Today / 19.18 Sligo

19.18

Good

Francie ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7682.61
  • 2m 4f 148y
  • 11 runners
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Francie ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 008-71

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lost form after gaining a first win at Naas last year (2m3f) until much improved on second start for Conor O'Dwyer over same trip at Kilbeggan last month, coming from off the pace for ready 5.5l success (good); strong chance he'll get this longer trip, 9lb rise to contend with.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 200y

18:46 Kilbeggan

In For The Night

11st 7lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Conor O’Dwyer

Lost his form after gaining a first win at Naas in April last year off 107 (2m3f, good to yielding); switch of stable brought some mild promise at Clonmel last time when shaping as though that first run back could bring him forward.

16/1

7th

5

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 61y

19:55 Clonmel

In For The Night

11st 9lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Conor O’Dwyer

Won handicaps at Fairyhouse and Naas for Des McDonogh over a similar trip to this; lost his form after that latest score and has to return to best on debut for this yard.

22/1

Form: 55-501 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won Galway 3yo maiden last autumn and back to form in C&D handicap 13 days ago, relishing longer trip to win going away under a patient ride; 8lb rise but can go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

6th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:30 Sligo

In The Minus

11st 2lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Brian Francis Cawley

Won Galway 3yo maiden in October; no impact in conditions races over hurdles since and never sighted in competitive Galway handicap last week; handicapper relenting.

12/1

18th

9

27th Jul 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 130y

17:40 Galway

In The Minus

11st 8lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Brian Francis Cawley

Beat Whats New in a juvenile maiden hurdle here in October; no impact in conditions races over hurdles since and down the field in a Fairyhouse Flat handicap last time; others preferred on his handicap debut over hurdles.

33/1

Form: 024-20

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 40-661 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Had run well several times in defeat before finally off the mark 11 days ago in 2m4f Wexford handicap, appreciating good ground to win going away in beating a strong favourite (pair clear); 5lb rise looks quite lenient, so major player if ground remains in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

8th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 50y

14:50 Wexford

Harpy Eagle

11st 7lb

J: Paddy Cody

T: R P Cody

0-12 over hurdles but has run well in defeat, including when runner up in a 2m1f (good) maiden hurdle here; went close off 3lb higher at Galway in October; wide trip when midfield over C&D (good) on latest; not discounted off 2lb lower.

15/2

6th

3

23rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:10 Wexford

Harpy Eagle

11st 6lb

J: Miss E Cody

T: R P Cody

Some decent efforts placed twice in maidens and went close off 1lb higher when second at Galway (2m1f, y) in October; below form on soft since and fared no better on more suitable ground at Limerick 21 days ago after a break in first-time cheekpieces; needs to come on for that up in trip.

10/1

Form: /451-0

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for Henry de Bromhead but she signed off for that yard with a maiden win at Clonmel (2m3f, soft; sold on for £10,000); reluctant to race on yard debut at Galway last month, so caution advised.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

16

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 0y

17:35 Galway

Tangara Bay

11st 7lb

J: Ethan O’Sullivan

T: Peter Fahey

Lightly raced for Henry De Bromhead but she signed off for that yard with a maiden win (2m3f, soft; sold on for £10,000); could have more to offer for new yard but lacks a recent run and may prefer softer ground.

5/1

Form: 88-425

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Might have won on her handicap debut at Cork but for some interference (2m4f, good); unable to get competitive back to 2m at Galway, so return to longer trip a positive and don't rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

18

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

18:05 Galway

Bossy Bird

10st 4lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: Thomas Gibney

Progressing and might have won on her handicap debut at Cork but for some interference (2m4f, good); this drop in distance isn't an obvious positive but one to bear in mind.

10/1

2nd

10

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

18:50 Cork

Bossy Bird

11st 1lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: Thomas Gibney

Lightly raced; ran her best race yet when beaten 12l in a 2m5f maiden at Punchestown where she stayed on well after getting behind; open to improvement.

