2m1f | Yielding | 12 runners

This is a proper Fairyhouse Grade 3 handicap — deep, competitive, and usually won by a horse who’s already proven at the track and can travel strongly at pace. Yielding ground keeps it honest without turning it into a slog, so jumping fluency and positioning will matter more than brute stamina.

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Race Shape

There’s plenty of pace on paper. Tullyhill and possibly Touch Me Not can go forward, with several who like to sit handy. That sets it up for something that can track the speed and strike off the home turn. Fairyhouse’s fences come at you quickly late — mistakes will be punished.

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Key Players

Blood Destiny (W P Mullins / Townend)
Class act in the race. Has been mixing it in graded company and drops into a handicap still looking fairly treated. Travels powerfully, jumps well on a good day, and the yard/jockey combo screams intent. The big question is giving weight all round in a race where margins are tight — but if he runs to his mark, he’s right there.

Touch Me Not (Gordon Elliott)
Ultra-consistent and rock-solid at this trip. His second to Drumgill here reads well, and he was running with credit behind top-class novices earlier in the season. Doesn’t quite have the ceiling of Blood Destiny but sets a strong standard and handles Fairyhouse well.

Drumgill (John Patrick Ryan)
Last-time-out course-and-distance winner, delivered late off a strong pace — exactly the profile you want for this race. He’s up in the weights but still looks on the right side of the handicapper. If the tempo is strong again, he’s a serious danger.

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Well Handicapped / Interesting

Western Diego (W P Mullins)
Quietly catching the eye. Finished strongly behind Drumgill and Touch Me Not and now carries a light weight for his ability. Needs things to fall right tactically, but if he gets a clean run, he’s overpriced relative to his chance.

Inthepocket (Henry de Bromhead)
Plenty of talent, but jumping errors keep creeping in. On his best form he’s well capable, but you’re taking a leap of faith that he puts it all together under pressure.

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Course Specialists / Revival Types

The King Of Prs
Last year’s winner and loves Fairyhouse. Not in sparkling form, but this race has clearly been the target again. Dangerous to dismiss at double figures.

Path D’Oroux / The Other Mozzie
Capable on their day, but both look to need everything to fall right and are slightly exposed at this level.

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Verdict

This feels like a race where current form + course suitability is the sweet spot.

• Blood Destiny sets the bar if coping with the weight
• Drumgill looks the best-handicapped closer
• Touch Me Not is the solid, no-nonsense benchmark
• Western Diego is the sneaky one at the weights