Fairyhouse Race 5 - Easter Festival Early Bird Ends March 1St Rated Novice Hurdle
LYNCHES KNOCK (4) runs for a top yard. Looks promising having got off the mark at the second attempt in a 3600m academy hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas before a 2L second contesting a 3200m heavy ground maiden hurdle at Naas last month. Top pick. Stablemate MODE AVION (5) indicated plenty of potential eighteen days ago when third tackling a 3200m heavy ground maiden hurdle at Thurles. Improvement expected. KENTUCKY BEACH (2) brings four hurdle placings from six outings including a 3.75L second in a course and distance novice handicap hurdle two starts ago. Makes appeal. LUMIERE DU LARGE (1) looks one to note.

Jockey: Paul Townend
Weight: 73kgs
Stats
Comments
Third-up today. First-up finished fourth of 19 runners at Cork on December 7 over 3419m, 30 len behind Kazansky carrying 72kg at $1.90. Second-up finished fifth of 7 starters at Punchestown on February 4 over 3822m, 27 len behind James The Brave with 74kg at $8. Go close. Rates well on best and can sneak into the finish with the right run.
Last Starts 12 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/7 | 04/02/2026 | 59 | NHDLE HCP 4U | $27,750.00 | Punchestown | 3822m | SH | P Townend | 74kg | 5:05.80 | - | 0 |
| 27.3L | $8.00 |
| 4/19 | 07/12/2025 | 218 | MHDLE 4U | $21,680.00 | Cork | 3419m | SH | P Townend | 72kg | 4:30.90 | - | 0 |
| 30.8L | $1.91 |
| 8/12 | 03/05/2025 | 50 | G1 OPEN 4 | $216,790.00 | Punchestown | 3218m | Y | Kevin Sexton | 66.5kg | 3:49.60 | - | 0 |
| 48.5L | $126.00 |
| 10/17 | 14/03/2025 | 93 | G1 OPEN 4 | $269,470.00 | Cheltenham | 3419m | Good Soft | Kevin Sexton | 67.5kg | 4:02.10 | 10-12-10 | 0 |
| 37.0L | $201.00 |
| 2/8 | 11/12/2024 | 60 | HDLE UNR F 3 | $64,720.00 | Pau | 3500m | Heavy | Raphael Mayeur | 68kg | 4:27.10 | 8-2-2 | 0 |
| 1.5L | $2.90 |
| 1/16 | 12/10/2024 | - | CF 3 | $17,770.00 | Les Sables | 2700m | Soft | Anthony Bernard | 62.5kg | 3:00.84 | 6-4-1 | 1 |
| 2.5L | $17.00 |

Jockey: Tiernan Power Roche
Weight: 72.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Freshened for 46 days. Last run finished sixth of 10 starters at Tramore on January 1 over 3419m, slow track; 34 len behind Captain Ryan Matt with 70.5kg at $2.60. Before that finished second of 18 starters at this track on December 13 over 3218m, on slow going 4 len behind Fierce Handay carrying 73.5kg at $4. Cannot be left out in this more suitable contest.
Last Starts 46 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/10 | 01/01/2026 | 19 | HDLE HCP 4U | $37,830.00 | Tramore | 3419m | Soft | Tiernan Roche | 70.5kg | 4:19.90 | - | 0 |
| 34.5L | $2.63 |
| 2/18 | 13/12/2025 | 35 | NHDLE HCP 4U | $23,740.00 | Fairyhouse | 3218m | Soft | Tiernan Roche | 73.5kg | 4:04.90 | - | 0 |
| 3.8L | $4.00 |
| 2/10 | 08/11/2025 | 197 | NHDLE HCP 4U | $27,430.00 | Gowran Park | 3218m | Heavy | Tiernan Roche | 69kg | 4:21.40 | - | 0 |
| 0.3L | $11.00 |
| 5/16 | 25/04/2025 | 87 | MHDLE 5U | $17,340.00 | Kilbeggan | 3922m | Y | Tiernan Roche | 69.5kg | 5:13.10 | - | 0 |
| 19.5L | $7.00 |
| 2/14 | 28/01/2025 | 27 | MHDLE 4U | $17,340.00 | Limerick | 3218m | Heavy | Tiernan Roche | 72kg | 4:38.10 | - | 0 |
| 13.0L | $3.50 |
| 3/15 | 01/01/2025 | 276 | MHDLE 5U | $19,030.00 | Tramore | 3419m | Heavy | Simon Torrens | 71.5kg | 4:41.02 | - | 0 |
| 6.5L | $81.00 |
| 10/14 | 31/03/2024 | - | 45 | $173,430.00 | Fairyhouse | 3218m | Heavy | P Elvin | 68.5kg | 4:13.40 | - | 0 |
| 78.0L | $41.00 |

