2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Preview – DS
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Preview
Just one place to show for our efforts on Sunday with our NB Chosen Diamond. Ataboycharlie was never put into his race and Springtime Promise folded late after chasing the early pace. The 3 mile stayer Oscars Brother was ridden for a turn of foot over 20f and Skippin Court just didn’t act on the ground. We go again, our 2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday tips are below.
2.05 – Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
Eddie Cawley delivered us a place on Sunday and I’m sticking with him in this contest. He runs Petit King here, his only runner on the card, and he has previous at this meeting. The son of Creachadoir ran well to finish third on the Sunday of last year’s meeting off 105 (20f yld) and that was on ground plenty lively for him.
Petit King gained his first win on his third start of this season at Punchestown (19f hvy) in December. He only won by 1.5L off 105 but in truth he was a very comfortable winner. He went close back there in February off 112, beaten 0.5L over 20f on soft to heavy ground.
Judging from Sunday’s racing, the ground is exceedingly taxing. I’m hoping that stamina comes into play because this will be the shortest trip this lad has run over in some time. Hopefully Kieran Buckley has him close to the pace from the outset and if the ground slows down some of his rivals, Petit King is capable of running on late for the place money at least.
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: Petit King e/w @ 22/1 (5 places) NB
2.40 – Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
You don’t often see Jim Bolger with NH horses these days but in Eastern Legend he has an extremely interesting recruit to this sphere. By the top class Teofilo, this 4yo absolutely relishes testing ground. On heavy/soft ground he has form figures of 3113 on the flat with the wins coming over 12f on heavy and 14f on soft.
That pair of wins came off marks of 79 and 85 and he ended up with a rating of 95 on the level. One of his thirds came over 10f at Naas when he met today’s favourite Bottler’secret. He was conceding 4lbs to the now Cromwell horse in that race and he finished 2.75L behind him. He gets 3lbs from him today, a 7lbs swing.
Now, this horse has never jumped a hurdle in public so that’s an unknown. However, Bolger is sure to have done plenty of schooling with him and he should be well drilled. Bolger has started the flat season well and he is 9/60 with 25 top 4 finishes at Fairyhouse so over 50% of his NH runners at the track have hit the frame. Hopefully JJ Slevin can steer Eastern Legend into the places today at odds of 20/1.
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: Eastern Legend e/w @ 20/1
3.15 – Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
The only one at a half decent price I can make a case for here is Whatcouldhavebeen. Trained by Jarlath Fahey, this 6yo mare placed for us at 66/1 in a G1 Novice at last year’s Grand National meeting and on that form, she should be more than capable of winning off her current rating of 128.
However, since that excellent run behind Ashroe Diamond here last year, she has disappointed. After a couple of below par efforts on the flat at the Curragh she has had three hurdle runs. Her last two were the best of those, a remote third here over 20f and a 13L fifth at Naas over 19f.
The daughter of Battle Of Marengo does seem to save her best for Fairyhouse. She has form figures of 1423 here, with the fourth and second coming in G3 and G1 novice company. There is every chance that this step up to 22f will suit her and if the first time cheekpieces help her to concentrate better, hopefully she can bounce back to top form at odds of 16/1.
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: Whatcouldhavebeen e/w @ 16/1 (4 places) nap
3.50 – Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2)
A very easy race to swerve. No Looking Back is a horse I like but he hasn’t been seen for almost a year. Zarak The Brave should win on ratings but I am not sure about this ground for him. Brewin’upastorm ran poorly his last start on heavy but the one who’ll love the conditions is the mudlark Thedevilscoachman. He’s only 5/2 though and with just two places on offer, we’ll give this race a miss. No bet.
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: No Bet
4.20 – Fairyhouse Chase (Grade 2)
If there were three places on offer in this race I’d be extremely tempted by Rebel Gold. He’s won here before, he likes heavy ground and he ran a cracker behind Ferny Hollow at Naas last time. However, Saint Sam looked good on heavy ground at Gowran last time and Appreciate It, who would be my idea of the winner of this, loves heavy ground too. The likes of Fil Dor and Journey With Me are also classy types so I am going to leave Rebel Gold alone this time. No bet.
2024 Fairyhouse Easter Monday Tip: No Bet
5.00 – Irish Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
We are already on Street Value at 50s for this race (read why here). The ground will be perfect for him and I’m happy with the jockey booking. Hopefully he’ll handle the conditions better than some of his shorter priced rivals and if he puts in a clear round of jumping, he should be finishing off his race better than most. I’m going to stick with John Flavin’s son of Well Chosen, fingers crossed for a decent run.
