13:30
William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle
3m½f, Hurdle, 4yo+, €9,000, 11 runners
Winning time 6m 12.40s
- Going
- Good To Yielding
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Moonovercloon heads our ratings on 124, four pounds clear of My Trump Card and Rich Belief on 120, which is a modest but real edge in a 13-runner staying contest over three miles at Fairyhouse on good ground. That makes him the one to beat on our figures, though the margin is not large enough to be comfortable. My Trump Card and Rich Belief are the obvious dangers, and The Friday Man on 118 is only a couple of pounds further back, so any slight underperformance could be punished. Still, Moonovercloon has the best numbers in the field and gets the vote, with Moonovercloon our selection.
Result
Ethan O'Sullivan (7)
Peter Fahey
Raced close behind the pace-setters - third at halfway - second 3 out then went to the front at the following fence - stayed on strongly from the last to win
Jack Kennedy
Eoin Christopher McCarthy
Up with the front pair early - 5th at halfway - improved to 4th approaching 2 out under urging - 3rd at the final fence - 2nd over 150 yards out - stayed on to finish runner-up
Danny Gilligan
Gordon Elliott
Held up at the back - 7th by halfway then third before 3 out - urged on after the following fence - took second despite a clumsy last - soon out of gas and slipped to third over 150 yards out
Conor Smithers (7)
John McConnell
Settled behind the main body of the field - under urging after 3 out and 6th turning in - moved up to 5th after a clumsy jump at the following fence - stayed on to take 4th over 150 yards out
Daniel King
Cian Hughes
Prominent early behind the pacesetter - took command after 2nd - under pressure and overtaken approaching 2 out - soon driven and stayed on same pace in 4th before last - dropped to 5th on run-in
Sarah Kavanagh (7)
Edward Cawley
Raced in last quarter of field - improved to hold 7th 3 out - soon outpaced and plodded on to finish 6th
Phillip Enright
Oliver McKiernan
up with the front pair early and in fourth at the midpoint - ridden to improve but jumped awkwardly 3 out - soon empty and faded to finish 7th
Kevin Healy (7)
Declan Queally
Held up in last group - never landed a blow from 4 out - well beaten in 8th
J. J. Slevin
Josh Halley
Made the running early but passed after 2nd fence - prominent at halfway - up to 3rd four fences from home - dropped to 4th a fence later with nothing left - soon under pressure and faded tamely to finish 9th
Ben Harvey
Karl Thornton
raced in the pack - scrappy 4 out then dropped towards the back after a sluggish leap at the following fence - soon outpaced and well beaten in 10th
Jordan Gainford
Moses McCabe
Raced behind the main body of the field - never a threat from 4 out - finished 11th and well beaten
Non-runners: Scotty Joe, Pilgrims Walk
Racecard
Conor Smithers (7)
John McConnell 3/14
Ranked second of thirteen by our rating of 120, My Trump Card has a win three starts back and a fifth last time out, and he has run over today's trip and on this going before. The main risk is 166 lb on his back after 38 days off.
- Sire
- Shantou (USA)
- Dam
- Screaming Witness (IRE) by Shernazar
- Owner
- Wise Guys Syndicate
- Foaled
- 30 May 2018
- Stable
- Stamullen, Co Meath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 14 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 20%
- Ratings
- Perf 120
J. J. Slevin
Josh Halley 0/2
Fourth last time out and quick back after nine days, he has been consistent with a second two starts back and two thirds in his last six runs, and has run over today's trip and going. Yet he is winless in that spell, carries 165 lb off 117, and our rating of 114 ranks him sixth of 13.
- Sire
- Getaway (GER)
- Dam
- May Dullea (IRE) by King's Theatre
- Owner
- Whackers Clan Syndicate
- Foaled
- 15 Apr 2020
- Stable
- Fethard , Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 2 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 47%
- Ratings
- Perf 114
Ben Harvey
Karl Thornton 1/7
Rich Belief arrives with a consistent profile, having been second two starts back and third in the two runs before that, and he has run over today's trip and on this going before. The risk is a quick turnaround, six days after a fifth last time out, while carrying 160 lb.
- Sire
- Make Believe (GB)
- Dam
- Realt Eile (IRE) by Dark Angel
- Owner
- I J Keeling
- Foaled
- 11 Feb 2017
- Stable
- Skerries, Co Dublin
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 7 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 56%
- Ratings
- Perf 120
Jordan Gainford
Moses McCabe 0/1
Fit after just nine days off, The Friday Man has run over today's trip and going, and a fourth five starts back, with a fourth three starts back, shows he can get involved; our 118 puts him fourth of 13 off 160 lb. The risk is a pulled up last time out and a ninth before that.
- Sire
- Kayf Tara (GB)
- Dam
- L'Unique (FR) by Reefscape
- Owner
- M J Hanrahan
- Foaled
- 20 Feb 2017
- Stable
- Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 1 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 30%
- Ratings
- Perf 118
Kevin Healy (7)
Declan Queally 0/1
Moonovercloon is winless in his last five and was eighth last time out, but he has run over today's trip and going before, and 38 days off should have him fresh. Our rating of 124 tops the field of 13, and that gap over his official 111 makes him the one to beat despite carrying 159 lb.
