July 09 / 15.45 Sligo

15.45

Good

Friends Of Brian Mulligan Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6004.42
  • 2m 0f 194y
  • 10 runners
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Friends Of Brian Mulligan Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.30
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 221-3P BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Two wins over hurdles, most recently in a Kilbeggan handicap in April; very poor effort in a handicap hurdle at Roscommon last month and needs to bounce back effectively.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

The Big Chap

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Paul W Flynn

in rear

20/1

8th

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

The Big Chap

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Paul W Flynn

in rear

20/1

1

28th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

14:15 Limerick

The Big Chap

11st 12lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Paul W Flynn

Outran his 80-1 odds when third at Navan three weeks ago (2m4f, soft) but looks to have little margin for error off this mark.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 52-021

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Gained an overdue success in a Punchestown handicap hurdle last month; up 5lb and a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

16:42 Wexford

Warm In Gorey

10st 12lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three-time winner over hurdles; totally out of form over fences, pulled up on last three starts; blinkers tried now; main positive is that he has often run well at this venue, placed four times from seven visits, including twice last summer.

8/1

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:08 Wexford

Warm In Gorey

11st 6lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: P J Rothwell

Three-time winner over hurdles, 0-17 chasing but C&D second last summer off 5lb higher; has failed to complete last three outings so very hard to be confident in.

14/1

12

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 110y

14:58 Thurles

Warm In Gorey

10st 10lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three-time winner over hurdles, 0-16 over fences, placed seven times; confidence possibly dented after two failures to complete.

12/1

50/1

  • Place: £9.60

Form: 08770-

Last run: 262 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Modest maiden and handicap form; blinkered here but 5lb out of the handicap and looks up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 116y

16:47 Clonmel

Woodstream Lad

10st 12lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Course hurdle winner was last successful in a Downpatrick handicap in 2025; was pulled-up on recent return at Punchestown and has to bounce back.

12/1

21

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Woodstream Lad

11st 6lb

J: Miss P Elvin

T: P J Rothwell

Three hurdles wins, the latest at Downpatrick in July over 2m3f (good); pulled up after making mistakes over fences when last seen at Downpatrick in August; may need this first run back.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0133-3 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Up 16lb after landing a punt in a Limerick handicap hurdle in January; consistent since in a trio of handicap hurdles and in a Flat handicap at Ballinrobe last month; keeps going up the handicap though and faces another difficult task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 1f 70y

15:03 Tipperary

Pont Audemer

12st 0lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Flat/hurdles winner on soft; yet to show a great deal over fences; flopped when favourite for Clonmel race won by today's rival Druim Samhraidh; possibly unwise to rule out.

10/1

7th

3

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 85y

17:50 Clonmel

Pont Audemer

11st 8lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Flat/hurdles winner on soft; creditable Flat run on good ground last summer; shaped much better on latest chase start when beaten 8l and is 8lb lower than his hurdles mark; headgear an interesting addition.

4/1

7th

7

9th May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

18:10 Tipperary

Pont Audemer

11st 8lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Gavin Cromwell

held up in rear, mistake 8th, some headway before 2 out, not fluent last, weakened run-in

10/1

Form: 084-32 C BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won his bumper here and arrives in good form after finishing second in a handicap hurdle here last month; top rider booked and has to have a solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

9th Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 194y

15:45 Sligo

Staging Post

10st 6lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Won his bumper here and arrives in good form after finishing second in a handicap hurdle here last month; top rider booked and has to have a solid chance.

3/1

2nd

13

13th Jun 2023

Good

2m 1f 133y

18:33 Sligo

Staging Post

11st 3lb

J: Daniel King

T: Mark Michael McNiff

midfield, headway and in touch with leaders before 2 out, pushed along and went second approaching last, ran on and went clear with winner final 110yds

4/1

Form: 91-424 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Downpatrick specialist and has run well on all three handicap hurdle starts this year, including on consecutive days last month; this track has its similarities and he won here last year; should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

4

28th May 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 75y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Willyouwalkwithme

11st 11lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: H Smyth

Three of his four wins have been at Downpatrick but poor comeback run at same track on Friday leaves him with questions to answer.

