April 21 / 14.40 Fairyhouse

14.40

Soft To Heavy

O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £19504.13
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 7 runners
RTE2
View Course
O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1P D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful 97-rated miler on Flat with Richard Hannon; won 16-runner maiden at Gowran Park (2m, soft) on hurdling debut in February, beating fair yardstick Kool One who is rated 120 now; was sent off only 12-1 for the Triumph Hurdle where jumping let him down and he was pulled up before the last; no surprise at all if he bounces back in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

7

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:52 Leopardstown

Blue Lemons

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Grade 2 juvenile hurdle winner last year but has disappointed over hurdles and on the Flat since; pulled-up over 2m4f here last time but can do better back to 2m.

20/1

14th

17

(3)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Blue Lemons

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: W P Mullins

Won the first of seven Flat races for Richard Hannon, last seen in this sphere when among the backmarkers in the 1m Britannia here (33-1; sole start on good to firm) 12 months ago; very hit and miss in his four hurdle races for the champion jumps trainer, albeit in top races when he failed to fire; connections are enough to earn him respect but Ethical Diamond is presumably their principal hope.

22/1

9th

1

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:50 Punchestown

Blue Lemons

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

always behind

7/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 4-152 D BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Fourth over hurdles in France last spring and off the mark on Irish debut at Punchestown in November; beaten 10l in Leopardstown Grade 2 at Christmas; narrowly beaten by former French winner Kurasso Blue at Limerick last month and that is probably useful form; now rated 129.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Its Bilbo

11st 12lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Listed handicap at Limerick over 2m on testing ground buty was poor behind a stablemate over 2m4f at Cheltenham; has to rebound.

11/1

23th

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Its Bilbo

11st 12lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Campaigned only at about 2m; made a successful handicap debut in Limerick contest (soft to heavy; Listed) on last appearance, proving suited by the return to hurdles after two chase defeats; this 5yo looks open to further improvement and has possibilities provided he stays the new trip.

20/1

2nd

4

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:40 Fairyhouse

Its Bilbo

11st 0lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

prominent

11/4

Form: 31765 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Leopardstown maiden winner at Christmas was good sixth under joint top-weight in Fred Winter at Cheltenham; well held in Grade 1 company either side of that, beaten 20l when fifth at Aintree; highest-rated of those with marks and respected but has been fairly busy this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

14

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Wendrock

11st 5lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Gordon Elliott

Only 1-10 over hurdles but shaped very well, making eye-catching late headway from a difficult position, in Listed handicap at Leopardstown (good to yielding; penultimate start) on sole 2m4f attempt and only outing under Carl Millar; good sixth, staying on, in the Fred Winter over 2m at this meeting last year; interesting contender who has potential at this trip.

9/1

8

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 19y

14:25 Leopardstown

Wendrock

10st 9lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful juvenile last season but yet to prove he's trained on, most recently set plenty to do when strong-finishing fifth of 16 (to Champagne Kid) over 2m5f here at Christmas; interesting now upped in trip.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3231 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Galileo gelding won 1m4f Curragh maiden for Ballydoyle last year; consistent over hurdles and readily got off the mark at Limerick earlier this month; rated 122 and may improve further; handles soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 3f 180y

15:50 Galway

Ephesus

9st 4lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Has had a run over hurdles since beating Ehteyat at Roscommon; might not uphold the form on the revised terms.

8/1

8

(1)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 3f 180y

15:50 Galway

Ephesus

9st 4lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Has had a run over hurdles since beating Ehteyat at Roscommon; might not uphold the form on the revised terms.

8/1

5

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

15:30 Limerick

Ephesus

10st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Got off the mark over hurdles over 2m1f here in April; has been below form on his last two hurdle runs but won on the Flat five days ago at Roscommon so can't be ruled out.

5/1

Form: U135 D

Last run: 113 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Fair sort on the Flat, winning over 1m at two; won Galway maiden in October on first completed start over hurdles; hasn't jumped that well when soundly beaten in C&D Grade 3 and valuable handicap at Limerick; back from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Messerschmitt

10st 3lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Dual-purpose; 1-10 over hurdles; good effort at big odds when a 4.5l fourth of 18 in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March; didn't back that up at Fairyhouse on latest; would have a place chance with a repeat of that Sandown run.

20/1

9th

12

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Messerschmitt

10st 4lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Noel Meade

Hasn't added to Galway 3yo maiden win although last month's return from winter break was encouraging, not fluent last when fourth of 18 behind Mondo Man in Imperial Cup at Sandown; runs off same mark here, rider's claim a positive.

10/1

4th

9

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Messerschmitt

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Noel Meade

Irish-trained 5yo who failed to threaten on his last two hurdle starts last autumn; however, a break may have helped and he was a close third of 15 at Galway (2m1f, good) last August; his maiden hurdle win came on yielding to soft; has an each-way shout if back on song; tongue-tie is left off.

25/1

Form: 424P3

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat winner in France; ran respectably in first three hurdle outings during the winter, was 2l behind Ephesus when sent off favourite at Naas in February; pulled up in the Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham wearing cheekpieces; one-paced third in Ballinrobe maiden last time; headgear back on here but doesn't seem that progressive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(10)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

19:20 Curragh

Holy See

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Orr

T: William Durkan

Useful AW winner in France over 1m/1m1f; campaigned mainly over hurdles by current yard, winning Limerick novice on heavy over Christmas; fine first effort on the Flat for current yard when winning 1m4f Gowran handicap under today's rider in April (soft) under a positive ride; 5lb higher here but remains of interest.

15/2

1st

1

(1)

9th Apr 2026

Soft

1m 4f 0y

19:45 Gowran Park

Holy See

10st 3lb

J: Jamie Orr

T: William Durkan

Useful AW winner in France over 1m/1m1f; campaigned solely over hurdles by current yard, winning Limerick novice on heavy over Christmas, following month okay effort in similar Punchestown contest; first try at this trip on return to the Flat on handicap debut.

14/1

3rd

4

26th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 0y

15:10 Punchestown

Holy See

11st 9lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Useful Flat winner in France; respectable runs in defeat in hurdle races last season; built on seasonal return when scoring by 0.5l in a novice hurdle at Limerick last time (2m3f, soft to heavy), pulling well clear with one other; runner-up ran respectably next two times without winning; in the mix.

7/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m4f winner at modest level on final Flat start at three; back from six months off when making all in fillies' maiden on hurdling debut at Limerick (good), beating 109-rated rival by two lengths; likeable but good bit more needed to contend in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(7)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Preparations

9st 6lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Andrew Slattery

Maiden hurdle winner; won over this trip in a Bellewstown handicap in October 2024 off 64; cut out most of the running when fourth over 10.5f in November on second AW start; prominent over C&D last time before gradually weakening into seventh; down 3lb now.

11/1

10

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

17:47 Curragh

Preparations

12st 1lb

J: Sam Austin

T: Andrew Slattery

Won over this trip in Bellewstown handicap last autumn and some good runs in defeat this year; place claims.

12/1

10th

6

(13)

1st Aug 2025

Soft

1m 6f 14y

20:40 Galway

Preparations

9st 11lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Won off 3lb lower over 1m4f at Bellewstown (yielding last year); has shaped as though ready for a return to this sort of trip on her last two starts at 1m4f-1m5f (went close sole previous start at 1m6f); big chance.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €5.90
Straight Forecast €6.26
Trifecta €18.90

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Wendrock

SPOTLIGHT:

Its Bilbo

TOPSPEED:

Preparations

The Irish Sun:

Wendrock

POSTDATA:

Its Bilbo