Today's Tips: Twinlight can shine at favourite Fairyhouse
The nine-year-old hasn’t been in the winner’s enclosure since winning this race last year, but there were signs of a return to form when he finished runner-up behind Days Hotel in a similar Grade Two at Naas last time. On that occasion, he was conceding 8lbs to the winner and also gave away a lot of ground jumping to his right.
Back on this right-handed track, at which he has won twice and finished runner-up on his three visits, the nine-year-old should be able to reverse form with Days Hotel and, in an open race, he will be hard to beat if reproducing his best form.
Kerry Lee, on the mark with Kylemore Lough earlier in the week, sends over Top Gamble, who may prove the biggest danger. He beat former Champion Chaser Dodging Bullets on his most recent start, and has scope for improvement over fences. He is usually a bold jumper, who likes to dominate, but the minor worry is that he has done all his winning on left-handed tracks. That may prove to be an unfounded concern, and he ought to run his race, but Twinlight, who is likely to have been targeted at this race for some time, is preferred.
The Farmhouse Foods Handicap Hurdle, over two miles, is typically competitive, but Anibale Fly and Desoto County look the ones to concentrate on, with the former just preferred.
From the stable of Tony Martin, which has hit form recently, he ran a fine race to finish third behind Bellshill in a Grade One on his penultimate outing, and was noted flying home when a close fourth behind Solita on his handicap debut last month at Leopardstown.
He looks well treated off a mark of 136 and, with stable companion Ted Veale keeping the weights down, he has to carry just 10-13 despite being second-highest rated in the race. With a fast-run race likely, he can pick them off late.
Desoto County also looks progressive and is feared most. He looked potentially very smart in younger day, when trained by Donald McCain, but lost his form before being switched to Gordon Elliott’s stable. He made a winning start for the Meath trainer, and ran a super race next time, when third behind Henry Higgins in the competitive Coral.ie Hurdle at Leopardstown. Clearly, the seven-year-old has plenty of scope for improvement, and looks sure to go very close.
It’ll be very interesting to see if the market speaks in favour of Kinnitty Castle in the three-mile handicap hurdle. Last time out, in a novice handicap hurdle won by Squouateur at Leopardstown, Tony Martin’s horse was backed as though defeat was out of the question but pulled up and was subsequently reported to be coughing.
Clearly, he is thought better than his handicap mark of 109 and if this longer trip proves within compass, he should go well. Space Cadet has been frustrating to follow but he looks likely to improve for the step up to three miles.
