Timeform Irish SmartPlays: Take a chance on Stockton's Wing at Fairyhouse

There is a cracking card at Fairyhouse today

Timeform's Irish team have picked out three more SmartPlays on an a cracking card at Fairyhouse...

There isn't much to choose between the four previous hurdles winners in the opening 3-y-o hurdle but the vote goes to Stockton's Wing who was impressive when beating Everything Zain at Down Royal last time. Charles O'Brien's gelding has a bit to find with Our Conor and Brog Deas on Flat form but he has taken well to jumps and, significantly, all of his three wins on the level came on soft or heavy ground.

Champagne Fever and Minsk are bound to attract plenty of attention in the Royal Bond Novices Hurdle at 13:05 but it would be unwise to discount Jezki who has won both of his starts over hurdles. Jezki finished well behind the first named in the Cheltenham bumper last season but has done nothing wrong in two outings over jumps (both of his wins working out well) and a strongly-run race at two miles will suit him more than most.

The hat-trick seeking Highdownhill looks the one they all have to beat in the Batterstown handicap chase at 15:10. He has returned to form with a bang this season, winning a handicap hurdle at Roscommon in August as well as twice over fences at Punchestown, and the way he finished over twenty five furlongs there on his penultimate start (Tarquinius back in third and just 2 lb better off now) would suggest that this marathon trip won't hold any fears for him.

Timeform Irish SmartPlays

Back Stockton's Wing in the 12:35
Back Jezki in the 13:05
Back Highdownhill in the 15:10