May 01 / 14.45 Down Royal

14.45

Good To Yielding

Club Orange Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8092.92
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
TG4
View Course
Club Orange Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1UB72-

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won Sligo maiden and 2m6f Cartmel novice on nice ground last August; second in Hexham novice (2m, soft) a week ago on third run back from winter break; lot more on her plate here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:55 Cork

Bella Bliss

11st 10lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

In decent form over hurdles and fences this year and only 1lb higher than for latest gallant second in a 2m5f handicap chase at Roscommon; stays this far.

9/2

2

30th Sep 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 147y

17:45 Roscommon

Bella Bliss

11st 7lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

In decent form over hurdles and fences this year; has been runner-up on her last three starts in this discipline including handicaps at Cartmel and Bangor; handles all ground but best on good.

9/2

2nd

6

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Bella Bliss

11st 3lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Good second at Cartmel (2m5f, good) on latest chase start in June and placed in big-field handicap hurdles on next two outings; below form when tried in cheekpieces (now removed) for latest hurdling start but has a significant role to play if all goes to plan here.

9/2

200/1

  • Place: £5.20

Form: 43770-

Last run: 100 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
95-rated maiden out of her depth in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

8th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 150y

19:35 Downpatrick

Cocoplum

10st 10lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Patrick J McKenna

Maiden posted her best chase run here in 2023; pulled-up on return from long absence last time and makes no appeal.

25/1

12

20th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 0y

18:12 Tramore

Cocoplum

10st 13lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Patrick J McKenna

18-race maiden who has changed stable since her last run in August 2024; makes no appeal after such a long absence.

33/1

9th

1

11th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 180y

16:48 Downpatrick

Cocoplum

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: C A McBratney

17-race maiden who has tried chasing; only midfield on return to hurdling at Wexford and she's not overly appealing with top weight.

14/1

Form: 21222- BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won Musselburgh bumper last season and off the mark over hurdles (extended 1m7f) there in November; consistent since, twice runner-up over 2m4f and over 2m1f at Newcastle latest; fair bit of stamina in pedigree so should get 3m but stiff task at the weights with a couple of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 3

13:40 Musselburgh

Holmes St Georges

10st 8lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

Just 1-9 over hurdles but bounced back quickly from a disappointing December run when close second in competitive handicap here (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day and will pose a threat if able to transfer that form to fences at the first attempt; first-time tongue-tie.

10/1

2nd

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 2

13:10 Musselburgh

Holmes St Georges

11st 1lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

in touch with leaders in centre of group

12/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Aintree

Holmes St Georges

11st 2lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: S R B Crawford

Won at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft) last November when back from a break and has run well in defeat on his four starts since, most recently at Down Royal (3m, yielding) in May; can go well fresh and could be a player.

8/1

Form: 13-

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning start under this rider in Limerick maiden (2m, soft); didn't jump well and came back with an overreach injury when third of five behind a couple of useful novices at Navan (2m6f, heavy) in March; better ground and a longer trip may suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Paul Marvel

12st 0lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: J J O’Shea

Beaten 6l by Golden Son at Warwick in January and his subsequent wins (in the new cheekpieces) were races he was entitled to win at odds-on; lacks Cheltenham experience; opposable.

66/1

1st

1

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

16:20 Leicester

Paul Marvel

12st 4lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Took well to first-time cheekpieces in similar event (2m6f, heavy) at the last Leicester fixture, opening his chase account; solid effort on penultimate start; commands respect in the retained headgear.

2/1

1st

6

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:25 Leicester

Paul Marvel

12st 0lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Maiden hurdle and two-time point winner (including on heavy ground) who was runner-up in a hunter chase at Warwick (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; that performance reads well in today's context and he's a key player in first-time cheekpieces.

11/10

Form: 1113P-

Last run: 191 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won four in a row at trips up to 2m4f on summer ground last year; third in useful novice event at Listowel festival but too free and pulled up in Cheltenham handicap on first try at 3m; returns from over six months off; rider's claim gives him every chance at the weights but trip a concern .
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 120y

14:18 Tipperary

Lieutenant Highway

11st 1lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Four-time hurdle winner also won a novice chase in 2023 for this yard; subsequently lost his form and back with this yard after a spell with Moses McCabe; seems best watched.

25/1

5

12th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:35 Kilbeggan

Lieutenant Highway

11st 3lb

J: James O’Sullivan

T: Moses McCabe

Five wins for Gordon Elliott; ran like he needed it on stable bow at Wexford; probably best watched at present.

25/1

Form: B9067-

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Lowly-rated maiden has no chance in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:50 Downpatrick

Wee Jerry

10st 11lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Longstanding maiden over hurdles and beaten more than 20l in his two handicap chases.

20/1

6th

13

18th Aug 2024

Good

1m 7f 140y

16:33 Tramore

Wee Jerry

10st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Low-grade maiden hurdler continues to struggle off basement mark and plenty of improvement needed from chase debut run at Downpatrick three starts ago.

16/1

9th

14

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 150y

19:35 Wexford

Wee Jerry

10st 13lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Maiden after 20 hurdle starts has to find some improvement from somewhere.

25/1

Form: F/4PP-

Last run: 68 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Modest mare is another who is not a viable contender against much higher-rated rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

2nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 4

16:01 Cartmel

Social Distancing

10st 12lb

J: Gearoid Brouder

T: Neill McCluskey

Maiden who was tailed off in Ireland in her first two handicaps, and same story here on Friday in first-time cheekpieces (retained).

66/1

10th

8

30th Jun 2023

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

16:47 Cartmel

Social Distancing

11st 4lb

J: B P Kennedy

T: Neill McCluskey

Maiden; unplaced all seven hurdle starts; beaten a long way (at huge odds) in both handicaps in Ireland; cheekpieces now fitted.

33/1

19th

25

11th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 130y

15:25 Punchestown

Social Distancing

10st 13lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Neill McCluskey

50-1 for her recent handicap debut at Limerick and ran accordingly; no appeal despite a good jockey booking.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31P50-

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Smart bumper horse off the mark on second hurdles start at Fairyhouse (2m, good to yielding); sent off second-favourite for Grade 1 Challow Hurdle but bombed out on testing ground and very disappointing again in Fairyhouse Grade 2 over 2m; due to step up to 3m for first time but again well beaten in Punchestown handicap on Saturday which puts a question mark against his participation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Joyeux Machin

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Appreciated eased in grade at Bangor (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago, winning readily by 10l; contests deeper race here but probably still on workable mark after 5lb rise, and quicker ground also suits.

9/2

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Joyeux Machin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Exposed ex-Irish gelding who has yet to score for Dan Skelton (0-10); however, he has been contesting stronger races and was going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft; fine on good) in January; his subsequent Ascot run needs forgiving but that was a Class 1 race.

5/2

9th

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Joyeux Machin

10st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 0-9 for current yard but he ran well over hurdles on this card last year; still going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft) most recently; shortlisted.

7/2

Non-runners

Joyeux Machin

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €29.90
Straight Forecast €39.54
Trifecta €178.70

Selections

RP Ratings (IRE):

Joyeux Machin

SPOTLIGHT:

Paul Marvel

The Irish Sun:

Lieutenant Highway

TOPSPEED:

Holmes St Georges

POSTDATA:

Joyeux Machin