UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

EAGLE'S QUEST, who had a couple of these behind when runner-up at Gowran Park, can gain a first success. The Mags Mullins-trained gelding also shaped with promise on his previous start when sixth in a big field at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. With an official rating of 115, the six-year-old sets a fair standard in a race of this nature. All Night Revival, who was fourth in that Gowran race, has to be respected. Having finished runner-up between the flags and in a bumper, he made a promising start to his career over flights. Point-to-point winner Simply Natural is not one to dismiss lightly on her hurdling debut.
Prediction : 1st Eagles Quest 2nd All Night Revival 3rd Simply Natural

SOPELANA can defy her big weight to register a fourth win over hurdles. Although last of seven in a 2m4f Listed race at Navan earlier this month, the Cian Collins-trained filly ran better than that bare form suggests. Hampered early on, she made good progress to briefly go third approaching the final flight before her stamina limitations were exposed. Back at this trip, she will find the opposition easier and should also appreciate the sharper track. Mode Avion, who finished third to the selection at Punchestown in November, has every chance at these weights. Whats New has the ability to win over hurdles if first-time cheekpieces can bring about further improvement.
Prediction : 1st Sopelana 2nd Mode Avion 3rd Whats New

SPORTINTHEPARK looks well treated reverting to hurdles. A winner in this sphere at Galway in October, the Noel Meade-trained gelding was subsequently raised 6lb to 126. Although very disappointing over fences in the Troytown at Navan last time, the ground was very testing and, 8lb lower in this sphere, he can get his career back on track. Billy Lee Swagger, who made most when scoring at this venue, has to hold every chance. The hat-trick seeking Our Uncle Jack steps up in trip, but has to be respected given his rich vein of form.
Prediction : 1st Sportinthepark 2nd Billy Lee Swagger 3rd Our Uncle Jack

Despite being raised 12lb for an emphatic win at Naas, RUN FOR COVER is taken to complete the hat-trick. Having opened her account here on her previous start, the seven-year-old adopted similar front-running tactics at the County Kildare track. As that latest race was confined to conditionals, her rider Conor Brassil was unable to claim. Now taking 3lb off, that does at least ease her burden somewhat. Blow Wind Blow has to be a leading contender on his handicap debut. An easy winner at Thurles, the Enda Bolger-trained gelding could be well treated. Shanroe Act is another with every chance in quite a competitive affair.
Prediction : 1st Run For Cover 2nd Blow Wind Blow 3rd Shanroe Act

All of these hold Grand National entries and the last two renewals have been won by horses who followed up in the big race at Aintree. Having shown signs of life over hurdles at Gowran last time, a chance is taken that GERRI COLOMBE retains enough ability to land this prize. A five-time Grade 1 winner and second in the 2024 Gold Cup, the 10-year-old missed a year through injury and will have benefited from his first completed start of the season. Jack Kennedy prefers Three Card Brag to the selection and his mount has been in fine form in handicaps, while last year's Grand National third Grangeclare West is the stable-selected from Willie Mullins' quartet.
Prediction : 1st Gerri Colombe 2nd Grangeclare West 3rd Three Card Brag

Three of these were easy winners last time out and it will be a surprise if one of the trio doesn't emerge victorious. NELSON COUNTY, a winning three-miler over hurdles, made short work of his rivals at this venue last month on just his second start over fences. From the family of Irish Grand National winner Our Duke, he may improve for this step up in trip and more testing ground is unlikely to be a negative for him. On his first completed start over fences, Rokathir came home clear over 3m at Navan and looks a leading player despite a 15lb rise in his rating, while ready Punchestown winner Showurappreciation is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Nelson County 2nd Rokathir 3rd Showurappreciation

A low weight will be an advantage in the conditions for NOTIMELIKEDPRESENT, who shaped with some promise in his first handicap chase at Tramore. He kept on without landing a blow on that occasion and this extra two furlongs, along with the addition of a tongue-tie, might produce an improved performance. Duce Bigalow was clear of the remainder when runner-up over 3m at Navan and has a top conditional on board. Aines Lad has improved over timber lately and runs off his revised hurdles rating on this chase debut. One Horse Army won over a longer trip here last year and showed a bit of spark over hurdles two starts back.
Prediction : 1st Notimelikedpresent 2nd Duce Bigalow 3rd One Horse Army

A 45,000-euro purchase at three, LOOK ME handled testing conditions well when narrowly beaten in a valuable sales bumper here last April. The form of that race has taken a few knocks in the interim but the five-year-old, by the same sire as Kargese, is still taken to make a winning start for Willie Mullins having been in the care of Stuart Crawford last term. Point-to-point winner Detroit Maverick was second to a Mullins inmate on Rules debut here last month and is the obvious danger, but the champion trainer will have had a guide as to what is required to defeat that rival. A fair fifth at Navan, Thenavvybank may prove best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Look Me 2nd Detroit Maverick 3rd Thenavvybank