UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

QUEEN JANE may be able to score here on her return to action. The Mahler mare was progressive last season, winning her first two chase starts before falling at Punchestown when coming to fight out the finish in another competitive mares' handicap. She is just 1lb higher now and looks capable of further improvement. It was a dramatic race at Punchestown in April with Bonnie Kellie also crashing out at the final fence, leaving Indie Belle to pick up the pieces. Sam Curling's charge has already visited the winner's enclosure this season, scoring at Clonmel in October. She is 9lb worse off with Queen Jane now. Brides Hill tops the weights and was an easy winner in novice company at Listowel. She is another who has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Queen Jane 2nd Bonnie Kellie 3rd Brides Hill

Willie Mullins picked out BATMAN GIRAC as a potential Triumph Hurdle challenger in a recent stable tour and it looks significant that he turns out here in the same race the stable won last year with Lossiemouth. The Bathyrhon gelding was a cosy winner on his second outing over hurdles in his native France and was snapped up for 150,000 euros at the sales the following month. Gordon Elliott runs two and jockey bookings would suggest that Kala Conti is the stable first choice. The Karaktar filly won easily on her Irish debut at Navan and although it probably wasn't the strongest contest, she couldn't have done it much more impressively. Nara is another intriguing runner on her first outing for Henry de Bromhead. The Jeu St Eloi filly won a Listed hurdle on her debut at Auteuil in April.
Prediction : 1st Batman Girac 2nd Kala Conti 3rd Nara

MINELLA CROONER is a real galloper and this kind of trip looks right up his street. The Shantou gelding won a decent little conditions race in Wexford on his return and connections expected him to improve from the run. He remains on the same mark of 144 and looks to have a nice race like this in him. Sir Bob and Call The Tune do battle again, with just a short head separating the pair in a driving finish to the Cork National early last month. Both went up 7lb after that race and there might not be a lot between them again. The mare My Design beat some higher-rated rivals in Galway and it will be interesting to see how she fares back in handicap company now.
Prediction : 1st Minella Crooner 2nd Sir Bob 3rd Call The Tune

AN TOBAR looked very smart when making a winning 'track' debut over C&D last month and can confirm that impression. The Gentlewave gelding, a point-to-point winner in January 2022, met with a 'little bit of a setback', forcing him to miss last season, and connections will be keen to make up for lost time. Encanto Bruno was impressive on his first start for Gavin Cromwell at Cheltenham in late October and that looks strong form. Softer ground now is a question mark for the Mahler gelding. Gordon Elliott runs three and Farren Glory would appear to be the number one hope on jockey bookings. The Fame And Glory gelding was impressive when taking his maiden hurdle at Clonmel last month. He was free enough that day and it's interesting to see him dropped in trip now.
Prediction : 1st An Tobar 2nd Encanto Bruno 3rd Farren Glory

LETSBECLEARABOUTIT has won both chase runs easily. Fourth in two Grade 1 hurdles last term, he steps up from his recent Grade 3 win but such was the manner of that easy success, he can progress further at this same distance. Six-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Sharjah won well at Galway and in a Tipperary Grade 3 in October. He lacks the size of the selection and is a late-comer to chasing aged 10, but nonetheless is high-class. Found A Fifty comfortably beat Colonel Mustard on his Down Royal chase debut and while he can progress, had nonetheless previously failed in two Grade 1 hurdles. Perceval Legallois, a 135-rated hurdler, was being niggled along when falling behind the selection at Cork and would prefer further. I Am Maximus won April's Irish National at this course and while a high-class stayer, his customary left-jumping tendency is a negative over this inadequate distance and he lacks race-fitness.
Prediction : 1st Letsbeclearaboutit 2nd Sharjah 3rd Found A Fifty

Connections of last year's winner TEAHUPOO will have a follow-up bid firmly in their sights and perhaps he can defeat Impaire Et Passe. The selection was the first horse to beat Honeysuckle when winning this race last year and while ultimately he is a stayer, he is high-class and will be ready on reappearance. Impaire Et Passe fits the mould of a Willie Mullins-trained horse with monstrous ability, but reappears in a race which his champion trainer has 'only' won three times. He impressively won at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last season but, in contrast to the selection, might have an eye to later targets this season. Ashroe Diamond is already a Fairyhouse specialist and while thoroughly dependable, faces a tougher task than the Grade 1 she won against her own sex here in April. Zanahiyr is race-fit and in form but is vulnerable to top-class rivals, while Buddy One is thoroughly progressive and consistent but steps out of handicap company.
Prediction : 1st Teahupoo 2nd Impaire Et Passe 3rd Ashroe Diamond

FOXY GIRL ran well on recent handicap hurdle debut and might turn placings with two rivals and win. A capable keen-goer, she was anchored in rear at Down Royal and having finished nicely despite making a late mistake, should improve experience-wise and is 5lb better off with winner Magic Tricks and 1lb with runner-up The Model Kingdom - who both had a race-fitness edge. Media Naranja was defeated in one previous handicap and while raised 5lb for a recent Grade 3 placing, her rider claims 5lb. Her stablemate Ted Hastings ran well at Galway in October, while Flamborough won a recent maiden and has handicap experience. Conyers Hill faces a tougher task than when winning at Cork, while Coeur Sublime is in form from the Flat but his previous hurdle race was in December 2020. Jeff Kidder is a dual C&D winner but needs to return to form, while Royal Eagle was well beaten at Cheltenham. Common Practice runs in a first-time tongue-tie and was beaten 25 lengths at Naas.
Prediction : 1st Foxy Girl 2nd Media Naranja 3rd Flamborough

PETIT SECRET was in contention when falling on point-to-point debut and has joined Willie Mullins, who raced his Grade 1-placed half-sister Analifet. A sibling to four black-type performers, he fell at the second-last when debuting for Pat Doyle at Lisronagh and could be smart. Bleu De Vassy was beaten by a well-backed winner at Sligo in October (His Nibs finished fourth) and is experienced, with his rider claiming 5lb. Stablemate Undeniable Alibi, a 170,000-euro three-year-old purchase, won readily on Punchestown point-to-point debut for Colin Bowe and has also joined top connections. That pointing form is just ordinary but he was the clear winner and it is encouraging connections run in a bumper. Skyville is a half-sister to black-type bumper winner Dixie Lee, with Finny Maguire riding her instead of tongue-tied stablemate Al Gasparo, on whom he won a Loughrea point-to-point for Ciaran Murphy last March. Fascinating Story, interestingly, derails from hurdling and could improve in a first-time hood.
Prediction : 1st Petit Secret 2nd Bleu De Vassy 3rd Fascinating Story