UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

BATTLE OF RIDGEWAY can make it two from three over fences. The Califet gelding was an impressive winner on his chase debut at Thurles in November and just lost out by half a length in a tight finish on his first handicap start over the larger obstacles back at the Tipperary venue last month. That form looks solid with the fourth-placed horse, R'evelyn Pleasure winning twice since. Chainofconsequence has a nice low weight in this with Adam Ryan taking off 7lb. The Ocovango gelding won on his penultimate start at Limerick before a solid placed effort off this mark at Clonmel last time. Teescomponentsyess chased home Chainofconsequence in Limerick and is entitled to get a bit closer now on revised terms.
Prediction : 1st Battle Of Ridgeway 2nd Chainofconsequence 3rd Teescomponentsyess

BALDUR'S GATE ran a big race over two-and-a-half miles last time and may benefit from going back up in trip now. He was impressive when winning over an extended three miles at Punchestown back in November and is lightly-raced for a nine-year-old. Pictures Of Home is another who looks well suited by a stiff test of stamina having won over two-miles-seven here on his penultimate start. He could be a danger. Josh D'id takes a step up in trip now and is another for the shortlist having stayed on when fourth over two-and-a-half at Navan last month.
Prediction : 1st Baldurs Gate 2nd Pictures Of Home 3rd Josh Did

JADE DE GRUGY looked very exciting on her Irish debut at Leopardstown over Christmas and can take another step up the ladder here. The Doctor Dino mare, a winner on the Flat in France, powered clear to beat a good yardstick in Butcher Hollow on her jumping debut and looks a very smart prospect in this mares division. Willie Mullins saddles three others in the race. Pink In The Park is the most experienced and sets a decent standard off a mark of 134. Henry de Bromhead's charge Look To The West is another unexposed sort that has to be respected. She was value for a bit more than her winning margin on her hurdling debut at Navan and should appreciate going another couple of furlongs.
Prediction : 1st Jade De Grugy 2nd Pink In The Park 3rd Look To The West

WESTERN DIEGO may be able to get back on track here after a disappointing show on his hurdling debut at Cork last month. The Westerner gelding, seventh in last year's Cheltenham bumper, ran much too freely and made a few errors on his first outing over timber, easing down in the closing stages to finish a well beaten fifth. He should be capable of a good bit better. Shoot The Blues looked a nice prospect when winning a bumper on debut back in October 2022. He has a long absence to overcome but commands respect from an in-form yard. Jack Kennedy takes the mount on Undeniable Alibi from the two Gordon Elliott runners. The Saint de Saints gelding won a point-to-point last year but was turned over at a short price on his 'track' debut in a bumper here early last month. He may do better now over jumps.
Prediction : 1st Western Diego 2nd Shoot The Blues 3rd Undeniable Alibi

TIME FOR TEA gets the vote in a maiden hurdle for horses that have run at least three times under Rules and not finished in the first three. The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare has progressed steadily in three maiden hurdle starts this term including behind Predators Gold at Punchestown, and last time divided subsequent winners Purse Price and Mount Frisco when fourth to The Other Mozzie at Down Royal's Christmas meeting. Only A Dollar has also shown some promise in four starts including behind Binge Worthy at Limerick last month, while others to consider include Midweek Voices, Magic Sadler and Paddy's Milestone.
Prediction : 1st Time For Tea 2nd Only A Dollar 3rd Midweek Voices

ONE BIG BANG appreciated the step up to this trip at Limerick last month when keeping on well into third behind Ishan with Sir Bob about four lengths back in fourth and Mont Saint Vincent held in sixth. The point-to-point winner was having just his second run in a handicap and probably has more scope for improvement. Sir Bob relishes a test of stamina exemplified by his win in the Cork Grand National in November and the veteran remains on a competitive mark 15lb lower than his current chase rating. Givehimthehonour kept on into third over 2m5f at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day and the point-to-point winner tries this trip for the first time under Rules while Mighty Oak Lad readily landed a gamble on the same card, with C&D winner Duffys Getaway soundly beaten in third, but has gone up 16lb as a result.
Prediction : 1st One Big Bang 2nd Sir Bob 3rd Mighty Oak Lad

LIEBER NICC caught the eye on his first completed start when keeping on well in the closing stages behind No Flies On Him in a 28-runner maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding didn't travel well on that occasion but showed a good attitude and should benefit from the experience. Argento Boy is an obvious threat from powerful connections and appeals on pedigree being a half-brother to four winners including Briar Hill who won the Champion Bumper for the same yard. Machismo won a point-to-point at Borris House last month and is a half-brother to three winners including the smart Keeper Hill while Born Braver is another to consider having won twice between the flags in recent months.
Prediction : 1st Lieber Nicc 2nd Argento Boy 3rd Machismo