16.19
HeavyBallymacarbry Beginners Chase
- Prize money: £5643.48
- 2m 4f 0y
- 9 runners
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Runners: 9 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
Abandoned
Form: 230-2F
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 55y |
11st 8lb |
One of eight for trainer; dual bumper and maiden hurdle winner in 2024; runner-up on chase debut at this venue (2m7f, heavy) before falling four out back here next time; failed to justify 5-6 favouritism at Naas (2m4f, soft to heavy) last time when a 0.5l second behind Spread Boss Ted; now enters handicap chase company. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
8th Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 0y |
11st 12lb |
One of three for trainer; rated 134 over hurdles; completed a hat-trick (two bumpers/maiden hurdle) in 2024; finished second/third in Graded races over 3m/2m4f; good effort on chasing debut at Punchestown (2m7f, heavy) to take the runner-up spot despite market weakness; fell at four out back at that venue last time; Townend sticks with him and this looks easier than his previous starts. |
4/6 |
Abandoned
Form: 446P-4
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 14 |
8th Jun 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 1f 24y |
10st 1lb |
Shed the maiden tag on fourth chase start in a Down Royal handicap last month (3m2f, good); 5lb rise for that seems fair but this is a much tougher race and has to prove effectiveness on softer ground. |
17/2 |
|
1st 4 |
4th May 2026 Good 3m 2f 50y |
11st 7lb |
Some fair efforts hurdling and ran okay in both beginners' chases; 9-1 for handicap bow over C&D last month, disputing lead when fell 4 out. |
8/1 |
|
5 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 3m 2f 50y |
11st 3lb |
Some decent hurdle runs without winning; not bad efforts both chase starts but will have to find improvement for handicap debut. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 5/1-9
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
8th Jun 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 100y |
11st 2lb |
Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner rated 120 in that sphere; jumping issues both chase starts; beaten 63l in beginners at Gowran in January and unseated at Leopardstown latest in March; risky proposition for now. |
28/1 |
|
5 |
3rd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 120y |
11st 12lb |
Won a 2m3f maiden hurdle on good to yielding at Kilbeggan in May 2024, accounting for the subsequent three-time Grade 3 winner Gaucher; ignored in the market (80-1) when making his comeback in a beginners' chase at Gowran in January; ran accordingly; needs to show he retains ability. |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 07/11- D
Last run: 426 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
29th Mar 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 100y |
11st 12lb |
Winner of his last two handicap hurdle races seven months apart, at Uttoxeter for Nicky Henderson in May 2024 and on first run for Willie Mullins at Limerick in December that year; ought to be capable of much better than at Leopardstown on chasing; far too keen then, and dropped away very quickly before the last; tongue-tie now in addition to hood. |
5/2 |
|
7th 9 |
3rd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 120y |
11st 12lb |
Winner of his last two handicap hurdle races seven months apart, at Uttoxeter for Nicky Henderson in May 2024 and on first run for Willie Mullins at Limerick in December that year; has a lengthy absence to overcome on chase debut. |
11/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 86
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
Abandoned
Form: 5807
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
24th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Not beaten far in a Galway bumper on debut; unconvincing hurdles form so far (including well held on completed start in handicaps) but Sean Bowen enlisted by an Irish yard no stranger to Perth success over the years, although not so much in recent times; betting interesting. |
6/1 |
|
10th 22 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 0y |
10st 1lb |
Not beaten far in a Galway bumper on debut but hasn't kicked from that; wouldn't be the obvious answer on handicap debut. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 0063-0
Last run: 158 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
19th Mar 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 45y |
12st 4lb |
Maiden hurdle winner over 2m3f here two seasons ago; little merit in her subsequent form until signs of a revival when third in a recent chase outing at Thurles. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
5th Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 22y |
11st 7lb |
Maiden hurdle winner the season before last but hard to fancy judged on the form she has shown since. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P-1454
Last run: 48 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
4th Mar 2024 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 11lb |
By a useful sire and related to plenty of winners; runner-up in two points for Colin Bowe before making 80,000GBP at the sales in December; represents a top yard and should be capable of making her presence felt; market support would be significant. |
5/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 2-11P7 D
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
17th Jul 2026 Good 2m 6f 180y |
11st 2lb |
Both hurdle wins came at Cork on good ground last year; 0-4 chasing this year, just headed when unseating two out at Limerick last time; reverts to hurdles with trip/ground to suit. |
9/1 |
|
1 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 150y |
11st 12lb |
Handicap chase debutante; 2-10 over hurdles (both wins on good ground) and rated 4lb higher in that sphere; not many positives to take from three beginners' chase runs on soft at 15.5f-2m2f; this trip more suitable but needs the forecast rain to miss. |
16/1 |
|
7th 8 |
14th Apr 2026 Yielding 1m 7f 131y |
11st 5lb |
Two-time winning hurdler (rated 119); always near the back in first two beginners' chases at Thurles (both 2m2f, soft); best form on good ground so needs the track to dry out. |
14/1 |
Verdict
An error-free round by 134-rated hurdler BALLYGUNNER CASTLE should be enough to ensure success on his third attempt over fences. He has the advantage of race fitness over stablemate Strutter whose progression over hurdles in 2024 merely took him to a mark of 112. Neon Diamond should be better for her chasing debut at Naas. Haveigotnewsforyou, who looked like a good prospect when winning a maiden hurdle in 2024, made no impact on his return last month. [Alan Sweetman]