Racecards
15:15 Fairyhouse (IRE)
Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €50,000 added
- Winner: €32,500
- 2nd: €9,500
- 3rd: €4,500
- 4th: €1,500
- Form 2-49523
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
led until joined 2nd, led again from 4th, asserted after 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear run-in, easily
- Form 3312-30
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
chased leaders in 5th, ridden and no extra approaching straight, weakened
- Form PP0-082
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders in 4th, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 4 out and went 2nd 2 out, under pressure and no impression on winner approaching last, no extra
- Form 778140
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J J Lambe
- Jockey Mr E J O'connell
chased leaders in 6th, ridden after 4 out and no extra in rear approaching straight, weakened, completely tailed off
- Form 3/04-563
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
prominent and disputed lead 2nd, not fluent and headed 4th, tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent 6th and pushed along when slight mistake 3 out, under pressure and soon dropped to 4th, no extra from next, weakened
- Form F22231
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along in 2nd approaching straight, no impression in 3rd after 2 out, no extra run-in
- Form 1-14414
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Casey
in rear, no impression in 5th entering straight and went moderate 4th after 2 out, kept on into 3rd run-in
In depth
Verdict
Willie Mullins had no less than 10 of the original 19 entries and leaves Thousand Stars, Mourad and Upsie in to do battle. The first-named hasn't won for almost two years but should still prove best of the trio having shown that he's still a force to be reckoned with behind Whisper and At Fishers Cross at Aintree. GET ME OUT OF HERE came to this race in 2012 having previously finished runner-up in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and is treading exactly the same path this time. He couldn't quite get past Whisper at Cheltenham but holds Thousand Stars on a line through the winner and can gain his second victory in the race. Un Beau Matin had been runner-up to some useful performers before easily beating Passage Vendome at Downpatrick and could prove best of the remainder as potential punters would need to forgive Upsie a poor run at Cork..
Formwatch
Thousand Stars (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up, outpaced after 4 out, rallied approaching last, switched left and went 3rd flat, stayed on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Whisper (11-7) at Aintree 3m hdl G1 (1) gs.
Busty Brown (IRE) 7-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 10th of 22, 16l behind Doctor Harper (11-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division in touch on inside, steady headway 2 out, effort before last, ridden to challenge and every chance flat, kept on under presure, just failed, 2nd of 28, shd behind Whisper (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Silk Hall (UAE) 100-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Cockney Sparrow (9-11) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gs.
Mourad (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Led, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, no extra before last where dropped to 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Mikael D'Haguenet (11-0) at Thurles 3m hdl hvy in Mar.
Un Beau Matin (IRE) 8-11fav (11-5) Made all, clear before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl sft in Mar beating Passage Vendome (11-5) by 7l, 4 ran.
Upsie (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, moderate 4th approaching 6 out, not fluent 5 out and next, soon no impression, 4th of 6, 29l behind Rebel Fitz (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f hdl hvy in Mar.
Wingtips (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, not fluent, towards rear halfway, mistake 5 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one pace straight, 5th of 10, 26l behind Leish Oscar (11-2) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs sft in Dec.