Fairyhouse – Saturday 26th February

It has been a quiet few days leading up to this weekend but there is always some good Saturday racing to get stuck into and this week is absolutely no different with some good racing at Fairyhouse and Naas this weekend. Fairyhouse takes centre stage on this occasion, and I am hopeful that a few of these horses can run some decent races at decent prices tomorrow. 

Starting with the 3.08 race, which is the Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle and looks like one of the most competitive races on the card. Ardhill is the spanner in the works in this race, with it being very hard to make out what happened at Ascot last time out. He has been a horse who has barely done anything in his career before bounding clear off a lowly mark having been well backed. He could well be a good thing again in this race, but has not been missed in the early prices. 

Instead, I will be siding with the classy horse in this race, in the shape of the returning Enniskerry – who is coming back into handicap company after a decent time off. His last three wins read well though, and having won his maiden and novice hurdle, he pushed the very useful MC Muldoon close at Galway last time out, when well ahead of some useful rivals. I still think he is fairly weighted off a mark of 133 on his handicap hurdle debut and if fully tuned up after a long time off, he should be closing home in this race. At a price of 7/1 with Paddy Power, who are offering 5 places – he should be backed each way. 

The 3.43 race has a similarly well handicapped sort in the shape of Where’s Frankie, who has been given a fair hike having won his last two races with a fair amount in hand. However, the potential improver in the line-up is the thoroughly unexposed, Cru Bourgeois. This horse, who has run in three maiden hurdles, has ran some solid races, including when third on his second start, and starts handicapping at a realistic level. He was left behind last time behind the smart Minella Crooner, but he should be a bit better for that and he is a ground versatile stayer. Off a mark of 108, and with plenty going for him – he should be backed at a price at 10/1 with Paddy Power, with 5 places again available. 

The final selection from the afternoon card comes in the Bobbyjo Chase at 4.18 and this tricky little 4 runner race looks no easier than trying to dissect the winners of the previous handicap hurdles. Burrows Saint has won this race before on his way to the National, and in truth – this looks like a very logical step for the four of these on their way to Aintree. However, on this occasion – I am going to be siding with the improving Escaria Ten, who posted a very eye-catching effort in the Thyestes last time out on his return from a while off. He should be much sharper for that effort and although he will have to improve to beat the favorite, that is not out of the question on his 7th start over fences. At a price of 5/2 with Paddy Power, he looks to have a great chance.