November 04 / 15.05 Down Royal

15.05

Yielding To Soft

WKD Hurdle (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £24789.92
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • 5 runners
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WKD Hurdle (Grade 2)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.10

Form: 1132-1 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Just behind stablemate Fil Dor when third in the Triumph; first past the post before he was demoted for interference in Aintree Grade 1 subsequently; made a winning return to this sphere when successful at Cheltenham last month and has a fitness edge over his main rival/stablemate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

10st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Gained all three chase wins in small-field novice events last April-June; not beaten far when ninth of 28 in valuable Leopardstown handicap won by Favori De Champdou over Christmas (3m, yielding; wore usual cheekpieces) and seemed to be running well when falling at third-last fence in the Thyestes at Gowran (3m1f, heavy; blinkered) in January; has stamina to prove on cross-country debut but not ruled out; cheekpieces back on today.

25/1

9

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Pied Piper

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart hurdler in his early days; all three chase wins recorded in small-field events between April and June last year; failed to prosper in Grade 3 events before livelier displays at Cheltenham and when fifth behind Answer To Kayf in the Troytown; no impact in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairhouse; no threat from the last when ninth in the Paddy Power.

33/1

1

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Hit the ground running over fences with three wins in small fields (2m4f-2m7f) but now on a recovery mission after three blips, admittedly at Grade 3 level; would be a strong contender on these terms if back on song.

5/1

Form: 48-23 BF

Last run: 108 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Flat winner; modest form over hurdles so far and needs others to falter for him to get involved here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

17th Dec 2023

Yielding

1m 7f 205y

14:35 Thurles

David Garrick

11st 4lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Eddie & Patrick Harty

Dual flat winner including at the Curragh in October; 0-6 hurdling, out of depth in Grade 3 following month; first handicap hurdle.

16/1

7th

5

10th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 190y

14:02 Down Royal

David Garrick

10st 11lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Eddie & Patrick Harty

took keen hold, soon prominent in chasing group, lost position 4th, towards rear when not fluent 2 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened

16/1

1st

13

(8)

12th Oct 2023

Yielding To Soft

1m 2f 0y

16:45 Curragh

David Garrick

9st 10lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Eddie & Patrick Harty

in touch with leaders, went third under 4f out, led up the centre under 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied towards finish, led again post

11/2

Form: 7-1154 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Followed up a course success with a novice win at Clonmel in May but struggled up in class in two recent outings; something to find here against proven performers in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:00 Kilbeggan

Gaelic Arc

11st 7lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: John Patrick Ryan

Five-time winner, twice over fences; enjoyed a productive summer last year, scoring over C&D in June before finishing a nose second in a valuable event in Killarney; highly tried later in the year; made mistakes and finished in rear over C&D on return.

14/1

12th

10

15th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 90y

19:40 Kilbeggan

Gaelic Arc

11st 4lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: John Patrick Ryan

Five-time winner, twice over fences; enjoyed a productive summer last year, scoring over C&D in June before finishing a nose second in valuable event in Killarney; too much on his plate backend of last year and returns on an okay mark.

12/1

8th

3

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 50y

16:50 Limerick

Gaelic Arc

11st 4lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: John Patrick Ryan

Dual hurdle winner is 2-25 over fences but placed many times; lost his form over the summer but a bit better at Cork last time; needs a fair bit more.

12/1

Form: 63-100 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Fair handicapper but it would be a surprise if she could get involved here up markedly in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

20th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 214y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Bonarc

11st 4lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Just 2-33 over hurdles and 0-5 over fences after finishing tailed off in a 2m1f handicap at Sligo in September; has run well in this discipline and drying ground would help her no end.

16/1

4th

4

27th Sep 2023

Yielding

2m 1f 120y

15:20 Sligo

Bonarc

11st 5lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: John Patrick Ryan

didn't always jump with fluency, raced in last throughout, pecked on landing 1st, detached when not fluent 7th, jumped slightly left and weakened 2 out, pecked on landing last

7/1

Form: 11222- CD

Last run: 188 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Unlucky to bump into Vauban last season, chasing home that rival on three occasions in Grade 1 company; narrowly got the better of stablemate Pied Piper when runner-up in the Triumph; that stablemate has the benefit of a recent run this time but unlikely to be much between them again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:37 Gowran Park

Fil Dor

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.

11/2

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

Non-runners

Fil Dor

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.10
Straight Forecast €3.75
Trifecta €6.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pied Piper

TOPSPEED:

Gaelic Arc

RP Ratings (IRE):

Pied Piper

POSTDATA:

Pied Piper

The Irish Sun:

Pied Piper