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 Paul Nicholls 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 four 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 now 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 over Christmas and has to be respected here despite a 10lb rise for that victory. The Tack Room, who was fourth behind him then, could get a bit closer now on revised terms. Kalli's Quest, lightly raced for her age, ran well when third in her first handicap chase at Punchestown and has her chance again off a 2lb higher mark.
Prediction : 1st Sweet Will 2nd Difficult Decision 3rd Kallis Quest

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 in a Grade 2 contest at Naas, 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. Dovlator, second to a useful stable companion of the selection here last month, has a fair level of ability but could struggle against the principals.
Prediction : 1st Three Card Brag 2nd Spanish Harlem 3rd Dovlator

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. Firm Footings, a bumper winner at Galway in October, has been placed in big-field maidens at Navan and Leopardstown and is an obvious contender but dropping back half a mile in trip may leave him vulnerable. Birdie Or Bust made a pleasing debut when chasing home a long odds-on stable companion of the selection at Tramore while Coeur D'or, rated 78 on the level, is an interesting hurdling debutant but is likely to improve for the experience.
Prediction : 1st In Excess 2nd Firm Footings 3rd Birdie Or Bust

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. Emily Roebling has been second four times and third four times in maidens. She was only half a length behind the selection at Limerick but is obviously a lot more exposed. Desert Heather, runner-up on hurdling debut, had won three point-to-points in a row prior to that. Now fitted with headgear, she's clearly in good heart. Crumb Of Comfort, whose sister was a Listed winner for her yard, makes a belated debut at the age of eight while Kates Hill, runner-up in both bumper starts, should be sharper for her hurdling bow over Christmas.
Prediction : 1st Hauturiere 2nd Emily Roebling 3rd Desert Heather

In a race lacking strength in depth, SO DES FLOS should prove hard to beat. A half-brother to seven-time winner Vision Des Flos and two other useful hurdlers, 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. Volantis is from a useful jumping family and may improve for going over flights. He has shown a fair level of ability in bumpers and wasn't disgraced when fourth to a smart winner at this venue recently. Newcomer Belper cost 80,000 Euros as a foal and is a half-brother to Grade 1 Drinmore winner Coney Island. He won't need to be anything out of the ordinary to make an impact here.
Prediction : 1st So Des Flos 2nd Volantis 3rd Belper

CARBON KING was heavily backed into favouritism before landing a 25-runner handicap at Naas before Christmas. He's up 10lb for that but has been given plenty of time to get over his exertions and is open to further progress. Having won going away over a stiff 2m last time, there's a good chance he'll be fine over this longer trip. Happy Dreams has won twice over fences this term and now holds a rating of 104 in that sphere. Placed in a handicap hurdle at Limerick last season, he competes off a hurdles mark of 88 here and has to enter calculations. Banada Bridge may have found conditions too testing when a disappointing favourite at Gowran but had previously finished second over C&D in November. Winning point-to-pointer Reserve Judgement has shown shown little over hurdles but could be a different proposition with headgear applied for his handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Carbon King 2nd Happy Dreams 3rd Banada Bridge