December 29 / 14.55 Leopardstown

14.55

Soft

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £12394.96
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 16 runners
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I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 16 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.80
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-4456

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Long-priced Punchestown bumper winner in April; has picked up enough hurdling experience to be considered a live possibility in his first handicap; market moves may confirm an impression he is ready to strike.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

21

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

17:30 Punchestown

Green Glory

10st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: C Byrnes

Justified favouritism in a Leopardstown handicap in December; last of four finishers in the 20-runner Lanzarote on very testing ground when last seen 105 days ago; effectively 5lb lower here (1lb wrong at weights) and there's potential for more to come on just his third handicap start.

10/1

4th

16

14th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Kempton

Green Glory

10st 8lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Unexposed contender who represents a very shrewd Irish trainer; justified favouritism with 1l success under Philip Byrnes at Leopardstown (2m4f, soft) last month when making handicap debut; should be capable of further progress; has to be feared.

4/1

1st

10

29th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 4f 0y

14:55 Leopardstown

Green Glory

10st 12lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

towards rear, bit short of room soon after start

3/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 8-1 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Second in a point, unplaced in a bumper; goes straight into handicap company with what seems a high rating after beating the well-exposed Kilbree Warrior in a maiden at Navan in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:12 Down Royal

Spirit Of Legend

11st 11lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

Hurdles winner is 0-7 chasing, having failed to complete on three of those; still not a fluent jumper although penultimate Fairyhouse effort was a solid one; hard to be confident in.

9/2

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 215F51

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Showed a fair standard of form in bumpers, highlighted by a front-running win at Tipperary in July; opened her hurdles account at the fourth attempt, seeing out the trip well in a 2m5f maiden at Tramore; this may prove too competitive on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(6)

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 185y

19:40 Killarney

Gaoth Chuil

8st 12lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: T M Walsh

Five-time winner; travels well in her races and returned to the level in grand style when accounting for the very useful Eagle Fang in a QR contest at Leopardstown; looks a big player here.

4/1

1st

13

(18)

18th Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 0y

20:20 Leopardstown

Gaoth Chuil

11st 2lb

J: Mr L P Shanahan

T: T M Walsh

Useful mare, winning a bumper and three times over hurdles at up to 3m; recent chase form not quite at the same level; fourth behind A Dream To Share in this race 12 months ago; found 1m4f too short at Cork.

7/1

9th

2

(11)

19th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 30y

19:42 Cork

Gaoth Chuil

10st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: T M Walsh

Decent NH mare, winning a bumper and three times over hurdles at up to 3m; recent chase form not quite at same level but useful; previous two Flat runs include decent fourth in 1m7f Leopardstown amateur maiden last summer; would probably appreciate a stiffer test.

10/1

Form: 7403-0

Last run: 46 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in maiden hurdles last year and ran creditably when third on his handicap hurdle debut at Naas in January; entitled to need the race at Navan last month; should be much sharper now, and addition of tongue-tie could help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

16

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Neveradullmoment

11st 1lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: J P Dempsey

Galway specialist with all three wins having come at the track; back-to-back winner over hurdles and fences here last term at 2m and 2m6f on soft and good to yielding; well beaten in two starts in May in Punchestown and Ballinrobe; he's up 12lb since his chase win last season, but he loves this place.

11/1

15

26th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 72y

18:30 Ballinrobe

Neveradullmoment

11st 0lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: J P Dempsey

1-13 over fences; won back to back races at Galway last August-September including a chase (22.5f, gd-yld) off 113; well-beaten off this mark on return from six months off when behind a couple of these at Punchestown; others make more appeal.

28/1

Form: 0426P-

Last run: 243 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner in 2019; highly tried over hurdles at times, including when tailed off in a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse on his final start last season; jockey booking is a positive, but otherwise hard to make a strong case on handicap/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

4

28th Dec 2023

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

12:40 Leopardstown

Hollow Sound

12st 0lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Luke Comer

led, headed and raced in second 3rd, briefly led 4th

25/1

7th

2

12th Dec 2023

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 56y

13:30 Punchestown

Hollow Sound

12st 0lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Luke Comer

Bumper winner, inconsistent over hurdles, though ran well to take second in a 22-runner maiden here last winter; pulled up in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham; lacks the benefit of a recent outing.

25/1

22

17th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:30 Cheltenham

Hollow Sound

10st 10lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Luke Comer

Ran creditably in maiden hurdle at Punchestown (2m4f, yielding; clear second) last month; however, rather exposed (now 0-9 in this sphere) and looks unlikely to go one better in this hot handicap.

