Irish Strawberry Hurdle 2012

2.40 Fairyhouse

Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €26,000

Advice: 2 pts win Oscars Well (15/8 Boylesports), 1 pt double Oscars Well (2.40) & Steps to Freedom (3.40) & 8.94 Sportinglife

Oscars Well: Deeply impressive novice hurdler last year, winning two Grade 1’s before coming fourth in strong renewal of Neptune; Not had the same success this year but pitched into some very high class races and step back up in trip should help him here; Comes for this instead of Aintree Hurdle and must have a big chance.

Karabak: Not the same horse of 3 years ago and passed over here.

The Real Article: Made the step upto Graded company relatively easily this year, winning Grade 2 events in soft ground with relative amount of ease’ Easily beaten in Hatton’s Grace and Irish Champion Hurdle but deserves his chance here and trip is likely to suit.

Toner D’Oudaries; Not quite upto best novice company so dropped into handicaps and was going well when turning for home only to find 3 miles too far at Leopardstown; Much improved at Cheltenham when second in Martin Pipe conditionals hurdle last time out; Needs to improve again to make his mark.

Get Me Out Of Here: Classy, for the large part consistent and unlucky handicapper who was third at Cheltenham Festival for the third time in a row when second under topweight in Coral Cup; Rated 155 so very well treated by the race conditions here and has to have a big chance.

Powerstation: Back in the winners enclosure once again when taking handicap hurdle off 135 at the beginning of December but has lost a step thanks to age as shown by his unplaced efforts since; Others preferred.

Tofino Bay: Won decent 2 mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown in February and was lumbered by race conditions next twice; This a much harder task so others preferred. 

Oilily: Very classy as a novice, winning Grade 3 nicely before running close second at Aintree; Not found that form this season and while she won cosily over this trip last time, others preffered.

VERDICT: OSCARS WELL has to give 7lbs to the extremely well treated Get Me Out Of Here but the step up in trip should be good for him and this looks a good opportunity for Jessica Harrington’s charge to get his first win since the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle last year. The Real Article is next best.