January 01 / 12.30 Tramore

12.30

Soft

Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10260.87
  • 2m 0f 180y
  • 9 runners
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Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.90
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 862-P1 D

Last run: 66 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Needs it soft/heavy, winning at Limerick last season and emerged from long absence on favoured ground to win at Galway in October, gamely coming a second time having made most; on a career-high now but ground in his favour and one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 140y

16:25 Fairyhouse

Rockbrook

10st 9lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Front-runner won Tramore novice on New Year's Day and followed up later in month under similar tactic in 2m Naas handicap (both 2m, soft); jumping let him down at Thurles following month over a bit further but don't rule out him bouncing back and this easy 2m to suit.

10/1

7th

9

27th Mar 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:12 Clonmel

Rockbrook

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: P J Rothwell

in rear, not fluent 5th, tailed off with one circuit to go

33/1

8th

11

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 69y

16:35 Clonmel

Rockbrook

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: P J Rothwell

Arrives on the back of two all-the-way hurdle wins including a career best at Tramore last time; needs to improve again on chase debut.

7/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 45-090

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Mild bumper promise but maiden hurdle form poor and hard to see him making an immediate impact in handicaps off this mark (1lb wrong).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 0y

18:00 Tramore

Aclass

11st 8lb

J: Jordan Canavan

T: J P Flavin

Won his beginners' chase here and ran right up to his best when beaten a neck over a tad shorter here last month; every chance off 3lb higher if in the same form.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 374003 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose 7yo whose last win came in 1m4f handicap here in July 2023; best hurdles effort for some time at Thurles 11 days ago when good third over 2m (good) under today's rider; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(9)

12th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 182y

19:40 Killarney

Dark Note

11st 7lb

J: Ms E C Costello

T: Andrew Slattery

Dual Flat winner who has a win apiece over hurdles and fences; well beaten over hurdles in March on his return from a break but ran some solid Flat races last year, including over C&D.

10/1

4th

6

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Dark Note

12st 3lb

J: Ken Murphy

T: Andrew Slattery

Two-time Flat winner rated 71, won this last year, yard form a plus, should go well.

12/1

16th

3

19th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:00 Cork

Dark Note

11st 8lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Andrew Slattery

Dual Flat winner has a win apiece over hurdles and fences; last win was novice chase at Tipperary last July (19.5f, yielding); out of his depth in Tipperary Grade 3 before jumping issues evident in Wexford handicap chase; returns from a break back hurdling.

25/1

Form: 1P0-5P C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won a novice chase on this card two years ago, one of five career wins which also include Gowran handicap chase in March; below best of late however so needs to bounce back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:40 Southwell

Whiskeywealth

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Dual hurdle and three-time chase winner when based in Ireland; makes stable debut from a workable mark and will find this easier than Punchestown festival hurdle he contested in April but has fitness to prove and would appeal much more on soft/heavy ground.

7/1

11th

4

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Whiskeywealth

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Terence O’Brien

Encouraging return at Galway in October but disappointing over both hurdles and fences since; best form on softer ground than what is likely.

25/1

11th

4

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Whiskeywealth

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Terence O’Brien

Encouraging return at Galway in October but disappointing over both hurdles and fences since; best form on softer ground than what is likely.

25/1

Form: 1-69U6 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Ex-Gordon Elliott for whom she won 2m Limerick handicap (heavy) last term; entitled to come on for recent yard debut but others possibly better handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

19

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:37 Cork

Doctor Nightingale

10st 9lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won Limerick maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last season (heavy) but remains unconvincing in handicaps; others preferred.

25/1

7th

2

21st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 33y

13:40 Down Royal

Doctor Nightingale

11st 12lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last April; not beaten far on her stable debut in a Navan handicap hurdle last month; suspected to be in season after being beaten out of sight at Tramore since; others preferred.

16/1

7th

2

21st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 33y

13:40 Down Royal

Doctor Nightingale

11st 12lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last April; not beaten far on her stable debut in a Navan handicap hurdle last month; suspected to be in season after being beaten out of sight at Tramore since; others preferred.

16/1

Form: /3275- D

Last run: 257 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Bumper/maiden hurdle winner whose best recent run came when second in this event last year off 1lb lower; absent since April but has run well fresh and yard in top form so has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

31st Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 54y

14:10 Galway

Belle The Lioness

10st 8lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

Maiden hurdle winner for Henry de Bromhead and in-foal mare steadily improving for this yard, winning Tipperary mares beginners chase and most recently second to a clear winner in 2m5f Killarney mares hurdle; looks out of her depth here though.

33/1

6

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 85y

17:32 Killarney

Belle The Lioness

10st 7lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

Maiden hurdle winner for Henry de Bromhead and won over fences last time for this yard; has a shout on these terms if back to some of her better hurdle form.

6/1

2

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 155y

16:18 Tipperary

Belle The Lioness

11st 7lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

One of two for yard; bumper and hurdles winner on yielding and soft to heavy; much improved on second chase start when going close in a beginners' at Tramore (15.5f, gd-yld) in late May; this longer trip worth a go on the evidence of that run; chance.

11/1

Form: 001-81 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Progressive mare won Ballinrobe mares maiden last season on soft and returned from summer break in fine fettle to get up late in 2m Limerick mares handicap to beat a subsequent winner; 7lb rise but likely more to offer and yard going really well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

20

25th Feb 2024

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 144y

13:55 Naas

Diamond Nora

11st 5lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Declan Queally

Half-sister to 2m1f hurdle winner Ben Thomson; dam unraced half-sister to winners, including the talented Monksland; odds-on winner of a five-runner mares' maiden point at Ballindenisk last month; wears hood and tongue-tie.

16/1

Form: 0-046U D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Fared well over fences last season, winning twice; on the retreat when unseating on bend in Thurles handicap hurdle 11 days ago, that after six months' absence; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Irish Blaze

10st 13lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Winning hurdler/chaser when trained in Ireland; beaten 29l and 34l on both hurdle starts for current yard; best watched.

16/1

8th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

15:37 Musselburgh

Irish Blaze

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Useful at his peak in Ireland but soundly beaten on debut for this stable at Haydock just before Christmas; quickly dropped 6lb but needs a big leap forward.

12/1

5

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 180y

12:30 Tramore

Irish Blaze

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

prominent

16/1

Form: P3-080

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Maiden placed at Clonmel last term but has struggled so far in handicaps; reduced mark and hard to fancy and yard seemingly have a stronger contender in Rockbrook.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 190y

17:03 Wexford

Splendid Choice

11st 10lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Sole win came over C&D in May off 89 (good); has generally run well since, most recently only caught late under a positive ride when third at Kilbeggan (second won next time); 2lb higher but every chance.

9/2

3rd

7

9th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:00 Kilbeggan

Splendid Choice

11st 7lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: P J Rothwell

Held up to win a Wexford handicap hurdle by a neck off 89 in May (2m1f, good); similar tactics at that venue last twice, fifth of 14 and then a 15l fourth last time, where the winner got loose in the lead (just in front of Slea Head and Surviving Murmansk); can't discount.

7/1

3

24th Jul 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 150y

19:17 Wexford

Splendid Choice

11st 8lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Off the mark over C&D in May off 89 and okay run back here early in the month off this mark but clearly needs to improve to play a major role.

13/2

Non-runners

Flidais

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €25.00
Straight Forecast €29.02
Tricast €258.99
Trifecta €247.80

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dark Note

SPOTLIGHT:

Diamond Nora

TOPSPEED:

Doctor Nightingale

The Irish Sun:

Whiskeywealth

POSTDATA:

Dark Note