The Passing Wife
The other horse to take out of the Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday was The Passing Wife. Gavin Cromwell's horse raced in fourth or fifth place from early, up on the outside. He got a little out-paced when they quickened on the run to the second last flight, at which point the first three got away from him, but he stayed on well from there for Keith Donoghue. He moved into third place, past Gameball, on the run to the final flight, and he stayed on strongly up the run-in to get to within a length and a half of Koktail Brut and Blake.
Winner of three of his six bumpers, The Passing Wife was off the track for over a year after he won the last bumper at the 2024 Galway Festival until he returned in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park last month. Sent off as favourite there, he could only finish third behind Thedeviluno, but he finished a close up third, leading at the second last flight and only giving best on the run-in. Also, the runner-up Skylight Hustle came out on Saturday and won his maiden hurdle by 21 lengths. The Passing Wife improved from that run to the Royal Bond, and there is every chance that he will improve again for this. Also, he was fastest of all through the final four furlongs and through the final furlong, he shaped as if he will do even better if and when he steps up in trip.
Fairyhouse, 30th November 2025
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