Fairyhouse 4.00 Handicap Hurdle - 3 miles - 16 run - Good (Inner Track)

 

It's about 8/1 bar the top 4-5 in the market here and whilst of those Kulmurry JJ who runs off a nice hurdle mark and Kalaroun who is solid at this level, should run big races, they don't over enthuse me at their respective prices. A couple who try new "aids" for the first time are Ar Nos Na Gaoithe (cheekpieces) and County Champs (tongue tie) and if they bring out a modicum of improvement then both could feasibly be in contention too. The first two named reserves are Will It Be You and Calahill and both would be dangers if getting a run. 

 

Looking at all of the remainder though, I was left with a pretty clear top 3 and a 4th who would always be worth a small fun e/w side bet as he is "due".

 

DERBY DE THAIX ran very well over Course and Distance on penultimate run before getting bogged down in Heavy Going last time out, a return to this very tight inner track and the better ground really should improve chances and just a repeat of the last run here would surely suffice.

 

FILL THE TANK is in the Tracker and whilst not the force he was really should be capable of a top 6 finish here and possibly higher up the order than that. LIGHTONTHERIVER was 4th of 15 in this corresponding race last year and continues to be sparingly raced generally. A similar prep this time and again, a repeat of that run would again take it very close again here today on what is a specialist track.

 

A few step up in trip and might find improvement for it although none have any known 3 mile P2P form as an example to base a calculated guess on, so that leaves the rag of the field betting wise, dear old FATHER JED @ 20/1. A cursory glance of his last half dozen runs would have anyone tipping him reaching for the straightjacket, but look deeper and deeper and you'll see that periodically this one just fires in a couple of decent runs out of no-where. Like a Volcano that lies dormant and then just starts to rumble quietly, maybe this is one of those occasions and well worth a few quid to find out! (MG)

 

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SEDGEFIELD 3.55-:

 

This is a Mares Handicap Hurdle with a field of 13 runners so a decent punting heat and my e/w Card banker is the Red Menzies trained LENEBANE. A maiden who has placed on a number occasions and certainly she may have found a couple of decent horses to beat her last time and a well deserved win is surely close here if she can find that sort of performance again. At around 8/1 she looks the best e/w punt on a disappointing Card in terms of the number of runners. (North)

 

WARWICK 4.10 -:

 

A Handicap Chase over an extended 3 miles and a furlong and that means they have to jump the 5 tricky fences down the back straight on two occasions. So I'm looking for a steady jumper with some proven stamina and although the top pair look very strong at 11/10 (Touchwoodexpress) and 7/2 (Jony Max) , I think that at around 8/1 the consistent one paced but usually reliable FELTON BELLEVUE is well worth a small e/w punt and should there be any jimping errors or mishaps from the market leader then hopefully this would be the most likely on form to take advantage  (RJ)

 

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