1:30 Fairyhouse: 3m½f handicap hurdle
William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle
The Punchestown qualifier on 13 Oct supplies three of the principals, and its 10L winner meets the placed pair on very different terms today. Behind that trio are a progressive mare, a couple of lightly raced young horses and several out-of-form older handicappers, so the race is fairly open at the top but thins out quickly.
The runners
In order of our rating, best first. The rating is in pounds, so the gap says how far behind the top each one is: a 2lb race is open, a 10lb race is not. Press Form on any horse for its runs, the case for and against, and what suits it. Prices as at 10:00.
17Live To Laugh11P-31 · Ethan O'Sullivan(7) · Peter Fahey108120top2/1Won the Punchestown qualifier by 10L; first on our figure
It won at Punchestown on 13 Oct by 10L off OR 94 over 2m7½f on good, pushed on after 2 out, with Warmer Days Ahead 2nd and Pilgrims Walk 3rd; 6 from that field have run again without a winner. Before that it was 3rd beaten 6½L at Listowel on 25 Sep over 2m, a race with 3 subsequent winners, among them Loi Des Jeux (3L ahead) and Pahlavi (2½L behind), who both won next time. It also won a chase at Clonmel on 26 Mar off OR 104 in a race with 7 later winners, including Brucejack (4¾L behind), who won off OR 107. It runs off OR 108 today; against the Punchestown pair, Warmer Days Ahead is 20lb better off and Pilgrims Walk 14lb better off. It has won 1 and placed 2 of its 4 runs at the trip, and was 3rd beaten 13½L on its one visit to Fairyhouse.
Goes up 1f in trip on good to yielding off OR 108, with Ethan O'Sullivan claiming 7lb.
The Punchestown race has not worked out yet, and it gives the placed horses plenty of weight back.
Our figure (in testing): 1st of 13. The read has him 1st.
5 earlier runs
210Warmer Days Ahead tv89P-12 · Phillip Enright · Oliver McKiernan102116-47/2Beaten 10L by Live To Laugh on 13 Oct but 20lb better off now, and its Kilbeggan win off OR 95 has worked out; the chief danger.
It was 2nd beaten 10L by Live To Laugh at Punchestown on 13 Oct, urged before 2 out and keeping on up the run-in, and is 20lb better off with the winner today. Before that it won at Kilbeggan on 3 Sep off OR 95 over 2m3f, in a race that has produced 4 winners, among them Bobby Kirova (7½L behind), who won next off OR 92. It runs off OR 102 today. It has placed in 3 of 4 runs at the trip, including 3rd beaten 5½L over 2m7½f on good at Fairyhouse on 12 Nov 2024 off OR 100. It pulled up at Down Royal on 12 Apr, where the jockey said it burst a blood vessel.
Up 1f on good to yielding off OR 102, in a tongue tie and visor, with a burst blood vessel in its spring history.
It has not won at the trip; its 3 placings there came without a win.
5 earlier runs
313Pilgrims Walk0-2343 · Conor Clarke(7) · P. J. Rothwell98115-56/1Placed in all 3 runs at the trip and 14lb better off with Live To Laugh; its Ballinrobe form on 11 Sep has worked out well.
It was 3rd beaten 14¼L by Live To Laugh at Punchestown on 13 Oct after blundering at the 7th, keeping on strongly from the last, and is 14lb better off with the winner today. At Ballinrobe on 11 Sep it was 4th beaten 2½L behind Luck Between Us, who won next off OR 117, with Mickey Cohen (1¾L behind) a later winner off OR 101. It was 3rd beaten 2L at Ballinrobe on 10 Aug off OR 96 in a race with 5 subsequent winners, and 2nd beaten ½L at Kilbeggan over 3m½f on 15 Jun off OR 92. It runs off OR 98 today and has placed in all 3 of its runs at the trip.
A 4yo off OR 98 with Conor Clarke claiming 7lb, up 1f in trip on good to yielding.
It has yet to win, with 3 placings from 3 runs at the trip.
Our figure (in testing): 2nd of 13. The read has him 3rd.
2 earlier runs
49Knocknagoran Lady tb61141P · Daniel King · Cian Hughes107113-716/1Won off OR 99 at Down Royal on 28 Aug and Fire Coral has won twice since; has won 3 of 7 at the trip if it recovers from the Navan PU.
It won at Down Royal on 28 Aug off OR 99 over 3m on good, and Fire Coral (3¼L behind) has won twice since, off OR 90 and OR 98; that race has produced 3 winners. It also won at Kilbeggan on 10 Jul over 3m1f off OR 90, quickening clear. It was 4th beaten 17¾L at Roscommon on 4 Aug on yielding to soft, then pulled up at Navan over 2m5f on 19 Sep after losing touch three out. It runs off OR 107 today and has won 3 of its 7 runs at the trip, but was 7th beaten 26¾L on soft on its one visit to Fairyhouse.
Back up to a trip it relishes on good to yielding off OR 107, in a tongue tie and blinkers.
It pulled up last time and runs off OR 107, above both its winning marks.
Our figure (in testing): 3rd of 13. The read has her 4th.