50/1

Form: U35-41

Last run: 207 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Was running for the 12th time over hurdles when landing a Kilbeggan maiden during the summer; has fair handicap form last season (including when fourth in this race), but is now 10lb higher than when second in a Gowran contest in January.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

7th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 55y

14:32 Punchestown

The Gradual Slope

10st 5lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: Sean O O’Brien

Recorded first win since 2024 when taking a Fairyhouse handicap over 2m5f last time despite jumping right late on; raised 5lb for that so will have to raise his game again, but has won off 4lb higher in the past.

10/1

Form: 8835

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Way out of his depth in a Grade 2 event on latest; moderate third previously in a 2m maiden at Thurles; looked in need of a longer trip then and was described as a difficult ride when the stewards looked into his running-and-riding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

21st Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 150y

16:58 Listowel

Captains Nephew

11st 1lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Still 7lb above the mark at which he gained his last chase win in March 2024, tough task on his first outing since the Punchestown festival; behind Dutch Scultz (fourth) but on the positive side, he was in front of Gaelic Art and Jasko Des Dames in that race.

12/1

7th

8

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Captains Nephew

10st 10lb

J: G B Noonan

T: P J Rothwell

sweating

25/1

7th

8

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Captains Nephew

10st 10lb

J: G B Noonan

T: P J Rothwell

sweating

25/1

Form: 635-20

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Good effort when runner-up in 2m4f Listowel handicap in June; could feature back in handicap company with the benefit of an outing in a maiden at Naas last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 122y

14:18 Punchestown

Gringo Dainay

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: John Queally

0-12; some good runs in defeat in 2023 but shown very little since returning from 628 days off in two maiden hurdle outings; fair mark back in handicap company if first-time cheekpieces help spark a revival.

14/1

9th

5

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 122y

14:18 Punchestown

Gringo Dainay

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: John Queally

0-12; some good runs in defeat in 2023 but shown very little since returning from 628 days off in two maiden hurdle outings; fair mark back in handicap company if first-time cheekpieces help spark a revival.

14/1

7th

5

10th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 122y

13:50 Punchestown

Gringo Dainay

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: John Queally

0-11 over hurdles; placed three times, including a close third in a 2m Wexford handicap hurdle in March 2023; not seen again until down the field in a recent maiden at Tipperary

50/1

Form: -16422

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Downpatrick 2m3f maiden hurdle winner in July; has run well in good company since, notably when second in a Punchestown conditions event won by Darver Star last time; had 135-rated subsequent winner Tax For Max behind when second at Sligo in October; could feature in first handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

26th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Curragh

Typical Thomas

12st 0lb

T: James Andrew Fahey

Hurdle and chase winner ran respectably on sole Flat start; not a bad hurdle run last time; chance.

8/1

4th

3

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:00 Downpatrick

Typical Thomas

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: James Andrew Fahey

Maiden hurdle winner here in 2022 but hasn't won since taking a Cork chase in 2023; well beaten over fences at Tramore last time; others preferred.

20/1

Form: 5471PF D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Decisive winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on good ground in October; pulled-up in a Listed mares' contest at Limerick since; took a heavy fall in a novice event at Thurles five weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

21st Jan 2024

Yielding

2m 5f 132y

14:10 Thurles

Time To Rocco

11st 7lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Colin Motherway

Latest win came in a 2m2f mares chase here in March; consistent since without winning, most recently behind R'Eveleyn Pleasure at Cork; should get closer but others preferred.

7/1

4th

2

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

15:07 Cork

Time To Rocco

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Colin Motherway

Won a 2m2f mares' event at Thurles last March; has done most of her racing in conditions races; soundly beaten in fourth behind the useful Brides Hill in a mares' handicap at Fairyhouse last month; probably vulnerable off this mark.

6/1

4th

6

3rd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

11:55 Fairyhouse

Time To Rocco

10st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Colin Motherway

towards rear, not fluent 1st

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-1618 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Easy winner of a maiden at Bellewstown in July; made a winning handicap at Listowel in September; both wins over this trip on good ground; never in the hunt in 2m5f Cheltenham handicap won by fellow Irish raider Unanswered last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

17:05 Navan

Elle Perfecta

12st 3lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: C A Murphy

midfield, outpaced and dropped to rear 6th, lost touch 8th

14/1

7

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 55y

14:20 Punchestown

Elle Perfecta

10st 13lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: C A Murphy

held up in rear

14/1

Form: 21580F D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

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

11

17th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 0y

16:30 Tramore

Starzov

10st 3lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: P J Rothwell

Won twice over hurdles; no sign of similar form over fences; fell here in May, tailed off at Downpatrick last month, pulled up at Wexford last time.

