The feature race at Fairyhouse on Sunday is the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase. The race has attracted a stellar field, and our racing expert has produced their runner-by-runner preview below. Check this out, and why not also Join QuinnBet Today and Claim Up To £25 As A Free Bet Offer + 10 Free Spins.
Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (2:20pm Fairyhouse, Sunday 9th January, 2m1f)
1. HARDLINE (Gordon Elliott, Rob James)
Runner-up to Real Steel under this rider at the 2019 Punchestown Festival, his last run in handicaps. Has since placed at Grade 1 level and made a promising seasonal reappearance when beaten just a half-length at Gowran in October. Bombed out at Clonmel subsequently, however, and that brought his winless run to eleven.
2. CASTLEGRACE PADDY (Pat Fahy, Davy Russell)
Claimed the scalp of A Plus Tard on last season’s reappearance. 0-7 since, but he racked up a trio of second place finishes earlier this year. Failed to complete on return to action at Gowran in October; burst blood vessel. Now makes his first jaunt into handicaps, but a mark of 155 looks no gimmie and regular pilot Bryan Cooper seemingly prefers stablemate Dunvegan.
3. BLACKBOW (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
Has generally disappointed since chasing home stablemate Tornado Flyer in a Grade 1 bumper at the 2018 Punchestown Festival. Seems to go well fresh, however, and was placed behind the smart Energumene in Grade 1 company last season. Disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen, but this is a more realistic assignment, and he looks relatively unexposed compared to most of these.
4. ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU (Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy)
Smart dual-purpose performer who was a slightly unlucky fourth in last year’s County Hurdle; form franked. Not at that level in four subsequent starts but entitled to strip fitter for a recent comeback over hurdles. Now returns to the larger obstacles for the first time since November 2020 but rated a stone above his hurdles rating in this sphere and it’s coming up for two years since his last win.
5. DUNVEGAN (Pat Fahy, Bryan Cooper)
Somewhat frustrating sort who had a productive spell on the flat last year, finishing third in Naas’s competitive November Handicap. Made a victorious return to chasing when holding off Grange Walk in a Grade B handicap at this venue in November. Up 7lb for that but Bryan Cooper keeps the faith and his record here at Fairyhouse now reads a perfect 3-3.
6. POSEIDON (Charles Byrnes, Sean O’Keeffe)
Off the mark over fences at the fifth attempt when landing a Grade B handicap chase at Cork in October; Grange Walk directly behind. Something clearly amiss when finishing pulled up behind Dunvegan subsequently, but a leap of faith is required on the back of that showing and although he remains lightly raced in this sphere, he has struggled off similar marks over hurdles.
7. CAPUCCIMIX (Henry De Bromhead, Darragh O’Keeffe)
Ran better than the bare result on a couple of occasions last season without managing to get his head in front. Back from a short break with victory at Killarney in July, but he’s 7lb higher here and it’s a concern that he hasn’t been seen since that Killarney win, whilst holding ground would also pose a question.
8. GRANGE WALK (John Ryan, Danny Mullins)
Enjoyed a good spell over fences last summer, building on a Limerick July win when scoring at Sligo in September. Carried his form through to the backend of the year, chasing home Dunvegan at this venue in November before putting up a career-best showing when running out an 18/1 winner at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Up 7lb for that but he’s only just turned 7 so retains scope for further improvement.
9. TAKE ALL (Seamus Fahey, Kevin Sexton)
Caused something of a shock when running out a 28/1 winner on chase debut at Wexford in October, holding off the 144-rated Cayd Boy. Chased home the smart Riviere D’etel on penultimate run and ran to a similar level when third switched to handicaps at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, finishing 4l behind Grange Walk. Meets that rival on 5lb better terms here, and far from exposed over fences.
10. BATCIO (Ted Walsh, Shane O’Callaghan)
Distant sixth to Capuccimix at Killarney in July but he won his starts either side of that, the most recent success coming back at Killarney in August. Disappointed switched to hurdles subsequently, however, and the return to the larger obstacles failed to spark significant improvement when only fifth at Punchestown last time. Runs off the same mark here and this rates a significantly tougher assignment.
11. SOVIET PIMPERNEL (Peter Fahey, Rachael Blackmore)
Grade 3 winning juvenile hurdler but he is 0-7 since switched to fences, finishing seventh behind Grange Walk and Soviet Pimpernel at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Rachael Blackmore looks a positive booking but expecting him to break his maiden tag over fences at this level is tough and his task is made no easier running from 2lb out of the handicap.
12. MONTAGNE D’ARGENT (Matty Tynan, Sam Ewing)
14/1 winner of a competitive handicap chase at Gowran last March when in the card of Harry Kelly. Switched to the Matty Tynan stable after falling in a Grade 3 at Thurles, yet he has shown next to nothing in three starts for the yard. Now fitted with cheekpieces, which could spark improvement, but he’s 9lb out of the handicap here and that makes a win look very unlikely.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Blackbow had Grade 1 form to his name over fences last season and won on his reappearance, so looks dangerous to dismiss on his first start since a Cheltenham Festival sixth. Preference, however, goes to TAKE ALL, who has shown clear ability in his four starts over fences to date, finishing third at Leopardstown on handicap chase debut last time out. He had the 144-rated Cayd Boy behind when scoring at Wexford in October, and that run in isolation makes a current mark of 137 look workable. Grange Walk had the selection behind the last day and is feared once again, as is Dunvegan, who is a perfect 3-3 here at Fairyhouse.
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