Timeform Daily: www.betchronicle.com Hurdle

General / Editor / 23 March 2008 / Leave a Comment

Competitive Fairyhouse hurdle gets the Timeform treatment

As is usually the case for Easter Monday there is a feast of action in store, with meetings taking place under both codes to please both Jumps and Flat enthusiasts. Fairyhouse stages the third day of its Easter Meeting, with the Irish Grand National the feature race of its eight-race card. The betchronicle.com Hurdle is the second race on the card and should be a competitive event itself.

Sonnyanjoe is not getting any younger but at the age of ten has enjoyed by far his most successful season to date, winning on three occasions and putting up a career-best effort when second to Sweet Kiln in a Grade Two contest at Leopardstown in December. Having been highly tried when below that form in the Cleeve Hurdle and the World Hurdle, this represents a much easier opportunity for this genuine and consistent sort. The only worry is that he may be feeling the effects of a hard season having already had thirteen runs this season.

Hi Cloy is better known for being a smart chaser, but did show useful form when finishing second to Souffleur in a competitive handicap at Aintree on his first run of the season. Hi Cloy has since shown himself to be in good form by winning the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles, beating One Cool Cookie by three and a half lengths. Hi Cloy could be the one to take advantage if Sonnyanjoe does not give its running.

Back To Bid is another horse that is again reverting back to hurdles after very limited success over the bigger obstacles. Noel Meade's gelding was a useful novice in 2005/6, but has become somewhat disappointing since. The form of the stable is also a worry, with only a few of Noel Meade's representatives running to form. Even on his very best form he would need to improve to win this.

Fond Of A Drop is fairly lightly raced for a seven-year-old and had been showing progressive form until probably having his sights aimed too high when finishing a well-beaten eighth in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Fond Of A Drop remains capable of better but this looks a stiff task at present.

Shakervilz is having just his third run over hurdles having won an ordinary maiden at Leopardstown last time. Whilst he is very much up to improvement, this is a big ask for one so inexperienced.