September 08 / 16.50 Galway

16.50

Yielding To Soft

Deacy Gilligan Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8533.06
  • 2m 5f 129y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Deacy Gilligan Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 00-12F BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Rated 138; dual-purpose sort won his last start over hurdles at Clonmel in June (2m4f, gd-yld); fell at the third on latest start over fences at Wexford; has gone well here before and he's ground versatile; chance if that fall hasn't left a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

HMS Seahorse

10st 11lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Paul Nolan

Fourth in the Fred Winter here in 2022 but beaten 20l when just 7-1 for this race in 2023; long layoff before last season and easily best effort since was his 2m4f non-handicap win with first-time blinkers (kept since) at Clonmel last June; fell in August on his second chase start and unseated over hurdles in September; absent since and others have more pressing claims.

40/1

2

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 129y

16:50 Galway

HMS Seahorse

11st 6lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Paul Nolan

Rated 138; dual-purpose sort won his last start over hurdles at Clonmel in June (2m4f, gd-yld); fell at the third on latest start over fences at Wexford; has gone well here before and he's ground versatile; chance if that fall hasn't left a mark.

3/1

3

6th Aug 2025

Good

2m 3f 130y

18:07 Wexford

HMS Seahorse

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Paul Nolan

Rated 138 over hurdles; decisive winner of a 2m4f conditions hurdle at Clonmel in June following a five-month break; blinkers employed that day were retained when runner-up over C&D on chase debut; this looks like a stronger race but should be in the mix again

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: /2/12- D BF

Last run: 374 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Eight-time winner, including four over hurdles; disappointed on the Flat at Killarney on return from 314-days off; should strip fitter now and handles soft but the majority of his best form has come on good ground; not discounted, especially if the track dries out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 154y

16:27 Thurles

Run For Oscar

11st 6lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Smart dual-purpose performer although hasn't won since taking 3m1f Kilbeggan conditions hurdle last summer; two recent runs under his belt could give him a fitness edge but lots to find on ratings with Hewick.

7/4

3

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 129y

16:50 Galway

Run For Oscar

11st 6lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Eight-time winner, including four over hurdles; disappointed on the Flat at Killarney on return from 314-days off; should strip fitter now and handles soft but the majority of his best form has come on good ground; not discounted, especially if the track dries out.

7/2

5th

3

(9)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 180y

20:15 Killarney

Run For Oscar

11st 7lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: C Byrnes

Won the 2022 Cesarwitch at Newmarket and last seen finishing fourth in the same race last October; the one to beat on these terms, provided he's ready to rock after his absence.

2/1

Form: P4-7P3

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Course winner on the Flat; rated 132 but no win over hurdles since November 2022; ran well on the level at the Curragh in June but beaten 17l on return to this sphere at Kilbeggan last month; others make more appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 197y

15:05 Punchestown

Brazil

11st 2lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Padraig Roche

Won the Fred Winter in 2022; no success over hurdles since later that year; struggled over fences last season; soundly beaten in two runs over hurdles in recent months.

10/1

23

(15)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 7y

16:20 Naas

Brazil

8st 7lb

T: Padraig Roche

Third reserve; dual-purpose sort who has two wins on the level, his last win coming in a Galway festival premier handicap in 2023 off 82 (1m4f, good to yielding); not far behind at the Curragh in June (16.5f, good) but well beaten over hurdles the last two times and 3lb wrong.

4

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 129y

16:50 Galway

Brazil

11st 0lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Padraig Roche

Course winner on the Flat; rated 132 but no win over hurdles since November 2022; ran well on the level at the Curragh in June but beaten 17l on return to this sphere at Kilbeggan last month; others make more appeal.

8/1

Form: 664P1- D

Last run: 130 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Course winner on the Flat is better known as a chaser these days; won over the banks at Punchestown in May; modest effort on the Flat at Killarney on sole start since later that month; hasn't got a great record when fresh but market should reveal expectations after break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Busselton

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: E Bolger

Beat Desertmore House in this event in last year when trained by Joseph O'Brien, for whom he won five chases in all, including the 2022 Kerry National; well below best when fifth behind Desertmore House here in November, tailed off at Cheltenham in November, had a first spin for Enda Bolger over hurdles and an inadequate trip at Cork; not ruled out.

7/2

5th

4

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 70y

13:50 Cork

Busselton

11st 2lb

J: Rian Lane

T: E Bolger

Five-time chase winner's last two runs for Joseph O'Brien came in Cross Country races at Punchestown and Cheltenham; now with Enda Bolger and faces a tough task on these terms over a trip that looks too sharp.

9/1

Form: 0401-7 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Admirable 131 rated veteran has looked as good as ever this year, winning a big pot over hurdles at Fairyhouse in April and following up on the Flat at Killarney in July; creditable effort in the Galway Hurdle here on latest but seems best at around 2m these days; well beaten in this last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Lord Erskine

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: H Rogers

Admirable dual-purpose veteran is a winner of 14 races; 6-34 over hurdles but time may be catching up with him based on the evidence of his last two runs and was well beaten in this in 2024 off 2lb lower.

40/1

10th

7

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Lord Erskine

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: H Rogers

Fine dual-purpose performer won this last year (beating Helvic Dream) off 9lb lower; won twice on Flat afterwards, back from a break when well held back over hurdles at DRF in February; 13yo probably needs a career-best over hurdles to follow up here.

16/1

11th

6

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:52 Leopardstown

Lord Erskine

11st 1lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: H Rogers

Fine dual-purpose performer is a credit to himself and his stable; won this two years ago but disappointing last year; however, was in good form over the summer and has a chance again.

14/1

Form: 1FU-53 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Rated 133 and 2-12 over hurdles; beaten 5.5l in a beginners' chase at Tramore latest (2m6f, good) but may have needed that run after a three month break and ground was quicker than ideal; likes it soft and yard won this last year; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 19y

14:25 Leopardstown

Yeats Star

10st 10lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

All three wins came on soft over shorter trips; has looked in the handicapper's grasp over both hurdles and fences of late; cheekpieces now tried.

40/1

9

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

Yeats Star

11st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Very useful handicap hurdler on his day but yet to make any further progress over fences since winning Listowel beginners' chase last season; went close at Perth last time, faces a much harder task in a handicap of this standard.

14/1

Non-runners

Custom Taylor

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.10
Straight Forecast €10.50
Trifecta €45.40

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Lord Erskine

SPOTLIGHT:

Yeats Star

The Irish Sun:

Run For Oscar

TOPSPEED:

Lord Erskine

POSTDATA:

Lord Erskine