2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Preview – DS
2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tips
We had a decent day yesterday with two places. Petit King got us off to a good start at 33s but if he wasn’t hampered, he might have gone closer. Whatcouldhavenbeen got the heart rate going when she surged clear turning for home. Ashroe Diamond reeled her in but she finished an excellent 2nd at 66/1. Banjaxed hated the ground and I’m not sure what happened Barnacullia. Hopefully we can finish on a high on Irish Grand National Day, Dave Stevos’ 2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday tips are below.
2.05 – Novice Handicap Hurdle (123 = 11st 12)
The ground at Fairyhouse deteriorated through the day yesterday and it was extremely tough going. They walked over the line in the Gold Cup and they finished strung out in plenty of the hurdle races. At least we are racing on fresh ground today and the showers today and the rain that fell last night will hopefully have loosened the ground up from that tacky mess it was yesterday.
It’ll still be a day for soft ground horses and Razdan looks a deserved favourite here. Certain pundits have called this horse plenty of names but it has been luck rather than attitude that has prevented him from winning more races. He managed to win over 8f at the Curragh last time, a fair achievement for a horse that probably wants 12f+ on the level and he handles all sorts of ground. Last year’s Irish National winning jockey claims 5lbs and racing off effectively 102, Razdan is handicapped to run a massive race.
Keep The Faith
Unfortunately, he is too short for the blog so I’ll keep the faith with Eddie Cawley. He did us a favour yesterday with Petit King and he has another interesting contender here in Mary’s Pride. This gelding got off the mark on just his second handicap start over this C&D back in December on yielding/soft. He had Ballybawn Belter back in 5th that day and she won a Grade B handicap on her next start at Leopardstown.
That win came off a mark of 100 and he is only 6lbs higher today. He hasn’t been seen since (110 days) but Cawley said after the race that he isn’t the easiest to train and that he needs time between races. No doubt he’ll have this horse primed for his favourite meeting and Liam McKenna takes off a handy 5lbs. He only sneaks in as the third reserve but even so, with trip, track and ground all to suit, Mary’s Pride is the e/w selection at 28/1.
2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: Mary’s Pride e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)
2.40 – Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
It is hard to be 100% confident in Blood Destiny given what transpired in the Triumph. Sent off at 3/1, he was far too keen for Patrick Mullins and he only finished 9th, beat 27L. Previously he landed a Cork maiden and a C&D 4yo race, so perhaps going right handed might be the key to him. If that is the case, he should win and he is 7lbs better off with Sir Allen compared to when beating him 5L at Cork.
There has been a few bob for Enjoy The Dream overnight but the ground surely has to rate as a worry. He has some very decent form on the flat in Germany but it is all on decent ground. He was beaten 16.5L on soft on his Irish hurdles debut and while it wasn’t a run devoid of promise, a lot more will be required here. This race looks to be between the market principals, I’ll happily sit it out. No bet.
2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: No Bet
3.15 – Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
Another handicap hurdle and as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Waittillitellyou represents Eddie Cawley here and Philip Enright takes the ride. This son of Masterofthehorse hacked up at Cork (24f hvy) last time out, the 9yos 8th career start. That win came off 105 and the handicapper has hiked him up to 115. Given the manner of the win, that seems fair enough and the fact that Cawley has decided not to claim off him suggests that he thinks he can cope with the rise in the weights too.
Previous to that Cork win this horse ran a blinder when 2nd behind Run For Pat over today’s C&D on soft. Clearly, he is a horse that loves to get his toe in and conditions should be perfect for him at Fairyhouse today. He has now got two wins and a second in his five handicap starts and there could still be more to come on this type of ground. At odds of 16/1, Waittillitellyou is the e/w selection.
2023 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: Waittillitellyou e/w @ 16/1 (5 places) NAP
5.00 – Irish Grand National (Grade A)
If the ground is anything like it was on Sunday, this is going to be some slog. We have already backed Max Flamingo ante-post at 25/1 but unfortunately, he is most likely going to hate the ground. The ‘yielding’ they are calling it this year is a whole different kettle of fish compared to the yielding they ran on last year and this horse has form figures of 13/5/P on soft/heavy. It is fair to say my hopes of a big run have receded due to the weather, but we live in hope.
Last year, it was course form that pointed me in the direction of Lord Lariat. He loves it here and so does the Willie Mullins trained mare, Dolcita. This 8yo ran a blinder here when 2nd to Scarlet and Dove on her penultimate start (21f sft). The winner was too quick for her but she ran through the line well and on that evidence, she looks well worth trying over this sort of distance.
Outpaced or Outstayed?
The furthest trip she has tackled to date was 22f at Thurles in Feb 2022 and she was beat 5L by Jeremy’s Flame. Again, to my eye it looked like she was outpaced rather than outstayed and it was another run that suggested a greater stamina test might suit. Her form figures at Fairyhouse read 3112, with three of those runs coming in Listed/G3 company.
She loves soft ground and she won at this meeting last year. It is just her fourth run of the season so it looks like this race may have been the plan and Danny Mullins keeps the faith. Unlike Max Flamingo, the conditions are firmly in this mare’s favour and if she does stay the trip, she could outrun her odds of 40/1.
