Con’s Roc should relish testing conditions

In a decent race, he can get the better of Big Interest and Fountain House

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025 - 05:48

Tommy Lyons

If the conditions don’t deteriorate to the extent that the meeting is called off, the going will be extremely testing this afternoon in Fairyhouse — as it was last week — and that will make for some difficult assignments. On a competitive card, Con’s Roc appeals in the INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Hunters’ Chase.

Runner-up on his point debut, he then won two before making a successful track debut in a maiden hunters’ chase in late December at Limerick. Sent off a short-priced favourite to win again, back on the point-to-point circuit, he was just touched off by Rocky’s Howya.

Clearly, there have been some issues along the way as he is an eight-year-old with just five runs under his belt, but he has plenty of potential, and the way he finished off his race in Limerick suggests this longer race on more testing ground could be an aid to Terence O’Brien’s runner. In a decent race, he can get the better of Big Interest and Fountain House.

Only six go to post for the Michael O’Sullivan & Lorna Brooke Ireland v Britan Qualified Riders’ Challenge Handicap Chase and top weight Where’s Frankie can use the opportunity to make a winning return to action.

Karl Thornton’s nine-year-old has won five times in his career and four of those have come at this venue, on ground varying from good-to-yielding to soft, while he has also been placed on very testing conditions at this track.

With a win over three and a half miles on his card, stamina is his forte, and in the expectation that he will be good to go on his first run in almost seven months, he can get the job done in what looks a winnable race. Baldur’s Gate was well beaten on his recent return to action but, with the benefit of the outing, he can give the selection plenty to think about.

The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG Beginners’ Chase is a high-quality contest but in the conditions there is a good chance that race fitness will play a part.

The selection is Flicker Of Hope, who was a smart hurdler and who made a promising chasing debut just 15 days ago at Wexford. That was over two miles, and he can step forward considerably with that experience and the benefit of this longer trip. Now Is The Hour has the form in the book and will appreciate the conditions, but may find the trip on the sharp side.

FAIRYHOUSE

Selections

12:33 Kom Tu Voudras

1:08 Cullig

1:43 Flicker Of Hope

2:18 Where’s Frankie (NB)

2:53 Con’s Roc (Nap)

3:28 Toor Moon

4:03 Unflinching

Next best

12:33 Katie Daniels

1:08 Rocky’s Howya