hauturiere 2nd Desert Heather 3rd Purse Price

In a race lacking strength and depth, SO DES FLOS should prove hard to beat. A half-brother to seven-time winner Vision Des Flos, the Gordon Elliott trained selection ran a race full of promise on debut at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day. Tenth entering the straight there, he finished out his race well to take fourth and this step up in trip should play to his strengths. Newcomer Belper, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Coney Island, won't need to be anything out of the ordinary to make an impact here, while Buachaillbocht is another to consider. A well-beaten fifth on debut last month, he can be expected to come on plenty for that effort.
Prediction : 1st So Des Flos 2nd Belper 3rd Buachaillbocht

It's difficult to be overly confident about any of these and so it might be worth taking a chance on RESERVE JUDGEMENT. The winner of a point-to-point on debut, with subsequent track victors in second and third, he has been very disappointing since. Now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, it'll be interesting to see how he fares. It will come as no surprise if a few of these come alive in the market. The shrewd Shane Crawley saddles Elsannah and Elzoom and they both warrant respect. Banada Bridge is one of three Denise Foster trained runners set to take part and the daughter of Shantou is given second preference. She filled the runner-up spot on her penultimate outing, disappointing at Gowran when sent off favourite most recently. Philip Rothwell is enjoying a fine start to 2023 and he is doubly represented through Fairly Bold and Robindevidastar, with the latter well capable of making his presence felt. Fox Le Bel, Fons Vivus, Hillsin and Getaclan are others to consider in this wide-open affair.
Prediction : 1st Reserve Judgement 2nd Banada Bridge 3rd Robindevidastar