- Sire
- Sea Moon (GB)
- Dam
- Fiery Flame (IRE) by Luso
- Owner
- S Gillen Midlands Partnership
- Foaled
- 1 May 2017
- Stable
- Cappagh, Co Waterford
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 1 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 38%
- Ratings
- Perf 124
Jack Kennedy
Eoin Christopher McCarthy 0/14
Won last time out and a second two starts back, so Well Bud arrives in good heart, and he has run on today's going before. Carrying 158 lb after a 36-day break and ranked only seventh of 13 on our rating of 111, he looks more midfield than top-tier.
- Sire
- Kingston Hill (GB)
- Dam
- Andrea's Answer (IRE) by Winged Love
- Owner
- Saorcha Fitzgerald
- Foaled
- 9 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Athea, Co. Limerick
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 14 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 45%
- Ratings
- Perf 111
Ethan O'Sullivan (7)
Peter Fahey 2/7
Winner last time out and three wins in his last five starts, he's in cracking form after 28 days off, and has run over today's trip and going before. Against that, he carries 156 lb off an official mark of 108, and our rating of 105 ranks him only ninth of 13.
- Sire
- Califet (FR)
- Dam
- Mrs Flemming (IRE) by Flemensfirth
- Owner
- Jimmy Whittle/Michael McEvoy/Good For A Laugh Syndicate/Exors of the Late Anthony Callan
- Foaled
- 17 May 2019
- Stable
- MonasterevIn, Co. Kildare
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 7 runs (29%)
- Trainer running to form
- 42%
- Ratings
- Perf 105
Sarah Kavanagh (7)
Edward Cawley 0/0
West Is Awake was eighth last time out after a pair of seconds, a second two starts back and another three starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going before. A 43-day break and 156 lb are the hurdles, though our rating of 117 against his official 108 hints at a bit in hand.
- Sire
- Fame And Glory (GB)
- Dam
- Canto Creek (GB) by Beat All
- Owner
- Edward Cawley
- Foaled
- 31 Jan 2016
- Stable
- Batterstown, Co Meath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 0 runs (None%)
- Ratings
- Perf 117
Daniel King
Cian Hughes 0/2
Pulled up last time out and absent 52 days, Knocknagoran Lady is hard to fancy, especially carrying 155 lb off an official mark of 107 and ranked last of 13 on our figures. In her favour, she's a winner two starts back and has run over today's trip and going.
- Sire
- Lauro (GER)
- Dam
- Rathleek (GB) by Kayf Tara
- Owner
- Noel Flanagan
- Foaled
- 12 Apr 2019
- Stable
- Newcastle, Co. Dublin
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 2 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 38%
- Ratings
- Perf 98
Phillip Enright
Oliver McKiernan 1/8
Warmer Days Ahead arrives in decent nick, a second last time out after a win two starts back, and he has run over today's trip and going, but a pulled up and a ninth before that show the inconsistency, and carrying 150 lb off 102 makes him hard to fancy. Our rating has him tenth of 13.
- Sire
- Waldpark (GER)
- Dam
- Ashkelon (GER) by Peintre Celebre
- Owner
- Keep The Faith Bloodstock Limited
- Foaled
- 21 Jan 2019
- Stable
- Rathcoole, Co Dublin
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 8 runs (13%)
- Trainer running to form
- 40%
- Ratings
- Perf 103
Danny Gilligan
Gordon Elliott 9/55
Fuusland arrives in solid nick, runner-up last time out and again two starts back, and he has run on today's going, but he is yet to win in his last five starts. Carrying 149 lb off an official mark of 101 is a hurdle, and our rating of 109 ranks him only eighth of 13.
- Sire
- Jet Away (GB)
- Dam
- Fu's Island (IRE) by Turtle Island
- Owner
- Michael E Oshea
- Foaled
- 22 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Longwood, Co Meath
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 55 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 38%
- Ratings
- Perf 109
Tiernan Power Roche
P. J. Rothwell 0/16
Scotty Joe is hard to fancy after an eighth last time out and an unplaced run the start before, with a 68-day break to overcome. His win came four starts back and he has run on today's going, but 145 lb is a big ask for a gelding ranked 11th of 13 on our figures.
- Sire
- Elusive Pimpernel (USA)
- Dam
- Country Life (IRE) by Presenting
- Owner
- Jonathan Campbell & Aly Dower & Ciaran P Byrne
- Foaled
- 12 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Tinahely, Co Wicklow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 16 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 33%
- Ratings
- Perf 101
Conor Clarke (7)
P. J. Rothwell 0/16
Pilgrims Walk has been consistent, with a third last time out, a fourth two starts back and a third three starts back, but he is yet to win in his last five, and our ratings rank him 12th of 13. He has run over today's trip and going, yet 144 lb looks a lot to carry.
- Sire
- Jukebox Jury (IRE)
- Dam
- Lendon Lady (IRE) by Oscar
- Owner
- Martin A Doyle
- Foaled
- 24 Apr 2022
- Stable
- Tinahely, Co Wicklow
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 16 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 33%
- Ratings
- Perf 100
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.