25/1

12

6th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 70y

19:17 Wexford

Starzov

10st 0lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: P J Rothwell

Won twice over hurdles; no sign of similar form over fences; tailed off at Downpatrick last month; trainer has a better chance with Prince Zaltar.

16/1

4

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:28 Downpatrick

Starzov

11st 6lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Dual hurdles winner but regressive last season; two chase efforts don't make him an obvious contender now on handicap debut unless first-time tongue-tie brings improvement.

10/1

Form: 40-212 D

Last run: 132 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Decisive winner of an ordinary maiden hurdle over this trip at Roscommon; absent since remote second in a three-runner conditions event at Kilbeggan August
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 65y

19:43 Ballinrobe

Mister Beeton

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Shane Nolan

Dual hurdle winner, including over 3m, well held latest at Bellewstown; 0-4 chasing, emptying quickly at Roscommon in June.

16/1

7

5th Jul 2025

Good

3m 0f 116y

20:00 Bellewstown

Mister Beeton

11st 7lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Shane Nolan

Dual hurdle winner ran well over fences at times last winter including behind Grade 1 winner Croke Park; poor last hurdle start and twice over fences since.

22/1

Form: 4-841

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Odds-on maiden winner at Clonmel three weeks ago, due to run in the 12.35 at this venue on Wednesday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

15th Sep 2023

Yielding

2m 5f 181y

16:15 Ballinrobe

Conna Cottage

11st 13lb

J: Mr A D Bustin

T: C Byrnes

Won a Clonmel maiden hurdle last December and some decent runs in defeat since; moved to this yard after being 4th in a Sligo claiming hurdle last time; of interest.

6/1

2nd

6

10th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 185y

17:05 Sligo

Conna Cottage

11st 0lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Gavin Cromwell

Clonmel maiden winner on soft ran okay on last month's comeback in 3m Bellewstown handicap; not one to rule out off a handy weight given his rider's claim.

11/2

4th

8

8th Jul 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

20:00 Bellewstown

Conna Cottage

11st 0lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Maiden winner who ran okay in a Leopardstown handicap next time; jumping has let him down over fences the last twice but of interest back hurdling.

16/1

Form: 24/P/P

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Fair form two seasons ago; pulled-up lame after the first on comeback in a maiden at Down Royal won by his stablemate American Mike; not an obvious betting proposition against that background, but perhaps the market will tell a different story.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

7th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 0f 0y

13:37 Cork

Thunder Down Under

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Respectable handicap form in 2020; pulled up in two starts since returning from 29 months off in November; very hard to know what to expect here.

10/1

11

29th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 4f 0y

14:55 Leopardstown

Thunder Down Under

10st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, not fluent 2nd, mistake 5th, dropped to rear when jumped slightly right 7th

10/1

17

21st Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 6f 110y

14:07 Fairyhouse

Thunder Down Under

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Gordon Elliott

Reserve; had some decent form a few season's ago but was pulled-up lame on return from a long absence and has to bounce back from that.

Form: 640-54 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Let down by his jumping when favourite at Cork last time; potentially interesting; declared as reserve for 1.10 event here on Wednesday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(3)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

19:15 Southwell (AW)

Hardy Bloke

8st 4lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

8yo former hurdler/chaser who turned his attentions to the Flat last summer; enjoyed a solid spell in soft-ground staying handicaps in the autumn and produced a career best in this code when winning over C&D (Dreams Adozen fourth) on his reappearance in April; found the Northumberland Vase too warm when last seen two months ago but he's not discounted.

8/1

18

(17)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Hardy Bloke

8st 12lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

8yo who is a former hurdler/chaser; enjoyed a solid spell in soft-ground staying handicaps on the Flat last autumn, and produced a career best in this code when winning by 3l on his reappearance at Southwell (2m, Tapeta) two months ago; a 5lb rise isn't harsh and he could be involved.

16/1

1st

7

(3)

30th Apr 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

20:40 Southwell (AW)

Hardy Bloke

9st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Brian Ellison

nudged along early, in rear, steady headway and in touch with leaders over 3f out, headway to lead over 1f out, kept on well

7/2

Non-runners

Starzov, Mister Beeton, Conna Cottage, Hardy Bloke

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €12.80
Straight Forecast €11.08
Tricast €36.94
Trifecta €40.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Spirit Of Legend

SPOTLIGHT:

Green Glory

RP Ratings (IRE):

The Gradual Slope

The Irish Sun:

Spirit Of Legend

TOPSPEED:

Green Glory