UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

REDSTONE beat the smart King Of Kingsfield in a maiden over C&D in October and was travelling well when a faller three out on handicap debut at Down Royal a couple of weeks ago. He has a hefty weight to shoulder but could be on a decent mark nonetheless and gets the vote. Implicit put a poor run at Limerick behind her when scoring at Clonmel in January. She handled testing ground well on that occasion and has to be feared on handicap debut. Master Otis was runner-up to a subsequent handicap winner in a Leopardstown maiden and is another with plenty of upside on his first start in handicap company.
Prediction : 1st Redstone 2nd Implicit 3rd Master Otis

NDAAWI reversed course and distance form with Miss Manzor when a fine third in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and may now confirm that superiority. Gordon Elliott's charge, a maiden winner at Naas two runs back, finished third to Miss Manzor here in January but had that filly nine lengths in arrears when they clashed at Prestbury Park. Miss Manzor gets an extra 3lb from the selection on this occasion but it may not be enough to turn the tables. Karia Des Blaises, a faller at halfway in the Fred Winter, had previously split Miss Manzor and Ndaawi when second here in January and can't be ruled out but British raider Givemefive, second in a Grade 2 at Kempton after winning his first two starts over hurdles, may pose a bigger threat. Bottler'secret easily won a four-runner Grade 3 at Naas on hurdling debut but faces a stiffer task under a penalty.
Prediction : 1st Ndaawi 2nd Miss Manzor 3rd Givemefive

POSITIVE THINKER has been most consistent over both hurdles and fences this season and has good claims off a handy weight. A creditable second to Irish National contender Hartur D'arc over fences at Naas last time, he can compete off his lower hurdles mark here and his proven stamina will be an asset on the testing ground. Explosive Boy hasn't been seen since falling at this venue when in with every chance in late 2022. Touched off at Cheltenham on his previous start, his absence is obviously a concern and market confidence would be noteworthy. Kilbree Warrior is a doughty front-runner on her day and won over 2m4f at the Easter fixture here a year ago. She was a gallant second to an unexposed type at Naas three weeks ago and has her chance again from a 4lb higher mark.
Prediction : 1st Positive Thinker 2nd Explosive Boy 3rd Kilbree Warrior

ZARAK THE BRAVE should prove difficult to beat if staying this extra half-mile. The selection can race quite keenly and enjoyed a big payday when taking the Galway Hurdle last summer. He bounced back from a disappointing effort at Tipperary to take a Grade 3 at Naas and certainly wasn't disgraced when fourth to stablemate State Man in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Brewin'upastorm is well proven over this distance having twice won the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell and ran up to his mark in a Kelso handicap last month. Thedevilscoachman has been given a break since finishing very tired last time in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran and previously put in a decent effort behind Sir Gerhard over this trip at Punchestown.
Prediction : 1st Zarak The Brave 2nd Brewinupastorm 3rd Thedevilscoachman

SAINT SAM had some jumping issues as a novice but has switched back to fences with great effect winning his last four completed starts. The selection likes to force the pace and impressed last time over this trip in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran. Appreciate It probably holds the strongest piece of form here when dividing Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown but hasn't got near that level on both outings since. Journey With Me should benefit from his belated seasonal debut at Navan and may prove more of a threat than Fil Dor who has shown his best form over shorter distances.
Prediction : 1st Saint Sam 2nd Appreciate It 3rd Journey With Me

ANY SECOND NOW has generally shown his best form around this time of the year and has been given a chance by the handicapper although his age is a big minus for followers of trends. The Ted Walsh-trained gelding has no stamina concerns having been placed twice at Aintree and his seven career wins include the Bobbyjo Chase at this venue. Intense Raffles is at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of age and experience but has been really exciting in making all and jumping superbly on both outings here this year. The Gavin Cromwell-trained pair Hartur D'arc and Yeah Man both come here off the back of valuable handicap wins, while Where It All Began drew clear in the closing stages to beat We'llhavewan by 16 lengths in the 3m4f National Trial at Punchestown. Course winner Nick Rockett, Senior Chief, Good Time Jonny and Minella Cocooner all represent the novice brigade that have done well in this race over the years, while Where's Frankie is a four-time course winner and won over 3m4f at Leopardstown last time.
Prediction : 1st Any Second Now 2nd Intense Raffles 3rd Yeah Man

BATTLE OF MIRBAT won over this trip at Wexford last summer and a return to this stamina test should suit after a consistent series of runs when filling the runner-up spot three times. The selection usually finishes well and was beaten less than two lengths by Brideswell Lad at Leopardstown last time with Birchdale just a neck away in third. Enda Bolger's charge won over the banks at Punchestown earlier this season. St Denis's Well has taken really well to fences winning three times but a 14lb hike for his latest success at Down Royal makes life more difficult while Macdermott has generally been let down by his jumping. Better Times Ahead won a valuable 2m7f novice handicap at Navan last spring and should benefit from his reappearance at Gowran.
Prediction : 1st Battle Of Mirbat 2nd Birchdale 3rd St Deniss Well

Redemption Day sets a high standard having finished second to Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival two years ago and following a lengthy layoff, has been placed on both outings this term including a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival. However, it looks significant that Patrick Mullins is aboard COCO MASTERPIECE who won a point-to-point for Stuart Crawford and his Thurles bumper win was given a big boost when the runner-up Fishery Lane ran a cracker at Cheltenham. Patter Merchant also won between the flags and on collateral form has probably achieved a similar level to the selection in beating Sounds Victorius at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. Fleur In The Park is another to consider having filled the runner-up spot behind some useful types.
Prediction : 1st Coco Masterpiece 2nd Patter Merchant 3rd Redemption Day