UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

ZENTA won a Listed hurdle at Auteuil last autumn before joining the champion trainer. The yard obviously has a very strong line on juvenile hurdle form this year with the clear top three in the ante-post market for the Triumph Hurdle and riding arrangements suggest she is preferred to Jourdefete. Harley Street won a 1m4f Curragh maiden in good style last October and is an exciting recruit to hurdles, while John McConnell is represented by two French purchases in Hypotenus and Zefania. The former was the significantly more expensive when knocked down for 215,000 at Arqana last October and like the selection is entered in the Triumph. Paradise Lost looks capable of a modest maiden win.
Prediction : 1st Zenta 2nd Harley Street 3rd Hypotenus

PURSE PRICE was snapped up by current connections after winning a UK point-to-point last year and has been a model of consistency over hurdles. The Gordon Elliott-trained mare has been placed on her latest five starts and filled the runner-up spot on both recent outings behind Hands Of Gold. Cheek pieces are now fitted and this drop back in trip may suit. Fine Margin is a half-brother to Belfast Banter and appeared to show much improved form last time behind Riaan in a rated novice at Thurles. Volantis had Makaela's Choice behind when fourth to the well-regarded Westport Cove in a bumper and was far from disgraced when switched to hurdles again at this venue last month. John W Creasy made a promising start in a valuable sales bumper here last Easter but has been soundly beaten on both point-to-point outings since.
Prediction : 1st Purse Price 2nd Volantis 3rd Fine Margin

DUTCH SCHULTZ is a decent stayer on the Flat winning twice and he was a highly creditable third to Echoes In Rain in the valuable amateur riders handicap at the Galway Festival. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding has yet to hit the same heights over hurdles but should appreciate this extra half-mile having tackled handicap company for the first time at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. American Mike was one of the top bumper horses last term but hasn't progressed after an easy maiden hurdle win. Stablemate Weseekhimhere should benefit from his reappearance at Punchestown, while others to consider in a highly competitive event include Spirit Of Legend, Cadatharla and Unanswered. The latter disappointed last time but still appears reasonably treated over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Dutch Schultz 2nd Unanswered 3rd Cadatharla

Gavin Cromwell's JUMP THE SHARK was an eye-catching fourth in Naas and looks well worth a step up in trip. He made his handicap debut in a higher grade and kept on to pass a lot of horses after the second-last flight. There should be some scope in Happy Dreams' mark over hurdles. He made up plenty of ground on his last run over further in Navan before finishing third. He won twice over fences in October and November on his way to a mark of 104 and races off 90 in this discipline. Falvio finished a couple of places in front of Jump The Shark in that aforementioned race in Naas, so has to rate a danger. He was another horse doing his best work at the finish and is also up in trip. Chainofconsequence reverts to hurdles after a good run in second over fences in Thurles. Market support for After The Roar would be significant.
Prediction : 1st Jump The Shark 2nd Happy Dreams 3rd Falvio

Willie Mullins has landed nine of the last 12 renewals of this Grade 3. He holds a strong hand with KEMBOY and Carefully Selected. This is effectively a drop in class for Kemboy who has been extensively campaigned at the highest level. He wasn't at his best when unplaced in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival but, prior to that, was runner-up in a couple of Grade 1 races this season. Carefully Selected won the Grade A Thyestes by a short head at Gowran Park which showed his fortitude. He is a lightly-raced sort, but has a couple of Grade 3 victories over fences in his locker. Longhouse Poet has been hurdling but, on his last start over fences, he was sixth in the Grand National at Aintree. Pencilfulloflead kept on to get up for third in the Thyestes. Vanillier has the ability to get in the mix, but fell at Leopardstown after jumping indifferently. He has to give weight away to the field.
Prediction : 1st Kemboy 2nd Carefully Selected 3rd Longhouse Poet

SALMANINO enjoyed himself when making all over an extended 2m6f in Punchestown. He won by more than four lengths and the runner-up has since franked the form in a handicap chase at Gowran Park. Salmanino won over a 3m trip during his hurdling career. Ballykeel is the highest-rated horse in the race. Corey McGivern takes a useful 7lb off his back and the pair should enjoy a good spin. They were only caught in the final strides of a 3m handicap chase at Down Royal in January. Brideswell Lad was fifth over an inadequate trip in Fairyhouse last month. He had a productive second-half to last year and garnered victories in Limerick and Wexford. He has a better chance than most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Salmanino 2nd Ballykeel 3rd Brideswell Lad

DOWN MEMORY LANE was a wide-margin winner of his point-to-point in October and has since switched to Gordon Elliott. He looks to have considerable promise and is half-brother to a four-time winner. Mister Pink is a half-brother to a couple of horses who won bumpers on their first track starts. He represents Willie Mullins and is sure to be well schooled for this assignment. Park Annonciade was backed down to favouritism for his debut in Wetherby, however, he gave best at the business end to come home fifth. Improvement is more than likely. Hilton De Chaillac was beaten a fair way into second in his point-to-point after going off at a fast pace. He had three subsequent point-to-point winners in behind, though.
Prediction : 1st Down Memory Lane 2nd Mister Pink 3rd Park Annonciade