December 01 / 14.05 Fairyhouse

14.05

Yielding

Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £43608.7
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTE2
View Course
Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 117P-1 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point-to-point winner; useful form over hurdles featured a 2m4f Grade 3 novice win at Navan; struggled in Grade 1 races, which is perhaps ominous; made all for odds-on win over 3m here on chasing debut (found to have blood at nostrils post-race); shorter trip is not a major negative, but this is challenging.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Croke Park

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won two Grade 1 novice chases in December 2024 (2m4f/3m, yielding/good to yielding); he hasn't kicked on this term and was well beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown (2m5f, soft) in February, but getting back on better ground may help and he can go well if tapping back into last season's promise.

20/1

13th

1

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Croke Park

11st 12lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning two Grade 1s including over 3m at this track; was also a fine runner-up in a Grade 1 over C&D at this meeting last year; hasn't been at that level in four starts since, but drops in grade with a 5lb claimer aboard, so has to be respected.

16/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2213-1

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Highly experienced novice; left clear at last to win valuable 2m5f Leopardstown Chase; ended season with fine third in 3m1f Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' at Aintree in April, trip probably stretching him; got the new campaign off to an ideal start when beating an undercooked Corbetts Cross readily over 2m7f at Wexford; big chance, given his advantage in terms of experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Heart Wood

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

8yo who made his Grade 1 breakthrough in the Ryanair at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month; that 10l victory was a career-best performance and he will be tough to beat if reproducing the same scintillating form today; ran well in the Mildmay at this meeting in 2024 on sole run here.

11/8

1st

4

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Heart Wood

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has yet to win at above Grade 3 level although he only just failed against Croke Park in a less competitive Grade 1 than this at Fairyhouse (2m4f, yielding) in December 2024; he enjoyed his front-running role when winning at Tramore (2m7f, soft) in January when never seriously challenged and it's likely he will be ridden more prominently today than when no match for Fact To File in this race (good to soft) last March; he will still do well to fend off that winner but another place is perfectly achievable.

10/1

4

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 39y

16:05 Punchestown

Heart Wood

11st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Beat Corbetts Cross readily in a three-runner event at Wexford (2m7f, soft) on reappearance last October; just denied by Croke Park in the Drinmore; faded into fourth in Savills Chase at Leopardstown; enhanced his reputation with a fine second to Fact To File in the Ryanair; pulled a shoe when flopping at Fairyhouse at Easter; can go well when fresh; big chance at these weights.

11/8

Form: 4322-1 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won three from four in bumpers; hurdle record (1-6) was only superficially disappointing; ended up with a mark of 151 after being placed in three Grade 1 contests at the spring festivals; jumped well and impressed generally on chasing debut at Down Royal; looks the pick of stable quartet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Firefox

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gordon Elliott

Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

50/1

6th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today.

33/1

4th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable.

66/1

Form: 1-01F1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful 135-rated hurdler; beat Monbeg Park on chase debut at Wexford (only six fences jumped); 5-4 favourite for Tipperary novice won by Shecouldbeanything when fell just after halfway; much too good for Monbeg Park in rematch in Cork Grade 3 event recently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

24

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Gorgeous Tom

10st 9lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Henry De Bromhead

Fourth behind two of these in 3m Grade 1 novice event at Cheltenham last March; ran creditably all three starts this winter, notably 11l fourth of 24 off this mark to Panic Attack at Newbury (3m2f) in November when he stuck to his task very well having been left at the shambolic start; improvement is needed but that race gave encouragement for longer trips and his dam is half-sister to Cappa Bleu who was placed in this race in 2012 and 2013.

22/1

5th

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Gorgeous Tom

11st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Novice wins came at up to 2m4f but some good runs over further, including latest when fourth of 24 in 3m2f Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November on handicap debut; has form on heavy; should go well.

11/2

2nd

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 120y

15:15 Down Royal

Gorgeous Tom

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Grade 3 novice at Cork last year and flew home when beaten just 1l in fourth behind Croke Park and Firefox in the Drinmore; ran well enough in defeat when fourth in Grade 1 novice at Cheltenham; not as good at Punchestown in April; can go well if ready to rock on seasonal reappearance but wouldn't want too much rain.

11/4

Form: 921111 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Decent strike-rate over hurdles (5-15) and has won four of her five starts over fences, including a Tipperary event in which the fancied Gorgeous Tom was a faller; other than that, has made the most of her opportunities in mares' races; faces much greater challenge now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:10 Perth

Shecouldbeanything

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

She'll find it hard to beat a peak-form Panic Attack and she was pulled up in the Irish National 16 days ago; however, she was running well in January, in a Grade 2 mares' chase at Fairyhouse (2m6f, yielding) and the Thyestes Handicap at Gowran Park (3m1f, heavy; albeit no match for the first two); no surprise if she bounces back with a good performance today.

9/2

3rd

14

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Shecouldbeanything

11st 0lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

Had a good season as a novice last term, four wins included 2m4f Grade 3 Tipperary novice and finished third to Dinoblue at Cheltenham; reappeared with a fine third in the Galway Plate in July; pulled up in Kerry National when reported with atrial fibrillation and signs of being in season; jumped untidily when predictably no match for Dinoblue at Fairyhouse.

25/1

9

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

Shecouldbeanything

11st 2lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Four-time winner over fences, including a 2m4f Grade 3 novice success at Tipperary last October; distant third behind Dinoblue at Cheltenham; remote seventh in the Irish Grand National; put in a fine effort when third at 33-1 in the Galway Plate; Jordan Gainford retains the ride; capable of another big run

12/1

Non-runners

Stellar Story

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €63.90
Straight Forecast €65.08
Trifecta €135.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Heart Wood

The Irish Sun:

Firefox

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Heart Wood

TOPSPEED:

Heart Wood

POSTDATA:

Heart Wood