3:45 Fairyhouse Tips

Philip Rothwell's unexposed 5-year-old gives the impression that the farther he goes, the better. Lost all chance when badly hampered at the first at Galway 4 weeks ago and did well to be beaten under 3 lengths.

This one will be fitter for the last time out run as they are stepping it back up in trip with the same 7lbs claimer on board. A good value each-way bet for the 4 places available.

Sights Unseen won at Downpatrick in May and showed he is still on a decent mark when second at Listowel off a 5 lbs higher mark last month. He finished strongly there over 2m6f, so the step up to 3 miles should help. He is up another 3 lbs but looks like a good EW bet with 4 places on offer.

Found extended 2.2 miles @ Cork Lto on the short side and this distance winner going to be more @ home back over this 3 miles. Only 2lb higher here for win 3 runs back, good jockey retains ride and shrewd trainer is best here last 5 sesaons with her hurdlers @ 15 percent, making current 14/1 solid Ew value in the race.

Roxhill Roise hasn't won over this far under rules but has landed a soft ground point over three miles. Another returning from a long layoff so fitness will have to be taken on trust. This could be the time of year for the mare as she landed a 21 furlongs handicap hurdle in November last season. There is plenty of stamina in her pedigree for today's trip and she has scored on soft/heavy ground.

A hat trick of wins last Autumn/Winter included two course wins for Portarlington. The form of his latest win at Downpatrick has also been franked. He steps up further in distance and could be an interesting place contender with a claiming jockey aboard returned to Fairyhouse.

I can't move off Liz Doyle's 9 year old French Gelding SALMANINO who makes a return to the smaller obstacles 11lbs lower than his chase mark. This Son of KAPGARDE has raced in much deeper races than this over the tall timber & whilst the form line doesn't read well on his recent chase runs UR-PU-Fell he's looked ok up to a point. This charge finished 2nd 1 length behind VERDANT PLACE last December @Navan outrunning his gargantuan 80/1 odds (after a big 258 day break) prior to this we have a 3 length win @Punchestown (23f Heavy). This French lad was off hurdles very quickly but does have a 3 mile win over this trip on soft ground under today's jockey Sean Flanagan who has a 34.78% place strike rate (past month) & 25.26% here the past 5 years. Big price but I need to scratch the itch.

Ran well in defeat over a distance which would be on the short side last time out. Better is possible now that he moves up in trip on ground conditions which should suit.