Jockey: Michael Kenneally
Weight: 71kgs
Stats
Comments
Resumes off a 29 day letup. Last start finished third of 13 runners at Thurles on January 18 over 3218m, 13 len behind Eachtotheirown with 67.5kg at $21. The start before that; finished ninth of 12 starters at Limerick in the LR on December 29 over 3218m, 24 len behind Its Bilbo with 63.5kg at $15. Hard to have despite recent form.
Last Starts 29 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/13 | 18/01/2026 | 20 | HDLE HCP 4U | $30,260.00 | Thurles | 3218m | Y | D J O'keeffe | 67.5kg | 4:05.20 | - | 0 |
| 13.0L | $21.00 |
| 9/12 | 29/12/2025 | 30 | LR OPEN 34 | $94,950.00 | Limerick | 3218m | SH | Josh Halford | 63.5kg | 4:16.10 | - | 0 |
| 24.8L | $15.00 |
| 6/6 | 29/11/2025 | 11 | G3 OPEN 4 | $56,740.00 | Fairyhouse | 3218m | YS | Shane Fitzgerald | 69.5kg | 4:01.70 | - | 0 |
| 29.0L | $101.00 |
| 1/14 | 18/11/2025 | 16 | MHDLE 4U | $23,640.00 | Limerick | 3218m | Heavy | Michael Kenneally | 73.5kg | 4:38.30 | - | 0 |
| 1.3L | $9.00 |
| 6/14 | 02/11/2025 | - | MHDLE 4 | $20,810.00 | Cork | 3218m | Y | Shane Fitzgerald | 73kg | 3:54.70 | - | 0 |
| 21.5L | $126.00 |

Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Weight: 71kgs
Stats
Comments
Last start finished second of 12 starters at Naas on January 25 over 3218m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind Kai Lung with 73kg at $4.50. Start before won by a neck Leopardstown on December 29 over 3621m defeating Kilbarry Lizzy carrying 70kg at $7 in a hurdle. Impressed last start. Can return to winning form.
Last Starts 22 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/12 | 25/01/2026 | 27 | HDLE NSY MDN 4 | $22,700.00 | Naas | 3218m | Heavy | Jack Kennedy | 73kg | 4:19.50 | - | 0 |
| 2.0L | $4.50 |
| 1/15 | 29/12/2025 | 23 | HDLE 3 | $20,890.00 | Leopardstown | 3621m | GY | Jordan Gainford | 70kg | 4:32.80 | - | 0 |
| 0.3L | $7.00 |
| 3/10 | 06/12/2025 | - | HDLE 3 | $20,890.00 | Navan | 3419m | SH | Jordan Gainford | 70kg | 4:39.20 | - | 0 |
| 3.0L | $29.00 |

Jockey: Josh Williamson
Weight: 69.5kgs
Stats
Comments
Useful gelding. Last outing finished third of 12 runners at Thurles on January 29 over 3218m, in the wet; 15 len behind Charme De Faust carrying 73kg at $8. Run before finished fourth of 11 starters at Limerick on December 26 over 3218m, on heavy track; 15 len behind Bertutea carrying 70kg at $4. On his best jumping form is sure to prove hard to beat.
Last Starts 18 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12 | 29/01/2026 | 34 | MHDLE 4 | $18,910.00 | Thurles | 3218m | Heavy | Jack Kennedy | 73kg | 4:15.50 | - | 0 |
| 15.5L | $8.00 |
| 4/11 | 26/12/2025 | 43 | MHDLE 3 | $22,790.00 | Limerick | 3218m | Heavy | Danny Gilligan | 70kg | 4:22.40 | - | 0 |
| 15.3L | $4.00 |
| 3/6 | 13/11/2025 | 207 | HDLE 3 | $25,530.00 | Punchestown | 3218m | Heavy | Danny Gilligan | 69kg | 4:09.80 | - | 0 |
| 1.3L | $2.25 |
| 1/7 | 20/04/2025 | - | 3 | $23,320.00 | Le Lion-D'angers | 2400m | Soft | Yoann Rousset | 64kg | 2:50.36 | - | 3 |
| 1.8L | $1.00 |