Wingtips set to make it a lucky 13 at Fairyhouse

Wingtips has his 13th career start at Fairyhouse today and it can prove a lucky one for Tony Martin’s high class hurdler, writes Brian O’Connor.

With a 138 rating to his credit, Wingtips is a standout in the opening maiden hurdle and can finally break his duck over flights against vastly inferior opposition to what he has been used to.

Fifth to Countrywide Flame in the Triumph at Cheltenham, the ex-French flat racer subsequently finished third to Hisaabaat in the Grade One at Punchestown before finishing ahead of that horse in the French Triumph Hurdle at Auteuil in June. That level of form makes his €68,000 purchase price from France last year more than worthwhile and the in-form Bryan Cooper can guide Wingtips to victory now. Cooper can follow up in a competitive looking novice hurdle aboard the course and distance winner Seefood.

This will be no gimme against the likes of the smart bumper performer Sizing Gold and the hitherto disappointing Shrapnel who won first time for Gordon Elliott at Galway. However, Seefood could hardly have won more impressively here a month ago and the Dessie Hughes team are bang in form. The Galway Hurdle runner-up Casue Of Causes is preferred in the conditions hurdle.