After landing a 10/1 winner on Tuesday, Liam Firkin has picked out three tips for Wednesday's racing at Fairyhouse & Newcastle.
13:45 - FAIRYHOUSE
Tip 1: MINELLA SIXO - 0.5pts Each-Way
MINELLA SIXO (best price 22/1) returns to the racecourse after a four and a half month absence and is in much calmer waters than where we’ve previously seen him competing.
He came straight from the point-to-point sphere in May 2024 and won on two of his first three starts and those victories came either side of a second place finish in a class two novice hurdle at Cheltenham that was won by Potters Charm. That run was off level weights and he found himself just over 2L behind that rival who is now rated 149.
That was followed by a runner up effort in a Grade 2 at Cork and then was 4L back from The Big Westerner (140) in a Grade 3 at Limerick. All of that form reads in his favour and especially given he’s down to a mark of 133, is lightly raced, and returns to the smaller obstacles where he seemed to get much more joy from his job as a racehorse.
He is top weight in here but has 7lbs taken off his back to aide his return to racing and although that may not be enough for him to put in a solid effort, should he be in desperate need of this run, I still feel as though I can offset those concerns with the fact that he’s run very well previously when coming into the race fresh. Gordon does saddle a second runner in this race and with Jack Kennedy in the plate, he will be considered the first string but I do like the fact that Gordon has opted with the 7lbs claimer and that makes me think that this horse could be revved up for today.
The trip, level of opposition, and the fact that he is going right-handed here are all positives with all of his previous form of note having been when running this way round. If he’s geared up for his first start of this season, then he could be extremely overpriced.
15:25 - FAIRYHOUSE
Tip 2: MISS PRONUNCIATION - 0.75pt Win
Today could be the day that MISS PRONUNCIATION (11/2) finally breaks her maiden tag over fences. She returns to fairy house for her third run of the season and is now just 2lbs higher than when winning a maiden hurdle at this same venue over the smaller obstacles.
She is relatively ground versatile and at the time of writing the going is described as yielding and should that remain the same by the off time then the extension in trip is likely to suit. She has looked like a mare who needs further over fences and this 2m5f race coupled with a return to a course where she’s had success before could be just the recipe she requires to get her back into the winners enclosure which would no doubt be bittersweet for Mark Walsh given some of the unfair criticism he’s endured of late and following the announcement of Harry Cobden replacing him as JP McManus’s retained Jockey.
15:50 - NEWBURY
Tip 3: TINTINTIN - 1.5pts Each-Way
TINTINTIN (best price 11/1) is back over hurdles and on a fantastic mark that he can take advantage of.
His last run over hurdles was at the October meeting at Cheltenham where he finished seventh in a large field handicap won by the very progressive French Ship.
That was a good run but what is further encouraging is the prior form shown especially when going back to the beginning of last season in the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle. He was running off a mark of 124 and was 4th in that race with some significant runners in behind who went onto frank the form.
Fiercely Proud won at Ascot.
Go Dante won the Imperial Cup.
Cracking Rhapsody won the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
All of which were behind him on that day.
He is now down 5lbs since that race and as a further positive, he returns to the 2m trip and looks to be getting his good ground at Newbury. There is so much to like and provided that experience of chasing doesn’t leave a mark then he could be extremely well in and seriously get involved in this at a price that is far too big based on his back form with so many factors in his favour.
