July 18 / 19.27 Down Royal

19.27

Good

GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £7314.05
  • 1m 5f 0y
  • 8 runners
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GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 762340 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Scored over this trip at Ballinrobe last summer and pick of form this year includes similar contest and good third of 21 at Navan (1m6f, good); too keen and inadequate trip on latest in Curragh Ladies handicap but respected back at optimum trip here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

8

(14)

27th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

17:24 Navan

Desert Friend

9st 11lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: P J F Murphy

Dual-purpose veteran and a multiple winner in both codes; won off 3lb lower at Sligo in May (1m6f, yld-sft); well beaten over hurdles at Galway on latest but is 9lb lower than when a 2.5l third over C&D last summer so not written off.

25/1

Form: 435252

Last run: 83 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won beyond 1m2f although strong-finishing second over 1m4f at Bellewstown in April; chased home clear winner over 1m2f at Navan later in month (4lb rise seems harsh) and now tried over a new trip after a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(10)

18th Sep 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

20:00 Dundalk (AW)

Doctor Grace

9st 8lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Five career wins include two over C&D in 2023; also has finished second here on three occasions since last December; has lost form on turf since 1m4f win at Roscommon in May.

8/1

12th

4

(3)

4th Sep 2026

Good

1m 2f 145y

18:30 Down Royal

Doctor Grace

9st 13lb

J: Cillian Rowan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Five career wins include over 1m5f here last summer and over 1m4f at Roscommon in May; well below best of late, so needs to bounce back.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1417-4

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Killarney winner a year ago (1m4f, good) and later won at Dundalk; Gowran comeback run (1m6f) in May very encouraging and no surprise if she played a major role here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:40 Dundalk (AW)

Lady Kai

10st 0lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Ross O’Sullivan

C&D winner last year; split today's rivals El Bello and Glady Eagle when second at Tipperary in August; beaten favourite when seventh of 19 at the Curragh last time.

8/1

1

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:40 Dundalk (AW)

Lady Kai

10st 0lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Ross O’Sullivan

C&D winner last year; split today's rivals El Bello and Glady Eagle when second at Tipperary in August; beaten favourite when seventh of 19 at the Curragh last time.

8/1

7

(17)

16th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Lady Kai

9st 11lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Wins last year came at Killarney and Dundalk; light campaign this year, most recently just denied over 1m5f at Tipperary in late August; 3lb higher so more needed.

9/1

Form: 87263-

Last run: 268 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Killarney maiden winner yet to score in handicaps but has gone close several times at around this trip; fair maiden hurdler but hasn't run since April and tried in cheekpieces here on Flat return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 33y

13:50 Down Royal

Beautiful Chaos

11st 2lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Dual-purpose; 1-29 on Flat; 0-6 over hurdles; her sole Flat win came over three years ago, but she had fair form in 2025, including when second in a 1m5f handicap at this venue; well clear of the remainder when chasing home an easy winner at Tramore on New Year's Day.

5/1

6

(5)

22nd Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 6f 55y

17:25 Listowel

Beautiful Chaos

9st 10lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Record of 1-27 with her win coming three years ago doesn't inspire hugely, but she has been running well in defeat recently; beaten a head at Down Royal in first-time cheekpieces off 62 in July (1m5f, good); creditable runs at Galway and Killarney following that (a neck behind Ehteyat at Killarney); interesting.

8/1

5

(1)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:41 Killarney

Beautiful Chaos

9st 11lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

No win since 2022 but went agonisingly close to ending the drought at Down Royal last month (1m5f, good) in first-time cheekpieces; merit in Galway fourth since so remains of interest.

15/2

Form: -59563

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Fair maiden form but yet to make her mark in handicaps, never competitive when a remote third at Tramore on latest in first-time cheekpieces (now replaced by visor); more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(17)

27th Sep 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

17:30 Curragh

Fianna

11st 8lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Off the mark at second attempt for new yard when scoring over 1m4f at Roscommon last month in this headgear combination; that was after a four-month absence so quite possible she can back that up off 6lb higher.

8/1

1st

15

(1)

18th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 48y

20:15 Roscommon

Fianna

9st 0lb

J: James Ryan

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

0-8 last year for Willie McCreery; modest enough start for this yard when beaten 14.5l at Gowran (13.5f, soft); eased 1lb and new headgear combination needs to spark.

20/1

7th

2

(6)

22nd Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 160y

19:48 Gowran Park

Fianna

9st 13lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Placed once in seven starts for Willie McCreery; her new trainer appears to have a better chance with Bhean Saibhre; tongue-tie for the first time

14/1

Form: 41-660

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
1m4f Fairyhouse winner last summer and won over 1m2f on Dundalk AW in November; never sighted on recent comeback run at latter venue so needs to find plenty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(9)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:50 Killarney

Numidia

9st 6lb

J: Mel Sheridan

T: Peter Lawlor

Six-time winner, landed successive handicaps at Bellewstown (1m6f) and Down Royal (1m5f, good); 6lb rise and muddling pace found him out at Gowran Park last time; extra distance will help and he can bounce back.

9/1

8th

6

(3)

7th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 100y

20:30 Gowran Park

Numidia

11st 0lb

J: Miss N Fahey

T: Peter Lawlor

Career wins number five and six last month when prevailing narrowly at Bellewstown (1m6f) and Down Royal (1m5f, good); has another 6lb rise to contend with but he's running well, unlike some in here.

4/1

1st

5

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

19:24 Down Royal

Numidia

9st 1lb

J: Mel Sheridan

T: Peter Lawlor

Five wins, two of them on turf, including 25-1 success over extended 1m6f at Bellewstown earlier this month; needed every yard that day, and his previous win was over 2m; got an 8lb rise, which is likely to prevent a follow-up; placed once in seven previous runs here.

4/1

Form: 0-5222

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Modest but improving handicapper, finding one too good on last three starts; at Navan and on successive days at Bellewstown for today's rider, 1m4f on latest probably a tad short when clear of the remainder; 7lb rise for those runs looks harsh but respected nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(5)

1st Oct 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 77y

16:30 Bellewstown

Maxwell Smart

9st 6lb

J: James Ryan

T: T G McCourt

C&D second on soft a year ago; quite consistent but only 1-30 on the Flat, placed seven times; every chance of being in the money.

4/1

6th

5

(15)

4th Sep 2026

Good

1m 4f 194y

19:00 Down Royal

Maxwell Smart

9st 6lb

J: James Ryan

T: T G McCourt

Sole win came in this race last year off this mark; eyecatching efforts on both recent starts, at Sligo and when coming from way back to finish fourth behind Miss Australie at Navan last week; looks primed for a bold repeat bid.

5/1

Form: 080500

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 8lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
3-29 on AW but yet to make the frame in nine turf starts, never sighted at Bellewstown latest; hard to be confident in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

(2)

24th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

16:35 Naas

Picpoul

8st 11lb

J: Rory Mulligan

T: M M Rice

Tough task at the weights in a claimer last time and was third in a handicap at Gowran (extended 1m1f) the run before; rarely wins, though.

25/1

2

(1)

6th Aug 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 129y

16:50 Sligo

Picpoul

10st 2lb

J: Shay Wallace

T: M M Rice

Record of 3-40 but has a mark of only 43 and can be opposed at these weights.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €82.30
Straight Forecast €109.06
Tricast €326.40
Trifecta €252.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lady Kai

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Numidia

POSTDATA:

Lady Kai

The Irish Sun:

Lady Kai