Steve Ryder is back with free tips covering the Fairyhouse card -he’s locked onto two standout chances including a four point NAP.
13:05 Fairyhouse
Tip 1 – 1:05 Fairyhouse – BETTER TIMES AHEAD – 1pt Win
The 3m6f trip is a slight question mark for Better Times Ahead, but this has been his long-term early-season target and he looks the one they all have to beat. The Robert Tyner team are flying, operating at a 35% strike rate (9–26), and they also had I’m Slippy finish second in a Grade 3 Hurdle yesterday.
Better Times Ahead was runner-up to subsequent Scottish Grand National hero Macdermott at Fairyhouse in April 2024, before finishing a head second to Minella Crooner in a Listed handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. After missing most of last season, he made a winning return over hurdles here, staying on strongly.
Now rated 2lb lower than that Punchestown second and running off just 10-6, he looks well-treated and ready to strike.
14:36 Fairyhouse
Tip 2 – 2:36 Fairyhouse – TEAHUPOO – 4pt Win
The Gordon Elliott trained TEAHUPOO (best priced at 11/10) is a five-time Grade 1 winner who won this race in 2022 and 2023 prior to finishing runner-up behind Lossiemouth last season in a slowly run contest. He has a fantastic record fresh has very little question marks coming into this race as an eight-year-old.
Ballyburn will no doubt be keen on his reappearance reverting back to hurdling and the biggest danger could come from Mystical Power who was still travelling well when pulling up in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. It would be disappointing if Teahupoo couldn’t make a winning return though and he is a confident selection to get his season off to the perfect start.
