16:30 Fairyhouse

Tuesday 22 April 2025

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final (Listed)

Off time: 16:33 | Winning time: 5m 52.3s

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Selected odds by:

Patter Merchant⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J H Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

16/1

16/1, respectable ninth of 24 in Pertemps handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Will need to brush up on his jumping if he's to figure.

Form: 354549

Blaze The Way³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 127

18/1

Bumper winner proved a different proposition when winning on handicap hurdle debut at Navan (25f) in December, relishing the greater test of stamina. Solid in-the-frame efforts both starts since, fourth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, soft) 38 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 337124

Blue Mosque³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 127

25/1

Latest win in hurdle at Cork in November. Good second of 6 in novice hurdle at Navan (22.7f, soft, 6/1) 31 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 1-15222

Fishery Lane³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| C

15/2

Very useful bumper performer who built on his hurdling promise to land 20f maiden here in January. Sweated up and ultimately pulled up in Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m) on most recent start and another who will appreciate this switch to handicaps.

Form: 250-31P

Road To Home²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124

5/1

Successful on sole outing in bumpers for Eugene M. O'Sullivan and confirmed previous hurdles promise for new yard when easily winning 9-runner Hexham maiden (16.2f) 28 days ago, hard held. Very interesting handicap debutant with prospect of more to come.

Form: FP-1R31

Autoportrait^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 122

12/1

Fairly useful, consistent hurdler who deservedly got off the mark in 7-runner maiden at Navan (20f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Looks sure to give another good account now handicapping back up in trip.

Form: 3-23221

Ayiko^t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 122| D

25/1

1 win from 2 runs this season. 5/6, didn't need to be at best when winning 9-runner novice hurdle at Ayr (24.3f, soft) 91 days ago, asserting flat. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 0753-21

Custom Taylor^v⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: K C Sexton| T: D Queally| OR: 122| D

18/1

Bumper/fairly useful hurdler. 2 wins from 6 runs this season. 4/9 and visored for 1st time, completed simple task when bagging 8-runner novice hurdle at Limerick (24f, good to soft) 40 days ago, heavily eased down. In the mix back in handicaps.

Form: 132201

Inn At The Park³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122| CD

22/1

Walk In The Park gelding got off to a successful start in 23f novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. Not built on that subsequently, finding Grade 1 Albert Bartlett too hot at Cheltenham last month. This more suitable now handicapping for his all-conquering yard.

Form: 336-140

Beaufort Scale^t¹³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| D

100/1

Latest win in hurdle at Bangor in November. 33/1, bit below form twelfth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (25.2f, soft) 136 days ago.

Form: 13U910

Dont Tell Jack⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 120

6/4

Lightly-raced maiden. 8/1, good sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Naas (19.5f, soft) 44 days ago, not knocked about. Very much the type to be suited by 2½m+ and he still has more to offer.

Form: 2-4736

Promontory²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: A P Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Sarah Connell| OR: 118| D

25/1

Well-related 8-y-o who continued theme of race-by-race progress when taking 14-runner novice hurdle at Limerick (24f, good, 13/2) 21 days ago, kept up to work. Interesting handicap debutant.

Form: 431

The Story So Far^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 118| D

28/1

Latest win in hurdle at Cork in January. Respectable third of 11 in novice hurdle at Wexford (24.5f, soft, 17/2) 18 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 721473

Al Kalila¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Gilligan| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 117

14/1

Fair form when placed 3 times over hurdles last season and he didn't need to improve when winning 11-runner maiden hurdle at Ayr (20.5f) in January, comfortably having been allowed the run of the race. Could do better at this trip returned to handicaps.

Form: 95237-1

Andy Amo³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 117| D

16/1

Improving 6-y-o who made it 2 wins from 4 starts this season when taking 5-runner handicap hurdle (7/2) at Bangor (23.2f, good) 31 days ago, that despite not convincing with his hurdling. Respected nevertheless with further progress possible.

Form: 34-2411

Goody Four Shoes³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M P O'Connor| T: T Gibney| OR: 114

100/1

Well-beaten sixth of 7 to Autoportrait in novice hurdle (25/1) at Navan (20f, soft) 31 days ago. Switch to handicaps rates a plus but he will need to jump better than previously to play a lead role.

Form: 756446

Born Bright^p1¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Connell| OR: 112| C| D

40/1

Course winner. Latest win in hurdle at Thurles in March. Not seen to best effect when 6 lengths sixth of 13 to The Miracle Man in handicap hurdle (8/1) at this course (24f, good) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 435016

The Miracle Man¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: A L T Moore| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle (11/2) at this course (24f, good) 16 days ago. Remains unexposed at staying trips but operating from out of the weights on this occasion.

Form: 17FU21

Non-Runners

Fairyland Opera⁹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: L Fowler J: John Shinnick

Forecasts

Dont Tell Jack (6/4), Road To Home (5/1), Fishery Lane (15/2), Fairyland Opera (8/1), The Miracle Man (12/1), Autoportrait (12/1), Al Kalila (14/1), Andy Amo (16/1), Patter Merchant (16/1), Custom Taylor (18/1), Blaze The Way (18/1), Inn At The Park (22/1), Ayiko (25/1), Blue Mosque (25/1), Promontory (25/1), The Story So Far (28/1), Born Bright (40/1), Beaufort Scale (100/1), Goody Four Shoes (100/1)

A whole host with claims in this red-hot handicap with the suggestion being FAIRYLAND OPERA. This is undoubtedly her toughest assignment to date, yet she confirmed her well-being with a comfortable success in novice company at Tramore 9 days ago and, completely unexposed at this sort of trip, she appeals as the type to progress further back in handicaps. Road To Home, Dont Tell Jack and Andy Amo are others to consider. Fishery Lane and Ayiko complete a long shortlist.