June 15 / 16.20 Downpatrick

16.20

Good To Yielding

Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5607.44
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 530-21

Last run: 5 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark at the seventh attempt over hurdles in fine style off 105 at Sligo (3m2f, good) five days ago, relishing the step up in distance; 5lb claimer eases welter burden but the marked drop in trip has to be a worry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 80y

16:30 Kilbeggan

Boston Rajj

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Cleary

T: Gordon Elliott

Exposed hurdler 1-14 in that sphere and rated 113; his win came over 3m2f but he's effective at this shorter trip; however, not an obvious candidate for chasing on breeding and lacks a recent run; others appeal more.

12/1

3

7th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 60y

15:20 Galway

Boston Rajj

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won off 10lb lower at Sligo (3m2f, good) in May; beaten 1l off 114 at Kilbeggan in July (20.5f, yld-sft) and just 1lb higher here; not beaten far at Perth latest and he has place claims.

7/1

5

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 2

16:18 Perth

Boston Rajj

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gordon Elliott

Yet to make any significant further progress since comfortable win in 15-runner Sligo handicap (3m2f, good) in June and was below form when well-held third in Downpatrick novice on Friday but has a big role to play if back on song here.

7/1

Form: 644-

Last run: 51 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two-time Flat winner in Denmark is 0-3 over timber and rated 110; has shown promise in last two maiden hurdles at around 2m and now steps up in trip; others look better treated by the race conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

19:06 Stratford

Dunkerque

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won his first three races over fences (2m4f to an extended 2m5f) and, in first-time cheekpieces, ran well enough at Cartmel (2m1f; Krak 15l behind) to believe he's still on a workable mark; hard to knock.

11/10

2nd

1

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

16:12 Cartmel

Dunkerque

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won novice hurdle in April and is 3-3 over fences since, the latest win gained in three-runner contest at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last month; may still have more improvement to come if aided by first-time cheekpieces but contests a stronger race here and the drop back in trip is not sure to suit.

13/8

1st

1

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Dunkerque

12st 7lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Completed a hat-trick when winning at Kelso (extended 2m5f) ten days ago, making it 2-2 over fences, with all victories coming on good ground (handles soft); had a hard enough race there and shoulders a penalty here, so the booking of 5lb claimer William Shanahan looks a positive and another bold showing can be expected if this run doesn't come too soon.

4/6

OUR TIP

Form: 1/721-

Last run: 65 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner on yielding; won a 2m4f Sedgefield maiden hurdle (good) in April on return from 244 days off and the second, third and fourth from that race have all won since; yard had a welcome winner on Thursday at Leopardstown; lightly raced sort should be fine over this shorter trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

16:20 Downpatrick

Sage Conseil

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: John C McConnell

Bumper winner on yielding; won a 2m4f Sedgefield maiden hurdle (good) in April on return from 244 days off and the second, third and fourth from that race have all won since; yard had a welcome winner on Thursday at Leopardstown; lightly raced sort should be fine over this shorter trip.

3/1

1st

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:15 Sedgefield

Sage Conseil

11st 5lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

pressed leader, led after 1st, faced challenges from 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in

5/2

1st

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:15 Sedgefield

Sage Conseil

11st 5lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Debut Kilbeggan bumper winner (2m, yielding) in summer 2023; bettered his opening Punchestown hurdles effort when chasing home the now 121-rated Major Barry in a Roscommon maiden (2m4f, good) last July; found a suitable opportunity to reappear from a 277-day absence; shortlisted.

5/2

Form: 59-1

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Didn't show much in bumpers on easy ground but belied odds of 14-1 to win a 2m Kilbeggan maiden (good) last month on hurdling debut; the runner up has boosted the form; interesting, though the forecast rain may not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

28th Aug 2026

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:32 Wexford

Warriors Wood

11st 9lb

J: Daniel King

T: Andrew McNamara

Dual hurdle winner got off the mark over fences in a Kilbeggan handicap in May; solid efforts over hurdles and fences since; saddle slipped early so Galway run last time is forgiven; has 11lb to find on ratings with Le Coq Hardi.