14/1

Form: 336135 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Up front throughout when winning 2m2f mares' handicap here last month (good); similar tactics employed in 2m2f novices since, third at Ballinrobe and weakened badly when last of 5 here; steps up in trip now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

6th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 193y

17:45 Sligo

Crystabel

10st 13lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: John Patrick Ryan

Up front throughout when winning C&D mares' handicap last month (good); similar tactics employed when third to Manoir De Mirande in 2m2f Ballinrobe novice since; 6lb better off before that rival's claim is taken into account.

15/2

3rd

4

21st Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 89y

18:09 Ballinrobe

Crystabel

10st 13lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Up front throughout when winning Sligo handicap over this trip; effectively 10lb higher, but further progress is likely.

8/1

Form: -48450

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden but has shaped well on a few occasions, most notably when fourth at Leopardstown (2m2f, soft) in March; not at same level of late, never counting at Galway latest; much more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

14

2nd Aug 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Coolboy Christy

10st 3lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

12-race maiden but has shaped well on a few occasions, most notably when fourth at Leopardstown (2m2f, soft) in March; recent Wexford effort in first-time cheekpieces was okay, blinkers now tried.

16/1

5th

7

23rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:10 Wexford

Coolboy Christy

11st 2lb

J: Miss P Elvin

T: P J Rothwell

13-race maiden but has shaped well on a few occasions, most notably when fourth at Leopardstown (2m2f, soft) in March; filled same spot on last hurdles run at Cork on good in May; below that over fences last twice; chance back over hurdles with trip to suit in first-time cheekpieces.

7/1

Form: 0-3023

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 7-5534 CD BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Not the easiest to win with, as her 2-31 record over hurdles illustrates, but both wins have been over this C&D, including off this mark last summer; penultimate Wexford third was a good effort, 3m2f may have been too far last time; place claims back at optimum trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

10th Aug 2026

Good

3m 1f 194y

19:27 Ballinrobe

Ladiam

10st 2lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Norman Lee

Not the easiest to win with, as her 2-30 record over hurdles illustrates; both wins at Sligo over 20.5f, but did run a cracker in this last year when beaten 4.25l into second and she's 5lb lower now; yard in form and she shaped well at Wexford on latest; big chance.

7/2

3rd

12

23rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:10 Wexford

Ladiam

10st 10lb

J: Ms E C Costello

T: Norman Lee

Won off this mark at Sligo (extended 2m4f, gd) June 2025; some good runs since but well beaten at Ballinrobe 58 days ago; needs to bounce back but type to do so.

10/1

Form: F9-318

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at 28th attempt when landing 2m3f Kilbeggan handicap last month, allowed to slip the field and win unchallenged; no such leeway at Galway since, weakening between final two flights; third over C&D last month, so trip of no concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

18

2nd Aug 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Dream Shaper

10st 0lb

J: Brian Barry

T: I Madden

Off the mark at 28th attempt when landing 2m3f Kilbeggan handicap last month, allowed to slip the field and win unchallenged; 9lb rise okay on the face of it, but not sure if he'll back that up and 3lb out of handicap here.

8/1

1st

13

24th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 200y

17:40 Kilbeggan

Dream Shaper

10st 10lb

J: Paddy Cleary

T: I Madden

0-27 and his run at Sligo last time was the first time he has ever placed when taking a 3l third (2m5f, good); 1lb rise seems a bit harsh; needs more.

8/1

Betting Forcast

9/2 In For The Night, 13/2 In The Minus, 8/1 Drombane, 4/1 Harpy Eagle, 16/1 Tangara Bay, 10/1 Bossy Bird, 16/1 Crystabel, 14/1 Coolboy Christy, 7/1 Midnight Eagle, 8/1 Ladiam, 9/1 Dream Shaper

Verdict

Very competitive, with recent winners In For The Night and In The Minus strong contenders, while Ladiam and Midnight Eagle also have claims. Preference, however, is for HARPY EAGLE (nap), who looks to have got away quite lightly with a 5lb rise for his recent Wexford win, when clear with the favourite. [Alan Hewison]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Harpy Eagle

The Irish Sun:

Midnight Eagle

POSTDATA:

In The Minus

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dream Shaper

TOPSPEED:

Harpy Eagle