talkSPORT betting tips – Best racing bets and expert advice for Fairyhouse
Three days of cracking action are in store from the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, which culminates with the Irish Grand National itself on Monday evening. The action gets underway on Saturday with a seven-race card from 1.10-5.40, which includes the Fred Kenny Memorial Ladies National Handicap Chase at 3.55. Our three best bets from day one at Fairyhouse are below. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets* Fairyhouse tips 2.45 – Hollow Games – SP 3.20 – Zenta – SP 5.40 – Hello Jean – SP 2.45 Fairyhouse – Hollow Games – SP Gordon Elliott will be hoping for a big finish to the season after what has been quite a frustrating spring. Elliott held back from the Dublin Racing Festival in February more than normal and, while his horses have been running well at both Cheltenham and Aintree, the Cullentra handler was restricted to just one winner at each of those marquee meetings. He saddles HOLLOW GAMES in the Race Displays Joseph O’Reilly Hunters Chase over 3m1f and this Bective Stud-owned nine-year-old is fancied for a big run. He was third in the Galway Plate in 2023 off a mark of 142, but lost his way over the course of that season. As a result, he’s been tried this season in point-to-points and hunters’ chases, running well at times but yet to collect a prize. He was second last time behind Winged Leader at Portrush between the flags, a decent effort against a prolific winner in that sphere despite the fact he never looked like winning. Drying ground here should really suit Hollow Games and Harry Swan’s mount can be a big danger to the likely favourite, Ryehill. 3.20 Fairyhouse – Zenta – SP Despite the fact all eyes are seemingly fixed on his quest to win the trainers’ championship in Britain again, we shouldn’t be losing sight of Willie Mullins on the home front. ZENTA is his main contender in this Listed Mares’ Handicap Chase and everything points to the JP McManus-owned six-year-old running a huge race. It was her third start over fences when she won over course and distance in a beginners’ event in February and her jumping was much improved as she moved menacingly throughout before coming away after the last. The pair that chased her home have since fought out the finish in a useful contest at Clonmel. Zenta is rated 140 for this assignment, a mark that is within her grasp based on hurdles form, so she looks set to kick on from that win here previously, with Mark Walsh doing the steering again. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets* 5.40 Fairyhouse – Hello Jean – SP Jody Townend showcased her importance to the Closutton team by winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on Bambino Fever and she could have another nice winner on her hands in the concluding Hire2K Irish EBF Mares Flat Race with HELLO JEAN. The Flemensfirth mare was third on debut at Leopardstown over two miles last month in the hands of this rider. They had to come wide off the final bend to challenge from the rear and were perhaps done no favours when eventual winner Moon Eclipse ranged up on their outside to go by everything, leaving this mare a little bit squeezed in. Still, Hello Jean was strong through the line and would have been second in another stride or two, very much suggesting she can excel now upped in trip with that experience under her belt. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets* *all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any horse racing at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
Three days of cracking action are in store from the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, which culminates with the Irish Grand National itself on Monday evening.
The action gets underway on Saturday with a seven-race card from 1.10-5.40, which includes the Fred Kenny Memorial Ladies National Handicap Chase at 3.55. Our three best bets from day one at Fairyhouse are below.
talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
Fairyhouse tips
2.45 Fairyhouse – Hollow Games – SP
Gordon Elliott will be hoping for a big finish to the season after what has been quite a frustrating spring.
Elliott held back from the Dublin Racing Festival in February more than normal and, while his horses have been running well at both Cheltenham and Aintree, the Cullentra handler was restricted to just one winner at each of those marquee meetings.
He saddles HOLLOW GAMES in the Race Displays Joseph O’Reilly Hunters Chase over 3m1f and this Bective Stud-owned nine-year-old is fancied for a big run.
He was third in the Galway Plate in 2023 off a mark of 142, but lost his way over the course of that season.
As a result, he’s been tried this season in point-to-points and hunters’ chases, running well at times but yet to collect a prize.
He was second last time behind Winged Leader at Portrush between the flags, a decent effort against a prolific winner in that sphere despite the fact he never looked like winning.
Drying ground here should really suit Hollow Games and Harry Swan’s mount can be a big danger to the likely favourite, Ryehill.
3.20 Fairyhouse – Zenta – SP
Despite the fact all eyes are seemingly fixed on his quest to win the trainers’ championship in Britain again, we shouldn’t be losing sight of Willie Mullins on the home front.
ZENTA is his main contender in this Listed Mares’ Handicap Chase and everything points to the JP McManus-owned six-year-old running a huge race.
It was her third start over fences when she won over course and distance in a beginners’ event in February and her jumping was much improved as she moved menacingly throughout before coming away after the last. The pair that chased her home have since fought out the finish in a useful contest at Clonmel.
Zenta is rated 140 for this assignment, a mark that is within her grasp based on hurdles form, so she looks set to kick on from that win here previously, with Mark Walsh doing the steering again.
talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
5.40 Fairyhouse – Hello Jean – SP
Jody Townend showcased her importance to the Closutton team by winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on Bambino Fever and she could have another nice winner on her hands in the concluding Hire2K Irish EBF Mares Flat Race with HELLO JEAN.
The Flemensfirth mare was third on debut at Leopardstown over two miles last month in the hands of this rider.
They had to come wide off the final bend to challenge from the rear and were perhaps done no favours when eventual winner Moon Eclipse ranged up on their outside to go by everything, leaving this mare a little bit squeezed in.
Still, Hello Jean was strong through the line and would have been second in another stride or two, very much suggesting she can excel now upped in trip with that experience under her belt.
talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any horse racing at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
