The concluding day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse races on Sunday, 30 November looks sure to prove informative for the rest of the National Hunt season. That’s because of two Grade 1s, as many Listed handicaps, and Grade 2 and Grade 3 events on the card. Headlining the action is the Drinmore Novice Chase and Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
Some of the best jumps horses and top prospects in training in the Emerald Isle, including those who have been to Cheltenham races before, run during the fixture. Supporting the Drinmore and Hatton’s Grace are the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle and Porterstown Handicap Chase over the Irish Grand National course and distance.
As ever, the feature contests often boil down to a battle between long-time rivals Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. Both unleash some big guns during the Fairyhouse races during the Winter Festival. Murcia, for instance, runs on Saturday in the Grade 3 that Closutton maestro Mullins landed 12 months ago with Fighting Fifth Hurdle hope Anzadam.
Sunday’s card is the same with the graded action packed full of smart horses looking to scale greater heights. Even the New Stand Handicap Hurdle, run this season as the Bar 1 Casino Handicap Hurdle, has lots of young guns taking part who could climb the ranks. This meeting promises to tell punters something with an eye on ante-post markets.
We just had to let our experts assess the main card. Their views consider both past form and potential further progress, not just for here and now but the long-term as online Cheltenham bookies quote plenty of notable runners for the Festival in 2026 already. Check our horse racing pros’ Sunday selection from a fantastic afternoon of sport in Ireland.
Fairyhouse Races Preview for 30 November
12:35 – 2m Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle
Another winner at Down Royal for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy as Mange Tout takes the opener. What did we make of the debut? pic.twitter.com/ecfQQQvaEu
— TBJ (@TBJ_Racing) November 1, 2025
Although 4lb worse off for beating Wizard Of Odds by four lengths, Mange Tout is out of the same dam as Impaire Et Paase. The swing in weight obviously gives William Durkan’s runner a chance of turning the tables, but he’s been busy enough in his Flat career earlier in the year too. Course and distance winner Adrienne is another filly of note for Ted Walsh to whom similar comments apply.
She beat I’ll Be Handy here last time out and there’s no reason off the same terms why Matthew Smith’s gelding should reverse form. JP McManus has a second string besides Narciso Has in Gavin Cromwell inmate In My Teens. That yard has struggled for form this autumn, however. Thilos, rated just 64 on the Flat, makes his hurdling debut, meanwhile.
1:05 – 3m 6f Porterstown Handicap Chase (Listed Handicap)
Will Do was a fine third in the National Hunt Chase over this trip on Champion Hurdle day during the Cheltenham Festival schedule back in March. He’s now 3lb lower in the weights, and seen fellow placed horses Rock My Way and Resplendent Grey both score since. Beaufort Scale, meanwhile, kept on into seventh in the Troytown at Navan in such a way that suggested going further up in trip could suit.
Last year’s winner History Of Fashion and Irish Grand National Trial scorer Fortunedefortunata don’t seem to be in the same form as their successes from the 2024-25 season. Lonesome Boatman and Positive Thinker have run well in editions of the Cork Grand National over three-and-a-half miles before, so could also go well over an another quarter.
McManus has two in his green and gold hooped silks with Better Times Ahead the pick of the pair. Robert Tyner exploited his much lower hurdling mark to land a staying handicap hurdle here last time, so he now switches back to fences off the back of a morale boosting win. Topweight Favori De Champdou isn’t out of it either, if he can reproduce his Thyestes Chase third from Gowran in January.
1:35 – 2m Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle
It was an easy race for Koktail Brut earlier today at Punchestown who made all.
Can you see this horse going on to bigger things after this display? pic.twitter.com/9YRZPm3rQt
— FutureStarHorses (@OlliCarter) November 13, 2025
It’s hard to see Love Me Tender getting that sounder surface here, so he’s plenty short enough. Although prominent in the ante-post Cheltenham odds for both the Supreme and Baring Bingham come March, it might pay to look elsewhere on this occasion. Course bumper winner KOKTAIL BRUT relished heavy ground when making all around Punchestown and reversing Dublin Racing Festival form with Colcannnon, however.
If building on that effort for Elliott, Gigginstown and Kennedy, he could well exploit the 3lb in weight he receives from Love Me Tender. Cullentra House also run wide-margin Naas winner Port Authority. He brings an unbeaten record to the table, alongside Henry De Bromhead’s Gameball, but the pedigree of that one suggests improvement at longer trips.
The only trainer to break up the Mullins-Elliott duopoly in this event is Barry Connell. Eachtotheirown steps up in grade after landing his hurdles bow at Galway last month. Also worth an honourable mention is Noel Meade’s British Flat import Blake, who landed the October Handicap since the switch to Ireland and followed-up with success over the obstacles.
2:05 – 2m 4f 55y Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase
Just seven fences to jump but a very smooth start all the same for Romeo Coolio at @Downroyal pic.twitter.com/B65iByuWXj
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 31, 2025
A Drinmore demands more, especially if conditions get testing, but Gold Dancer has seen the runner-up from the Galway Festival come out and land two graded novice chases including the Craddockstown at Punchestown last weekend since. Subsequent Tipperary success under a penalty also reads well. Ol Man Dingle steps up in grade for Eoin Griffin following an unbeaten start to his own chasing career as well.
Of the other three, it’s difficult to make a case for them at this trip. Captain Cody is a course and distance hurdle winner, but landed the Scottish Grand National last time. Coming a mile-and-a-half back in trip, even on testing ground, looks a big ask. Pied Piper has had a busy time of it, but is clear second best of Elliott’s to Romeo Coolio.
2:36 – 2m 4f Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle
Both Teahupoo and Ballyburn are old Cheltenham favourites, so it’s a percentage call. The latter has relative youth on his side as a seven-year-old. This could be a tactical race and Mullins also runner McManus’ regally bred Mystical Power. His campaign last season was even more disappointing than Ballyburn’s, so this is a fact-finding mission about his future.
Not to be outdone, Elliott has two more in the Hatton’s Grace. Based on how he shaped in his races over the spring, summer and autumn, Casheldale Lad will appreciate this longer distance. It’s deep water for him as a five-year-old, however, sitting a whole stone behind Ballyburn and Teahupoo on official figures. Completing the Cullentra House trio is dual Grade 2 winner Maxxum.
Although the second of those successes came over course and distance during the Easter Festival, he’s also up against it with the big guns. Morgiana Hurdle second Glen Kiln ran a blinder in defeat last weekend, meanwhile. Although no match for Lossiemouth, David Harry Kelly’s stable star beat the others when the market suggested he’d be a tailed off last. Going up in trip may be better for Glen Kiln, but this is no easier.
3:11 – Listed 2m Handicap Hurdle
Slurricane wins the Buy Festival 2025 Tickets Today Handicap Hurdle under Tom Harney for the Ross O’Sullivan team! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IP4dKthbXS
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) January 27, 2025
Zillow represents the Ethical Diamond connections successful on the Flat at the Breeders’ Cup earlier in the month, meanwhile, and carries the same weight as the selection. Paul Townend slims down to just 10st 7lb for the ride on this Mullins mount, who maintained his fitness with an All-Weather win around Dundalk last time out. While Zillow is a year older than the other market principals aged five, softer going might pose a problem.
Listowel Handicap Hurdle third Bowensonfire filled the same spot on the Showcase Cheltenham race card in October. He gives Elliott and Kennedy a runner against Mullins duo Last Kingdom and Zillow here. October Handicap third Teed Up switches back to hurdles after that eye-catching effort around Leopardstown. If the heavens open, his claims will be enhanced as well. Nothing else really appeals.