5 earlier runs
511FuuslandU4522 · Danny Gilligan · Gordon Elliott101111-917/2Beaten a short head over 3m1½f at Sligo off OR 100, but its two 2nds came in small fields that have not worked out.
It was 2nd beaten a short head at Sligo on 23 Oct over 3m1½f on yielding to soft off OR 100, staying on strongly, in a 5-runner race. Before that it was 2nd beaten 1¼L at Downpatrick on 9 Oct in a 6-runner race, whose 3rd, Spill A Drop, was beaten 116¼L next time. At Listowel on 20 Sep it was 5th beaten 24¼L behind Too Hot To Trot, later 3rd in a Listed race, with Rememberwhat (3½L behind) beating it at Sligo next. It runs off OR 101 today, and its only run at the trip is that Sligo 2nd; it has not run at Fairyhouse.
Drops 1f in trip off OR 101 on good to yielding for Gordon Elliott and Danny Gilligan.
Its best runs have come in fields of 5 and 6, and this is a 13-runner handicap.
Our figure (in testing): 6th of 13. The read has him 5th.
66Well Bud t/37521 · Jack Kennedy · Eoin Christopher McCarthy110107-135/1Won a 2m4f maiden hurdle here on 5 Oct, but makes its handicap debut off OR 110 on a first try at the trip.
It won a maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Fairyhouse on 5 Oct, edging ahead after the last; Gunnery Sergeant (6¾L behind) was 2nd next off OR 102. At Killarney on 22 Aug it was 5th beaten 15¼L behind Minella Hollow, who has since won a Class 3 at Wetherby off OR 125, in a race that has produced 4 winners. Its earlier runs were in bumpers and on the Flat. It makes its handicap debut off OR 110 and has no runs at the trip.
Up 4½f on handicap debut off OR 110 on good to yielding, with Jack Kennedy riding.
OR 110 for a maiden winner, on a first try at 3m½f.
Our figure (in testing): 7th of 13. The read has him 6th.
73Rich Belief tb/13325 · Ben Harvey · Karl Thornton112102-1818/1Won a Class 6 Flat race off OR 62 on 4 Nov, but its one hurdle run at this trip ended 22¾L back.
Its latest win came on the Flat, a Class 6 at Musselburgh over 2m on soft off OR 62 on 4 Nov. Its last hurdle run was 5th beaten 22L at Clonmel on 1 Oct over 2m3½f, where it was severely impeded at the 5th; Plontier (3rd) and Allo Al Khawaneej (2nd) have not won since. It runs off OR 112 over hurdles today. Its only run at the trip in three years was 7th beaten 22¾L at Gowran Park on 5 Oct 2024, and it is 0 from 2 at Fairyhouse.
Steps up 1m½f from its Flat win to hurdle off OR 112 in a tongue tie and blinkers.
It has never shown it stays this trip over hurdles.
5 earlier runs
81My Trump Card068165 · Conor Smithers(7) · John McConnell118101-1916/1Won off OR 113 over 2m on 4 Sep, but runs off OR 118 and has not placed in 6 runs at this trip.
It won at Kilbeggan over 2m on 4 Sep off OR 113, and Hopeful Hero (½L behind) won next off OR 113. Its last run was 5th beaten 11¼L at Gowran Park on 3 Oct over 3m, staying on from the last; that race has had no winners from 5 runners out. At Listowel on 23 Sep it was 6th beaten 17L after a blunder and heavy interference 2 out. It runs off OR 118, has won 0 of its 6 runs at the trip, and was 2nd beaten 2¾L in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in 1 Jan 2024. Moonovercloon, beaten 20L by it at Gowran Park on 3 Oct, is 4lb worse off today.
Up ½f on good to yielding off OR 118, with Conor Smithers claiming 7lb.
OR 118 is above its winning mark and it has never placed at the trip.
Our figure (in testing): 8th of 13. The read has him 8th.
5 earlier runs
92Siege Of Carthage pP33524 · J. J. Slevin · Josh Halley11798-2220/1Beaten 19¼L in a Listed race; mistakes over fences
It was 4th of 6 beaten 19¼L in a Listed hurdle at Cork on 1 Nov over today's trip, weakening late. Before that it was 2nd of 3 beaten 12L at Cork on 11 Oct after blunders, behind Minella Emperor, who was pulled up next time. Its two chase runs were 5th beaten 45L at Gowran Park and 3rd beaten 27L at Kilbeggan. It runs off OR 117, has placed once in 2 runs at the trip and has not run at Fairyhouse.
Drops from Listed company off OR 117 in cheekpieces, at the same trip on good to yielding.
It has found little in each of its recent runs off a mark of OR 117.
Our figure (in testing): 9th of 13. The read has him 9th.
4 earlier runs
108West Is Awake ht0/22-8 · Sarah Kavanagh(7) · Edward Cawley10893-2720/1Placed 4 times in 8 runs at Fairyhouse and 2nd off OR 108 in April, but was beaten 48¼L last time.c & d
It was 2nd beaten 3¼L at Cork on 5 Apr off OR 108 over 3m on yielding, and 2nd beaten 6L at Fairyhouse on 1 Jan over 3m2f off OR 105, with Lough Nigara (4½L behind) a winner twice since. Its last run, back from a break, was 8th beaten 48¼L at Roscommon on 28 Sep. It runs off OR 108 today. It has won 1 and placed 4 times in 8 runs at Fairyhouse, winning off OR 102 on 2 Oct 2023, but has won 0 of 10 runs at the trip.
