2.25pm Fairyhouse Tips & Betting Preview 07/11/2016

The Eddie O’Grady trained The West’s Awake showed plenty of promise in a 20 runner maiden at Down Royal last time out and could be hard to beat with improvement expected. However, a chance is taken on the Mahon trained CEIDE FIELDS who ran one of his best races to date when 3rd in a Galway maiden hurdle over two miles last month. Danny Mullins is the hottest jockey in Ireland at present so his booking is a massive advantage and this race won’t take a whole lot of winning.

1 BIG FAT SAM – Black Sam Bellamy gelding who cost €26,000, having his first start under rules for the Flood yard as a five year old. Yard are not known for debut winners and the dam Arctic Ace was a poor bumper horse so he would be a very surprising winner to say the least.

2 BILLY DE KID – Thomas Cooper trained five year old who stuck to the task well when 2nd behind Bull Ride at Wexford last time out, going down by 0.75 lengths. The winner that day is one of Gordon Elliott’s lesser lights in the yard but in a race like this the form is pretty decent and he is respected.

3 CEIDE FIELDS – Finished 2nd to Cable at Galway in a maiden hurdle in September; a repeat of that run would see him go very well here. Has since finished 5th and 3rd at Galway since and he wouldn’t have to improve too much on those runs to take a hand here. Danny Mullins an eye-catching booking.

4 CHARLESTOWN BOY – Lightly raced six year old with just four runs under his belt. The Patrick Martin horse was well beat on all of his starts to date and unless some money comes for him, he is hard to back. On the plus side, a decent seven pound claimer is in the saddle.

5 FINEST HOUR – Lightly raced maiden hurdler for the Conor O’Dwyer stable. Beat out of sight on all five starts to date, going off 100/1 on his last four starts. He will be pulled into the stewards’ room if this one can get his head in front, impossible to fancy.

6 HOLD YOUR NERVE – Well bred by Robin Des Champs and in very good hands with Jessica Harrington. Three poor runs from four to date but showed plenty of promise when 4th to Mr Antolini at Gowran Park in September but he couldn’t build on that when pulling up at Roscommon last time out over 2m 4f, albeit on very heavy ground. Back down in trip on better ground so wouldn’t discount.

7 RUSSELLSTOWN – Seven year old Beneficial gelding who has posted some solid placed efforts, some of which would be good enough to land this. He was only beat a neck back in 3rd at Clonmel in September and only bumped into one too good at the same venue last time out. Rock solid chance.

8 SUTTON MANOR – Gordon Elliott is in the form of his life at present so this horse could go off a well fancied favourite if the money comes. The Gigginstown runners can do no wrong at present and this five year old hasn’t been seen since finishing 2nd in a Thurles bumper. He was beat 22 lengths but went off the 5/6 favourite so clearly was fancied and may have more to offer.

9 THE WEST’S AWAKE – Five year old gelding trained by Edward O’Grady and is really well bred by Yeats. Chased home Derulo at Down Royal back in May and the third that day, Delegate, went on to win three times since. Paul Townend is a great booking and he must hold big claims.

10 SHE’S A SURVIVOR – Five year old Kalanisi mare trained by Patrick Downey – Impossible to know what to expect on debut but looks hard to fancy.