25/1

14th

4

28th May 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 75y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Willyouwalkwithme

11st 11lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: H Smyth

Three of his four wins have been at Downpatrick but poor comeback run at same track on Friday leaves him with questions to answer.

25/1

15th

5

24th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 185y

17:35 Downpatrick

Willyouwalkwithme

11st 11lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: H Smyth

Three of his four wins have been here; some solid runs in defeat last year but disappointing when last seen; still, can run well fresh so has to be respected.

11/1

Form: R07-51 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Had been running well in Flat handicaps before winning a claiming hurdle over 2m2f here last month; very disappointing returned to the Flat at Limerick since; could leave that behind here but has a question to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Bigz Belief

10st 4lb

J: Tpr Elizabeth Feakes

T: Fergal O’Brien

Best of three hurdle runs for new stable this season when second of five in soft-ground Leicester seller (2m4f) in December; reverts to this code after going close off his basement Flat mark three weeks ago but others have more compelling claims; first ride under rules for Elizabeth Feakes.

6/1

2nd

8

(2)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

This season's hurdling form for Fergal O'Brien was uninspiring and he was safely held when fourth in C&D classified race on Flat return in January; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

4th

1

(6)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Triple hurdle winner but his last success was in 2023 and he was well held at Taunton last Saturday; now returns to the Flat for the first time in 16 months and he's 1-24 in this sphere; opposable.

12/1

Form: 36-78

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Won a Flat claimer here for James McAuley last year; soundly beaten in three maiden hurdles and a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

1

(1)

2nd Feb 2024

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Alhaajeb

10st 0lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Richard John O’Brien

prominent on inner

14/1

12th

2

(13)

19th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Alhaajeb

10st 1lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Richard John O’Brien

towards rear

50/1

14th

7

(1)

20th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 2f 150y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Alhaajeb

9st 13lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Won Sligo claimer last year but struggled over timber since; fair mark if he can get back on track on the Flat and he has a C&D win to his name.

12/1

Form: 0473-0 D

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Good recent efforts in handicap hurdles at Gowran and Tramore but generally inconsistent; any rain that falls will help but others look more likely to run their race; returns after two months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

13th Mar 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 150y

13:34 Limerick

Garcon Doux

11st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Philip Fenton

Sole win from 28 hurdling attempts in 2m Cork handicap nearly three years ago; pick of recent form when second there over 2m4f (good) in October, heavy ground probably didn't suit here on latest; on a fair mark and better ground to suit so don't rule out.

8/1

9

28th Jan 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

13:35 Limerick

Garcon Doux

11st 1lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Philip Fenton

1-27 over hurdles, the win coming over 2m on soft to heavy at Cork in April 2022; back to back decent runs in October-November, including over this C&D but both runs came on good ground; not as good in two runs since but he handles testing ground; not discounted.

15/2

9

28th Jan 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

13:35 Limerick

Garcon Doux

11st 1lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Philip Fenton

1-27 over hurdles, the win coming over 2m on soft to heavy at Cork in April 2022; back to back decent runs in October-November, including over this C&D but both runs came on good ground; not as good in two runs since but he handles testing ground; not discounted.

15/2

Form: P00-4P D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Winning chaser; good run in a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle in May but well beaten twice since and makes no appeal from 8lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 55y

18:50 Ballinrobe

So Easy Way

10st 0lb

J: Ethan O’Sullivan

T: I Madden

pressed leader, fell 1st

20/1

12th

14

12th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 165y

18:53 Ballinrobe

So Easy Way

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: I Madden

Poor strike-rate of 1-37 and the sole win came over fences in France back in 2019; however, under positive tactics he finished third of 16 in a Cork handicap hurdle last week.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €25.10
Straight Forecast €28.32
Tricast €1011.33
Trifecta €502.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Staging Post

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Bigz Belief

TOPSPEED:

Staging Post

The Irish Sun:

Staging Post

POSTDATA:

Bigz Belief