Back at a course it likes off OR 108 in a hood and tongue tie, with Sarah Kavanagh claiming 7lb.
It is 10 years old and was beaten 48¼L last time.
Our figure (in testing): 10th of 13. The read has him 10th.
5 earlier runs
115Moonovercloon7-0PF8 · Kevin Healy(7) · Declan Queally11192-2814/1Beaten 31¼L at Gowran Park on 3 Oct after a fall and a pull-up over fences; no recent form to work with.
Its last run was 8th beaten 31¼L at Gowran Park on 3 Oct over 3m, fading before 2 out, in a race with no winners since. Before that it fell in a chase at Kilbeggan on 4 Sep and pulled up at Galway on 31 Jul. It was 10th beaten 20¼L at Kilbeggan on 15 Jun over 3m½f. It runs off OR 111, has won 0 of 5 runs at the trip, and is 4lb worse off with My Trump Card, who beat it 20L at Gowran Park.
Up ½f on good to yielding off OR 111, with Kevin Healy claiming 7lb.
It has not completed or finished close in any run since the spring.
Our figure (in testing): 12th of 13. The read has him 11th.
5 earlier runs
124The Friday Man t454-9P · Jordan Gainford · Moses McCabe11290-3066/1Pulled up last time and well beaten before that
It pulled up at Cork on 1 Nov over 2m4f after being hampered turning for home. Before that it was 9th beaten 23¾L at Gowran Park on 2 Oct in a race with no winners since. Its earlier runs at Kilbeggan in 2025 were 4th of 4 beaten 24L and 5th beaten 24¼L. It runs off OR 112, has won 0 of 3 runs at the trip and has not run at Fairyhouse.
Up 4½f on good to yielding off OR 112 in a tongue tie.
Our figure (in testing): 11th of 13. The read has him 12th.
5 earlier runs
1312Scotty Joe Non-runnerP1-608 · Tiernan Power Roche · P. J. Rothwell9780-40-Beaten 55L last time and untried at the trip
Its last run was 8th beaten 55L at Kilbeggan on 3 Sep over 2m, coming back from a break. Before that it was 17th beaten 57¼L at Punchestown on 6 Jun and 6th beaten 14¾L at Kilbeggan on 15 May over 2m2½f, staying on. It runs off OR 97, has no runs at the trip and returns after 68 days off. Its one earlier run after a break was that 55L defeat.
Steps up 1m½f off OR 97 after 68 days off, on good to yielding.
Our figure (in testing): 13th of 13. The read has him 13th.
How to read this table
Rating is the read's own figure for each horse today, in pounds on one scale for the race. Our figure, a separate mechanical rating, is in testing and shows inside each horse's form until it has a record worth showing.
Days is days since the horse last ran. OR is its official rating. A small letter after the name is headgear (b blinkers, v visor, p cheekpieces, t tongue tie, h hood).
Key form lines
The past races that say most about this one, and what they mean today.
Live To Laugh won by 10L from Warmer Days Ahead and Pilgrims Walk, who are 20lb and 14lb better off today, so how far the winner was in hand settles the race; 6 from the field have run again without a winner.
Warmer Days Ahead won off OR 95 in a race that has produced 4 winners, including Bobby Kirova (7½L behind), who won off OR 92, so its current mark looks fair.
Knocknagoran Lady won off OR 99, and Fire Coral (3¼L behind) has won twice since, off OR 90 and OR 98, which supports the mare at a higher mark.
Pilgrims Walk was beaten 2½L by Luck Between Us, who won next off OR 117, with Mickey Cohen (1¾L behind) a later winner off OR 101; a solid handicap line.
Live To Laugh's chase win off OR 104 came in a race with 7 subsequent winners, so its current OR 108 is not beyond it.
Where today's runners have met
Races two or more of today's runners have run in, the last 18 months first. "Terms" shows how the weights have moved since, against the best-placed of them that day.
| Finished | Behind Live To Laugh | Terms v Live To Laugh | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live To Laugh | 1st | — | the yardstick |
| Warmer Days Ahead | 2nd | 10L | 20lb better off |
| Pilgrims Walk | 3rd | 14¼L | 14lb better off |
| Finished | Behind My Trump Card | Terms v My Trump Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Trump Card | 5th | — | the yardstick |
| Moonovercloon | 8th | 20L | 4lb worse off |
Earlier meetings: 2 races before 10 May 25, newest first
| Finished | Behind Moonovercloon | Terms v Moonovercloon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moonovercloon | 2nd | — | the yardstick |
| The Friday Man | 5th | 13½L | 6lb better off |
| Finished | Behind West Is Awake | Terms v West Is Awake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Is Awake | 4th | — | the yardstick |
| Moonovercloon | PU | 1lb worse off |