Step Up To 3m Should Suit Nerual At Fairyhouse

Saturday's selection was an unmitigated disaster and to not even get run for our money in a 3m5f race was a real sickener. When I saw Milansbar jump off in a prominent position I was optimistic. However, optimism turned to despair pretty quickly as he dropped back through the field after the 2nd. He was pulled up before too long and our losing run was extended.

Liz Doyle could have a well treated mare in Nerual.

I always preach that losing runs are inevitable when tipping up horses at big prices, but when they happen they are still hard to accept. Confidence takes a battering, but the key is to stick to the same staking plan and ride out the storm, because sooner or later things will turn and we will be back in the winner’s enclosure. Hopefully the tide turns tomorrow with this 14/1 each way fancy from Fairyhouse.

Nerual is a mare I have had my eye on for a while, as she had been staying on well late in the day in bumpers and in her maiden hurdles. This 6yo daughter of Craigsteel has a beautiful national hunt pedigree, being a half sister to 25.5f Cheltenham winner Spring Heeled and out of a half sister to classy chaser Central House. She has finished in the first 4 in five of her seven career runs, and she has filled 3rd spot on four occasions.

She was last sighted in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over 22f on heavy, and she caught the eye staying on well for 5th. She looked as though she was crying out for a step up in trip, and she gets an extra two furlongs today. Her half brother Spring Heeled earned an RPR of 151, so a handicap mark of just 98 could underestimate her up in trip. JJ Slevin takes off another 5lb and, with Skybet paying 6 places each way, she is worth chancing in a wide open handicap at odds of 14/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.00 FAIRYHOUSE-NERUAL E/W 14/1 SKYBET (6 PLACES)