5/1

8th

17

31st Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Warriors Wood

10st 8lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Andrew McNamara

Off the mark over fences in emphatic fashion at Kilbeggan (20.5f, yielding) in May off 7lb lower; not beaten far in both starts since, including when just 2.75l behind the winner at Killarney latest (2m7f, good); yard had a winner here on Tuesday; should go well again.

11/1

Form: 69-1 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two runs in bumpers on yielding-soft were modest but a first-time hood (retained) and switch to hurdles after a 122-day break saw him win a Tipperary maiden last month (2m1f, gd-yld); that form has taken a couple of knocks and the forecast rain is not in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st Aug 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

15:10 Cartmel

Ballyearl

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: L J Morgan

Pulled up on chase debut for Henry de Bromhead in June and sold for £800 after last month's down-the-field hurdle run; still has low mileage but needs a revival for new stable; upped in trip with hood refitted.

25/1

8th

6

21st Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 89y

18:39 Ballinrobe

Ballyearl

10st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Tipperary maiden hurdle last year; pulled up in a chase at Wexford last month; had an excuse (badly hampered four out) when well beaten at last year's Galway festival on his only handicap hurdle outing.

8/1

1

30th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:50 Wexford

Ballyearl

11st 12lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Tipperary maiden hurdle last year, and met trouble in running when held twice afterwards; tongue-tie added to hood for chase debut; bred for this game but is stable second-string and has been off nearly a year.

12/1

Form: 4706-4

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
0-5 over timber; best effort to date on latest when a 5.5l fourth of 15 off 99 in a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (16.5f, good); untried on soft ground and others make more appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 165y

15:17 Downpatrick

Brave Soldier

10st 13lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Maiden has posted some good runs in defeat up to 2m5f on goodish ground but opposable on balance of form

18/1

10th

9

22nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 200y

17:55 Kilbeggan

Brave Soldier

11st 4lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Maiden has been consistent in defeat on last three starts; beaten 6l over 2m5f at Sligo last time and this shorter trip may suit better; one to consider.

5/1

Form: 6/42-0

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Veteran went close in a 2m3f bumper (good) here last July in this headgear combination; well beaten minus the hood on return from 312 days off in a 2m3f maiden hurdle here (good); will strip fitter now and the hood returns but lots more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

31st Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:12 Downpatrick

Cap Bernat

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Robin McNeilly

Veteran went close in a 2m3f bumper (good) here two years ago and returned to this track on both starts last year when just okay form over hurdles; returns from 14 months' absence but not discounted in a weak race.

14/1

7

15th Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

16:20 Downpatrick

Cap Bernat

10st 13lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Robin McNeilly

Veteran went close in a 2m3f bumper (good) here last July in this headgear combination; well beaten minus the hood on return from 312 days off in a 2m3f maiden hurdle here (good); will strip fitter now and the hood returns but lots more needed.

16/1

Form: B8-

Last run: 75 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won twice on the Flat in France; yet to show anything in three runs for this yard; beaten 62l sole completed start over timber and 23l on latest on the Flat at Cork; hard to make a case for.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

31st Aug 2026

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:55 Downpatrick

Bruant

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: A J Martin

Won off 5lb lower here in May (2m3f, good to yielding); bounced back from two below-par efforts to finish a 3.75l third at Sligo last time (2m5f, good); return to this venue and application of a tongue tie may get a bit more from him.

13/2

2nd

3

6th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:30 Sligo

Bruant

11st 8lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: A J Martin

Gained his second win over hurdles when landing 2m3f Downpatrick handicap in May; withdrawn twice on good ground before allowed to take his chance at Galway last week but never counted on similar ground when midfield over 2m; back up in trip here, any easing in the ground would help his chances.

15/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €262.00
Straight Forecast €98.65
Trifecta €1038.50

Selections

POSTDATA:

Ballyearl

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Boston Rajj

SPOTLIGHT:

Sage Conseil

The Irish Sun:

Ballyearl