Racecards
12:00 Fairyhouse (IRE)
ITM Virtual Stallion Trail Hurdle
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €17,000 added
- Winner: €10,200
- 2nd: €3,400
- 3rd: €1,700
- 4th: €850
- Form 461
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Roche
- Jockey J S McGarvey
towards rear, 7th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 15
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S F O'Keeffe
tracked leader in 2nd, bumped at 1st, took keen hold, disputed lead from halfway, ridden and strongly pressed before 2 out, headed after 2 out, moderate 3rd when left 2nd at last, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home
- Form 136
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey J J Slevin
led, joined at halfway, ridden and headed entering straight, moderate 4th before last, left 3rd at last, kept on without threatening winner to go moderate 2nd close home
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey M P Walsh
mid-division, pushed along in 6th 2 out, no impression, slightly hampered at last, never a factor
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
tracked leaders in 4th, improved to dispute lead and pushed along entering straight, ridden 2 out, strongly pressed and briefly headed after 2 out, disputed lead and strongly pressed when left clear at last, kept on run-in
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
tracked leaders, took keen hold, close 3rd on outer 2 out, improved to lead briefly travelling well after 2 out, niggled along and joined but with every chance when fell at last
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer S Curling
- Jockey P T Enright
in rear, pushed along in 7th 2 out, soon no impression, kept on one pace without threatening run-in
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Motherway
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
towards rear, took keen hold early, pushed along entering straight, not fluent 2 out, no impression
Verdict
YOUMDOR, a dual winner on the Flat in France, probably didn't have much to beat on his hurdling debut at Gowran but jumped well and came home with his head in his chest. He faces a much stiffer opposition including Teahupoo, who enters the could be anything category after making a successful racecourse debut on heavy ground at Auteuil in October, a race that has worked out well. Awkwafina was a 100/1 winner at Limerick on St Stephen's Day while Autumn Evening had Druid's Altar 2 lengths behind when a close fifth in a Leopardstown Grade 2. Merry Poppins won a Tipperary maiden in good style while Josh D'id easily landed a conditions' race on very testing ground in the French Provinces. Alexei Vronsky showed improved form when landing a Punchestown maiden but needs much more here.
Formwatch
Alexei Vronsky (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Disputed lead, headed approaching 5th, back on terms 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon led, went on straight, jumped slightly left last, reduced lead and kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 1f Grp 3 mdn sft in Nov beating Loved Out (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Autumn Evening 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outer, headway into 4th 2 out, 3rd and ridden early straight, no extra run-in, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 6 1/2l behind Zanahiyr (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Druid's Altar (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Prominent and disputed lead, ran freely, led before 4th, headed after 2 out, soon pushed along and dropped to 5th before last, no extra, 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Zanahiyr (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Josh D'id (FR) (0-0) won at Saint Brieuc 2m in Nov beating Hecto Des Mottes (0-0) by 14l, 13 ran.
Teahupoo (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 2f hvy in Oct beating Good Ball (10-5) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Youmdor (FR) 1-3fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, a little keen, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd before 4th, progress travelling well before 2 out, on terms when slight mistake 2 out, soon led and went clear before last, kept on well, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hvy in Nov beating Bigz Belief (11-2) by 16l, 9 ran.
Awkwafina (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Towards rear, not fluent at 2nd, progress after 3rd, 7th after 4th, closed after 3 out, strongly challenged leader 2 out, led narrowly at last, kept on best under pressure, won at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec beating Palm Beach (11-2) by nk, 16 ran.
Merry Poppins (GER) 16-1 (10-9) Towards rear, 11th after 5th, headway after 4 out, 4th after 3 out, closed in 3rd on inner 2 out, improved to lead before last, driven out run-in, won at Tipperary 2m mdn sft in Aug beating Differentiate (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.