'No Excuse' - William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle Tips Fairyhouse’s meeting on Tuesday is in danger of being lost to the weather, a 7.30am inspection has been called for the track, which is currently already heavy and expected to worsen with plenty more rain forecast. However, should the seven-race card get the go-ahead, there’s a lot to look forward to, including the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle over an extended 3m, which our expert has given his verdict on. NAP: Cullig Next Best: Paddy’s Milestone William Hill Betting Offer Cullig should strip fitter for last month’s reappearance With underfoot conditions set to be on the testing side, stamina is going to be critical, especially over this trip, and it’s debatable if many of these eight runners are going to be in their element. However, CULLIG did run a good race on soft ground at Cork in the spring and the recent good form of the Patrick T Foley yard means he’s the most likely winner. The selection opened his account when tackling this trip for the first time off a mark of 84 at Cork in March, turning the 11-runner race into a procession and coming home 20 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer. He held his form really well afterwards, beaten a neck off a 13lb higher mark at Naas on his next start, before finding just one too good once again, back at Cork, following another 3lb rise. He may have been in need of a break when running well below that level on his final start of the campaign at Wexford in May and very likely needed the run when beaten 17.5 lengths into fourth on his reappearance at Tipperary last month. Eased 1lb since then to 103, that run should have put him spot on for this and he’s representing a stable that have hit the target with two of their six runners over the last fortnight. Swagger has stamina to prove Phillip Rothwell’s Billy Lee Swagger is arguably at his happiest when the mud is flying, so there will be no excuses for him on that account. He’s been a bit in and out in recent starts, though, and he’s not certain to be fully wound up for this following an absence of 100 days. His solitary career win came over an extended 2m on heavy ground at Punchestown in December 2023 and, although he’s gone close on three occasions since, he’s been soundly beaten on his two tries at this trip and is likely to be outstayed. Ground a worry for most The Arthur Moore-trained Miracle Man is the only course winner in the field, having won over course-and-distance in April on good to yielding ground. That’s good form, but his record on soft or heavy isn’t particularly inspiring and that can be said about the majority. Therefore, Paddy’s Milestone might provide the biggest danger to the selection, as Stuart Crawford’s mare having won on her attempt over this distance at Down Royal at the beginning of the month. She’s now 6lb higher, but remains open to improvement as a stayer and has previously shown ability on heavy ground.
