Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 30th November 2025

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Fairyhouse

Bar 1 Betting Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 12.35
Mange Tout
I do see that there’s been plenty of money going down for Narciso Has this week, and really he was pretty effective at Auteuil back in April. Since bought up by JP McManus, and now housed in Willie Mullins’ Closutton yard, I’m sure he’s touted to be going places, but I’m stuck on the appeal of Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout, so I’m going to go against the jolly. Mange Tout was very good the last day at Down Royal, and won’t be minding this ground, so the recent run swings it for me over Narciso Has.

Bar 1 Betting Porterstown Handicap Chase (Listed) 1.05
Better Times Ahead
I’m thinking that Better Times Ahead will be giving this a good run, with what looks like a giveaway handicap mark. That said, this is a bit of a marathon, so I imagine that Better Times Ahead will be able to make the most of his lowly mark and put his useful course form to good effect. He won here the last day with something still to come, so this longer trip could see more improvement. Gavin Cromwell’s Now Is The Hour rates the obvious danger, but has to concede 18lbs to Better Times Ahead, so that’s where I’ll stick my pin.

Bar 1 Betting Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 1.35
Love Me Tender (nap)
A good chance to see how good this Doctor Dino gelding is progressing, now sent up into another Graded contest, and I for one will be keeping him on side. Unbeaten in three starts, this deeper ground may ask the question, but on breeding I’ll be guessing he will be fine. In good hands with Willie Mullins in the green and gold of JP McManus, Love Me Tender is one going places this campaign, and I think that you will be putting this one on your watchlist for some bigger targets later this season. Very interesting!

Bar 1 Betting Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2.05
Romeo Coolio
Well, the Drinmore is all about Romeo Coolio, as you might know from Jaysella’s Podcast this week. Looking very much one of the best Novice Hurdlers last season, connections have wasted no time in sending this Kayf Tara gelding over fences, and I for one cannot wait to see how he gets on at this level. Winning his Beginners Chase the last day by 14 lengths, there’s obviously so much more to come, and although Willie Mullins has a prolific one in Gold Dancer, this again is a step up in grade. Romeo Coolio to impress again, with no bookmaker taking any chances, so the prices on offer to reflect that.

Bar 1 Betting Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1) 2.36
Teahupoo (nb)
An absolutely fascinating Hatton’s Grace, where Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo starts this season’s campaign over a tried and trusted route. In three renewals, only the brilliant Lossiemouth has lowered Teahupoo’s colours once into second, but this isn’t the formality it would seem without Lossiemouth lining up. This time, Teahupoo has to shake off the attentions of Willie Mullins Ballyburn, who looked set for a future over fences, but returns here to hurdles where his record is four from five. I’m of the opinion that the weather could play a part, if it continues to dry here at Fairyhouse, then that plays into Ballyburn’s hands, if there’s any more cut in the ground, it’s Teahupoo’s to lose.

Bar 1 Casino Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 3.11
Zillow
For the Casino Handicap, I’ll take the chance that this is another canny piece of placing by Willie Mullins. Sporting the same colours as Ethical Diamond, who the Closutton trainer sent out to win the Ebor before scoring at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. So same silks, another big prize to be plundered, and another chance for Willie Mullins to take advantage of a handy mark. The pair at the top of the weights, Puturhandstogether and Last Kingdom should give their running, but could be prone to one further down in this Handicap, and I think that’s Zillow.