'She looks set to go well under Eoin Walsh' - Fairyhouse NAP and NB Fairyhouse is the venue of choice for Irish racing on Saturday afternoon, with eight races at the Co Meath circuit from 11.30-3.25. Conditions will be attritional, with 'soft-to-heavy' ground forecast, so a fondness for getting stuck into the mud could be a positive factor. We're focused on race six, the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (2.15) over two-and-a-half-miles, with the contest split into two divisions. A field of 19 are set to contest the opening division and we have two to look out for. Destivelle can showcase her stamina Cowper Hall should have a say in this for the Gavin Cromwell team as they start to find some form, but the eight-race hurdles maiden has climbed 6lb in the ratings just for getting competitive in recent starts and that makes things tougher, despite Eoin Staples taking weight off in the saddle. Gino Bella was a length ahead of Cowper Hall at Thurles last time and the pair are solid contenders once more. That's Me Finished has won his last two over hurdles for Noel Kelly, at Sligo (2m41/2f, soft) in August last year and then at Punchestown (2m7f, heavy) in January. The Presenting gelding likes the mud flying, but has an 8lb higher mark to try and defy on his return - the market may be the best guide as to where he is at. DESTIVELLE won on good ground at Thurles in October for Ciaran Murphy and comes here after finishing third at Clonmel (2m31/2f, heavy) at the start of this month. That was the longest trip she has encountered, on deep ground, and she powered home from the back of the last after having had to come wide on the home bend to get in a challenging position. Nudged up 1lb and with an extra furlong to cover, she looks set to go well under Eoin Walsh carrying just 10st 13lb. Improved run possible for Johnjoe One that may improve here is HELLO JOHNJOE for trainer Andrew McNamara. The Berkshire filly made little impression in maiden hurdles at Galway and Sligo in August, but she showed more at Tramore (2m, soft) after three months off. She was a big price and made some late gains to finish fifth in that 14-runner contest, detached from the front four after getting outpaced. Low sun meant only five of the intended nine flights were jumped, with the two hurdles in the home straight omitted on both circuits. It all turned into a bit of a speed-test and that certainly wouldn't have aided this filly, twice a runner-up in three-mile point-to-points back in the spring before joining this handler. Stepping up in trip here should be a positive and the testing ground may also help as that improved run at Tramore also came on soft going. Brian Hayes, fresh from a double at Punchestown on Thursday in dour conditions, is booked to ride and has partnered a couple of winners for this yard before. An opening handicap mark of 88 is perhaps one this 4YO can exploit if the step up in trip and switch to handicaps brings about further improvement from that most recent effort.
