Fairyhouse NAP and NB for Thursday - 'Hanlon's gelding would have gone into a few notebooks' They race again at Fairyhouse on Thursday and there are two divisions of the 2m4f handicap hurdle to end the card, due off at 15:18 and 15:52. The second division (15:52) doesn’t have much strength in depth and should represent a good opportunity for Eoin Griffin’s charge to gain a third win. By Clive Gildon. In-form top weight looks to have race at his mercy There’s not a lot of recent form to go on in this handicap hurdle but one who looks sure to give his running is Eoin Griffin’s 10-year-old GREAT ISLAND, who looks as good as ever this season. An interrupted career means the gelding has only had 16 starts in his life, two of which have been victories, starting with his handicap debut over two and a half miles at Gowran Park in September 2023. He was competitive off marks in the low hundreds on his next couple of outings that winter, before a couple of disappointing displays preceded an enforced near-absence. He only ran once in the 18 months preceding his encouraging run at Punchestown in November, but his two runs since then have been among his best ever. After that eyecatching reappearance, he was sent off favourite in a similar race to this one at Clonmel, where he narrowly prevailed under Calum Hogan. He showed reassuring consistency to run to a similar level when fourth in a messy race at Limerick last time, with the first three all over the track towards the end of that contest, something which counted against Great Island, who should appreciate the drop back in trip. Cali obvious danger Shark Hanlon’s BACK TO CALI rates the main danger to Great Island on only his third handicap start, with the step up in trip looking on running style to be in his favour. A six-year-old with only five starts under rules so far, Hanlon’s gelding would have gone into a few notebooks after a running on third over 2m1f at Down Royal in December, with the extra three furlongs in this race looking to suit. That race was an ordinary contest though, with the two who finished ahead of him exposed sorts rated 76 and 74, plus Back to Cali’s point-to-point form, which came at three miles, was very ordinary. Cromwell still not firing Gavin Cromwell’s struggles have been well noted but they are fairly stark nonetheless with a 9% strike-rate on the season and no winners (up to 13:15 Fairyhouse yesterday) in January so far from 24 runners. That, and the fact he bled last time is enough to put you off Cosmo Renfro, who did at least place (albeit beaten 20 lengths) two outings ago. Warmer Days Ahead, currently a reserve, who finished just behind the selection last time has possibilities of getting in the race.
