3.00pm Fairyhouse Tips & Betting Preview 15/01/2017

Likely to be a match between two talented and exciting horses, the fifth race at Fairyhouse on Sunday promises to be a cracker, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This looks like a clash between Townshend and BALLYOISIN, with ready preference for the latterly trained Enda Bolger six year old. He has some brilliant form in the book over hurdles and always looked a chasing in the making. He was still travelling well out in front when coming down four out and has a good opportunity to make amends today. Barry Geraghty is back on board and should take all the beating with the aforementioned Willie Mullins six year old needing to prove himself over fences.

1 A GREAT VIEW – 128 rated hurdler who is useful in his own right, very consistent and twice a winner in 2015 at Limerick (2m, Soft) and Punchestown (2m, Heavy). Has been unfortunate the last twice to bump into both Min at Navan (2m 1f, Yielding to Soft) and Yorkhill at Fairyhouse (2m, Soft to Heavy), though he was never really involved on either run which is slightly disconcerting. He does have experience which is a plus and should have Each Way claims if improving again, but is unlikely to trouble the market principles with Geraghty opting for Ballyoisin.

2 BALLYOISIN – Clearly very talented and won easily on his second hurdling start at Navan in September (2m, Good), dispatching some useful rivals in the process with the minimum of fuss and effort. He always looked like a chaser in the making and was travelling sweetly when coming down four out on chasing debut, and although falling he did confirm earlier suspicions that he’d make an even better chaser. Barry Geraghty opts for him over the other two JP McManus runners and coming down in trip is likely to make him even more dangerous if judged on his hurdling form. Conditions are perfect today and he should be hard to beat.

3 CLONALIG HOUSE – Rated 113 over timber and did win nicely at Musselburgh in November (2m 3f, Good), one of his three wins to date. At his best it is not implausible that he could be involved for placings on chasing debut but others have far more scope for progression and this softer ground is certainly not in his favour. As with any Tony Martin horse watching the market is crucial but he looks like a horse who’ll find handicap company much easier than this.

4 DALAKI – Highly tried six year old who has already run 35 times on the flat and over hurdles, winning his first race over timber last time out in a selling hurdler at Leicester (2m 4f, Good). Made very hard work of that when it shouldn’t have been quite as difficult, and doesn’t strike as the likeliest type to land a blow on these terms. Has the possibility of placing on chase debut if others under perform but looks set for a very minor role in this.

5 DOUBLE SCORES – Would have placed if not for coming down at the final fence at Thurles in December (2m 2f, Soft), which he didn’t deserve. That was a big step up from his chasing debut where he was tailed off at Fairyhouse after multiple mistakes and should have place claims again if putting his chasing experience to good use, with conditions to suit.

6 FIGHTING DAYS – Only rated 93 over hurdles and stands with a record of 2-28, which doesn’t read well in the context of this race. What also doesn’t read well is his two chasing starts to date where he has struggled to beat a rival in both. Looks a completely forlorn hope in this field and best avoided.

7 KALOGAN – Only thrice raced under rules despite being a seven year old but did show promise on his second bumper at Cork in October (2m 3f, Yielding) when finishing fourth. He didn’t last long on his hurdling debut when falling at the second fence and looks to have it all to do against more experience and classier rivals on chasing debut. Unlikely to stand any chance for placing.

8 PRESENTING JULIO – Won off a mark of 88 at Stratford in October (2m, Good) but in the main he has been very poor over hurdles, including his latest 15th of 19 at Fairyhouse in December (2m 4f, Yielding). Today’s conditions don’t suit with him usually avoiding softer ground and is best left alone on chasing debut.

9 SURROGATE LAD – Beaten by a literal ‘distance’ on his rules debut at Down Royal over fences (2m 4f, Soft), never landing a blow and looking laboured from an early stage. It is impossible from that evidence to put him forward but as always with a Tony Martin runner, watching the market is advised on his second start with Denis O’Regan taking the ride.

10 TOWNSHEND – Clearly very talented and is the classic Willie Mullins/Rich Ricci horse, plucked from the Boisnard yard after a win over hurdles in Auteuil for 170,000 euros. Fourth on Irish debut in a competitive looking handicap hurdle, he failed to land a blow at Kempton in the Silver Plate (2m 5f, Good) with the trip a possible excuse but did make amends when winning with ease at Perth in April when last seen (2m, Good). For all that he was rated 136 over hurdles and has to be considered a big danger on chasing debut, with conditions to suit and Ruby Walsh on board as usual.

11 FLORAL FANTASY – 1-10 under rules and rated 118 over hurdles which immediately puts her on the back foot against a few of these who have achieved much more. Made it as far as the first fence at Naas last Sunday (2m, Soft) and on the back of that it is hard to fancy her today, despite having conditions to suit. She’s most certainly Enda Bolger’s second string and would be a surprise edition to the places.