Racecards
12:20 Fairyhouse (IRE)
Winter Festival December 1st & 2nd Rated Novice Chase
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €16,000 added
- Winner: €9,856
- 2nd: €3,056
- 3rd: €1,455
- 4th: €657
- Form 04-0521
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd on outer 3 out, 3rd 2 out, improved into 2nd approaching last, led after last, stayed on inside final furlong
- Form 58-1812
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
disputed lead, left in lead at 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd approaching last, soon no extra
- Form 321329
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
tracked leaders, 4th and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 4th 2 out, dropped to 5th inside final furlong
- Form 6U441-F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders in 3rd early, left 2nd at 2nd, improved to lead travelling well 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed approaching last, not fluent at last, kept on well inside final furlong
- Form 9-P0239
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
in rear, 6th and mistake 4 out, 6th when fell next
- Form F-76253
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey J P O'Sullivan
held up in 6th early, left 5th at 2nd, ridden in 5th after 3 out, soon no impression, went moderate 4th inside final furlong
- Form 705-467
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer S J Mahon
- Jockey J J Slevin
always behind, not fluent 4 out and pushed along, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 14621F
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey A E Lynch
disputed lead, fell 2nd
Verdict
Ellie Mac has made very good progress in her three starts over fences culminating in a five-length victory over Fintara over 2m4f at Tipperary where she led from two out. Thecraicisninety beat Fintara by eight lengths over 2m1f at Sligo when receiving 5lb so there's little between the top pair on a line through the latter. MONATOMIC made steady progress over hurdles, landing a Tramore maiden on heavy ground in April. He returned there for his chasing debut last month and was in command when falling at the last so compensation awaits. The four-year-old Moonball started odds-on in that latter contest after scoring easily at Downpatrick. She again attempted to make all and was still in front when falling four out so it's difficult to know where she would have finished.
Formwatch
Ellie Mac (IRE) 9-10fav (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along to close 3 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Tipperary 2m 4f gd in Oct beating Fintara (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Thecraicisninety 6-4fav (11-0) Led and disputed early, improved to lead after 2nd, big jump 8th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Eight Till Late (11-7) at Down Royal 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Konig Hall 17-2 (10-8) Soon prominent, some slight mistakes, under pressure before 2 out, soon lost place and weakened, last of 9, 35 1/4l behind Off You Go (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Monatomic (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 6th, 2nd when left in lead and slightly impeded 4 out, still travelling smoothly from before 2 out, went on between last 2, fell last, at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.
My Manekineko 66-1 (10-3) Always towards rear, never a factor, no extra from 3 out, kept on one pace, 9th of 12, dist behind Golden Spear (10-11) at Down Royal 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Runyon Rattler (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, slight mistake 8th, hampered 10th, slightly impeded 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Ellie Mac (11-3) at Tipperary 2m 4f gd in Oct.
Sanibel Island (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out and no impression before next, no extra when slightly hampered last, 7th of 15, 25 3/4l behind Balzac Turgot (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f gd in May.
Moonball (FR) 4-5fav (11-1) Soon led, some slight mistakes, fell 4 out, at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.