Racecards
14:25 Fairyhouse (IRE)
Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €90,000 added
- Winner: €58,500
- 2nd: €17,099
- 3rd: €8,100
- 4th: €2,700
- Form 925123
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J P Fahey
- Jockey I J McCarthy
tracked leaders in 5th, ridden from 3 out, went moderate 3rd from 2 out, kept on one paced
- Form 8-11441
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer M Winters
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders in close 4th, ridden from 4 out, no impression from next
- Form 433112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D Coffey
- Jockey D J Condon
led, ridden and strongly pressed 3 out, soon headed, dropped behind from 2 out
- Form 21313F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ms K Walsh
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden 3 out, soon no impression on leaders
- Form 111111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch in last, travelling well throughout, good headway to lead after 3 out, soon went clear, stayed on strongly from 2 out, not extended, impressive
- Form 121311
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Casey
tracked leader in close 3rd, short of room on inner 3 out, soon checked and badly bumped, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no impression on easy winner from 2 out, kept on same pace
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Willie Mullins is making a concerted effort to win this for the first time in ten years with a trio of entries. Zuzka landed a Grade 3 at Leopardstown's Christmas fixture where stablemate Glens Melody was almost 7l back in third. Both are useful but look the second and third strings behind ANNIE POWER here and Ruby Walsh can steer her to her seventh successive victory. She's proving herself one of the great finds of the season and had few problems beating the classy Defy Logic in a Naas Grade 2 last month. Jennies Jewel is held by Glens Melody while Top Madam will need to find a bit more though the latter had the odds-on Missunited behind when landing a Down Royal Grade 3 in November.
Formwatch
Jennies Jewel (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Towards rear, closer order 4 out, 4th from before next, 3rd 2 out, struggling to get there when hampered last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Bright New Dawn (11-3) at Thurles 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Missunited (IRE) 11-8 (11-2) Tracked leaders, improved to be close up from before 4th, in front before straight, pressed last, narrowly headed run-in, stayed on best to regain lead closing stages, won at Limerick 2m mrs nov hdl G3 (1) hvy beating Twigline (10-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Top Madam (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Soon tracked leaders, improved to be on terms from 6 out, 2nd 3 out, back disputing and challenged from before last where not as good as winner, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Come To The Party (10-1) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Nov.
Zuzka (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders early, dropped to mid-division halfway, 7th 3 out, close enough in 6th and switched to outer when fell heavily 2 out, in a race won by Mallowney (11-9) at Naas 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) sft, 10 ran.
Annie Power (IRE) 5-2 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden from 2 out, led before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Naas 2m nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb beating Defy Logic (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Glens Melody (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Soon tracked leaders, closed up going well straight, challenged 2 out, soon led, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Mares Novice Hurdle (5-7yo) sft in Feb beating Byerley Babe (10-11) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.