Horse Racing Tips: Lazare can prove a Fairyhouse Star for Elliott

Fairyhouse, 15.15 - Back Lazare de Star each-way @ 14/115.00 

Given Jack Kennedy prefers to ride Generous Risk, I could be barking up completely the wrong tree fancying Lazare de Star to outrun his odds in the Grade 2 Hurdle, brilliantly sponsored by Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings.

The Masked Marvel gelding returns to today's trip following a couple of defeats over the minimum distance at Navan and Punchestown, albeit the first of those came at the hands of Zeus Power who mugged the selection late on before subsequently finishing placed in Group 1 company at Cheltenham.

Equipped with the hood for the first time on his latest start seven weeks ago, Lazare de Star narrowly failed to reel in the well-ridden Heads Up who enjoyed the run of the race from the front under a smart ride from Danny Mullins.

The bare level of that form may not seem good enough to reverse early season form with his Navan conqueror from December, Saint Baco, however a dosage index of 0.50 (the closer to 0, the more stamina in the pedigree) suggests a return to today's trip on drying ground should be ideal and, if Danny Gilligan can find some early cover, then double figure odds about a horse that is fresher than most look quite enticing with four places on offer.

Plumpton, 16.05 - Back Helnwein each-way @ 9/110.00

Willie Mullins plundered the Sussex Champion Hurdle 12 months ago with Absurde but in his absence this year, Imperial Cup winner Mondo Man looks to have a clear shot at the title for the in-form Gary & Josh Moore operation.

Formerly a highly talented flat horse, the five-year-old skipped round today's venue to win in a canter back in February before exploiting a mark of just 123 at the Esher track, escaping a mistake at the last to cling on from the luckless Wreckless Eric.

A return to the Sussex course on good ground should ensure he boasts a major chance of defying the subsequent 10lb rise, but at 7/4 in a competitive field I'm happy to let him run unbacked at those odds.

If there is one horse in the field capable of upsetting a favourite with strong claims then it might just be the mecurial Helnwein with the first-time cheekpieces applied.

Last seen when beaten at odds-on at Newbury in a seven-runner affair, the son of Walk In The Park was left in the lead by a faller two hurdles from home which wouldn't have suited given he is much better suited being smuggled into contention late in a genuinely-run, big-field handicap.

A winner two springs ago of the 20-runner novices' handicap hurdle on the closing day of the jumps season at Sandown, Helnwein won that event following a 16-day absence from the track, while he was also runner-up in the Swinton Hurdle last year after a run at Chepstow 15 days beforehand so today's time frame suits ideally.

The selection is fresh and has been lightly campaigned this term, running just three times with those outings including a superb run in the Greatwood Hurdle and an honourable performance in one of the best handicaps of its type run this year before Christmas at Ascot won by the County Hurdle winner Wilful.

That event featured the likes of Hot Fuss (2nd at the Cheltenham festival), Alexei (4th in a Champion Hurdle) and Sandown scorer Mondo Man himself with whom he is 11lb better off for a three-length beating.

County Hurdle second and third, Sticktotheplan and Joyeuse, were also in the backwash that day, while Faivoir was subsequently placed in a valuable Newbury handicap in February to stamp the contest as one of the hottest run this season.

The first-time cheekpieces could work one of two ways for Helnwein, but at 9/110.00 with four placecs on offer, I'm willing to take a chance.

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