Step Back Up In Trip Could Suit Marino At Fairyhouse

Unfortunately, my last tip on this blog over a week ago was a massive disappointment. He Rock’s was always in rear and never looked like figuring. He will no doubt bounce back at some stage, but my money won’t be on. We get the rare treat of a Tuesday card at Fairyhouse on Tuesday and while the fare is mediocre at best, I do think there is one worth backing at nice odds in the 20f handicap hurdle at 3pm.

Marino Marvel (middle) was just beaten by Turasoir at Clonmel.

Marino Marvel remains a maiden after 29 starts in both codes and his recent form figures are far from awe inspiring. However, he has demonstrated he has sufficient ability to pick up a weak race at some stage on more than one occasion, and they don’t get much weaker than this low grade handicap hurdle.

His best run over timber so far came when Conor Maxwell was on board at Thurles off a mark of 87 (16f yld). He was beaten by a short head by 93 rated Turasoir who had a 7lb claimer on board. She is now rated 107 after winning easily off 98 since. Marino Marvel has now dropped to a mark of 85, and his last run at today’s trip was his best for some time.

He may only have finished 7th at Clonmel last month (20f yld) off a mark of 90 but he was only 2.5L behind the 4th home, All About Alfie, and he came out and won on his next start. He earned an RPR of 97 for that run, and on better ground I think he can improve on that effort.

His last two runs were poor but they can be excused, especially the last one at Punchestown over 16f. For a horse that likes to race in the first half of the field at the very least, it was strange to see him dropped out the back. He charted a very wide course too and it was no surprise that he didn’t feature at the finish.

I am hoping that he is ridden more prominently at Fairyhouse and it is interesting that the usual cheekpieces are discarded. Conor Maxwell rides regularly for McLoughlin (20 wins from 320 rides) and he is on Marino Marvel, with Robbie Colgan (1 win from 37 rides) taking the ride on his other runner, Glendaar’s Warrior, who is shorter in the betting.

Marino Marvel is now rated 5lb lower than when running well at Clonmel last month and 2lb lower than when beaten by Turasoir. Dermot McLoughlin had a couple run well in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown on Monday and Waitaki ran a cracker at Dundalk on Friday, so his string is still in decent shape. I think Marino Marvel has it in him to run a big race on Tuesday, if he is in the mood, and at 25/1 a small each way interest is advised.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 3.00 FAIRYHOUSE-MARINO MARVEL E/W @ 25/1