July 28 / 18.55 Down Royal

18.55

Yielding To Soft

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  • Prize money: £6004.42
  • 1m 2f 75y
  • 10 runners
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Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.80
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 09-535 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden but not beaten far in his two handicap outings this month; step back up in trip may help and one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(24)

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:55 Curragh

Eastern Legend

9st 11lb

J: Ross Coakley

T: J S Bolger

Has kept good company over hurdles since his last Flat run almost a year ago; that was in the Group 2 Curragh Cup; this is more realistic but he has plenty of weight.

16/1

7th

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 140y

18:05 Punchestown

Eastern Legend

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: J S Bolger

Has outrun his odds in graded company on a couple of occasions including this meeting last year when 3l behind Kargese; however, well held in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month and this is even tougher.

50/1

7th

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 140y

18:05 Punchestown

Eastern Legend

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: J S Bolger

Has outrun his odds in graded company on a couple of occasions including this meeting last year when 3l behind Kargese; however, well held in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month and this is even tougher.

50/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 7-9917 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Career best when getting off the mark at the 14th attempt on her penultimate start at Fairyhouse (1m2f, good); possibly didn't stay 1m4f at the Curragh last time and may resume progress but her better efforts have come on quicker ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(9)

21st Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 100y

17:10 Gowran Park

Alma Libre

9st 10lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: A Oliver

towards rear throughout

12/1

7th

7

(4)

19th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 140y

18:52 Down Royal

Alma Libre

9st 5lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

never better than midfield, outpaced 2f out

8/1

8th

6

(4)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 75y

15:15 Down Royal

Alma Libre

9st 2lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

soon disputed lead, led narrowly after 2f

8/1

15/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 3272

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Four-race maiden but runner-up in two of his last three starts; beaten 8l when second over C&D last month and would need to step up on that to defy his mark on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(7)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 3f 180y

16:25 Galway

Hutton Glen

9st 11lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Thomas Gibney

Has been in decline since showing useful form for Ger Lyons two seasons ago; no sign of a revival despite his slump in the ratings.

25/1

8th

3

(7)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 3f 180y

16:25 Galway

Hutton Glen

9st 11lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Thomas Gibney

Has been in decline since showing useful form for Ger Lyons two seasons ago; no sign of a revival despite his slump in the ratings.

25/1

15

(15)

21st Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

17:35 Curragh

Hutton Glen

9st 2lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: Thomas Gibney

15-race maiden and shown very little since 2023 in either sphere; hard to fancy.

25/1

4th
4 (7)
Spy

9/2

Form: 5616-5

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Turf win came on quick ground; showed a bit of promise over hurdles for this yard before a solid fifth of 14 back on the Flat at Roscommon earlier this month; unproven on this sort of ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:57 Listowel

Spy

11st 6lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Dual-purpose gelding who is consistent in the main and he was returning from a lengthy break when never that competitive at Punchestown a month ago; perhaps a shade high in the weights, even if he can return to best.

8/1

12th

6

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Spy

11st 12lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Killarney handicap hurdle winner in August (2m1f, good) off 113; fairly consistent hurdles/Flat form afterwards and recorded a third Flat win at Dundalk when last seen in December; this ground suits.

12/1

3rd

10

1st Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 190y

13:35 Down Royal

Spy

10st 12lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Dual-purpose; 1-13 over hurdles, the win coming in a Killarney handicap (2m1f, good) off 6lb lower in August; beaten 11l off revised mark at Listowel in September; okay run on the Flat at Thurles on latest; career best required off this mark.

8/1

Form: 20-208 D

Last run: 177 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Generally in good form on AW through last winter; good chance she'll need this returning from 177 days off and her best turf form is on quicker ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

14

(2)

26th Apr 2024

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:15 Cork

Mads Black Eights

9st 6lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Turf and AW winner for Matthew Smith but struggled last season and well beaten on stable debut at Dundalk in February; others preferred.

25/1

15th

14

(2)

26th Apr 2024

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:15 Cork

Mads Black Eights

9st 6lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Turf and AW winner for Matthew Smith but struggled last season and well beaten on stable debut at Dundalk in February; others preferred.

25/1

11th

14

(2)

16th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Mads Black Eights

9st 5lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

in touch with leaders

16/1

10/1

Form: 118-60 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come on AW and 0-13 on turf; promising return over 1m before a lesser run over 1m2f earlier in the month; probably on a stiff enough mark on turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(14)

22nd Sep 2023

Standard

1m 2f 150y

20:00 Dundalk (AW)

Draco Pulchrac

10st 0lb

J: Ben Coen

T: A J Martin

Won twice here last year; unplaced three turf starts in the summer but came back to form with a fine run last time at Down Royal over this trip; should go well.

6/1

3rd

4

(1)

8th Sep 2023

Good

1m 2f 75y

18:40 Down Royal

Draco Pulchrac

9st 11lb

J: Ben Coen

T: A J Martin

Dual AW winner at up to 1m4f a year ago; Leopardstown comeback in June was encouraging but little impression since including over C&D six weeks ago; dropping back into this grade will help.

10/1

20/1

Form: 0-469

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Has shown a bit of promise in maidens; shaped like he didn't stay 1m5f last month; first-time tongue-tie and blinkers for handicap debut but the assessor hasn't taken any chances with this mark; drawn widest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

7th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

13:50 Ludlow

Savigny

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Mitchell Hunt

Well beaten in six Flat starts for Henry De Bromhead who presumably declined the opportunity to keep him for jumping; was sold on for just 5,000gns.

100/1

17th

22

(10)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

17:10 Curragh

Savigny

8st 13lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Henry De Bromhead

Showed some ability in maidens but was soundly beaten on handicap debut at Down Royal; the blinkers and tongue-tie worn then are dispensed with; down 3lb but needs more.

20/1

7th

10

(12)

28th Jul 2023

Yielding To Soft

1m 2f 75y

18:55 Down Royal

Savigny

9st 0lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Henry De Bromhead

towards rear

20/1

Form: 009-79 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Losing run since heavy ground success at Naas in 2021; has really lost his way of late and needs the return to this trip to spark a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

16th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 107y

14:40 Punchestown

Team Of Firsts

11st 5lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Patrick J Flynn

towards rear

12/1

5th

7

(9)

31st Oct 2023

Heavy

1m 2f 0y

15:37 Curragh

Team Of Firsts

9st 13lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Patrick J Flynn

towards rear, headway into midfield 2f out, briefly went fourth inside final furlong, no impression final 110yds

22/1

9th
11 (2)
Devore

14/1

Form: 5-7304

Last run: 43 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won over 7f on handicap debut last season; has never managed to build on that but shaped like 1m2f may be within her compass last month; others seem to be on better marks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(7)

15th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Devore

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Nikki Evans

Has regressed markedly since winning over 7f on turf in Ireland as a 2yo and has shown nothing in her only six races (over 1m-2m) since the start of last year; best to look elsewhere.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 210-81 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Both wins have come on soft ground, the latest at Navan 13 days ago when making all; 5lb rise is fine; should give it another good go from the front with a handy draw and the ground in his favour again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 158y

14:50 Naas

Boher Road

11st 11lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Better known as a four-time winner on the Flat; maiden hurdle winner in 2023; ran out at the third-last when clear in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse in April 2024; returned from a long absence with a run in December; should be sharper now.

8/1

18th

16

(4)

29th Sep 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 170y

16:25 Curragh

Boher Road

9st 3lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Jarlath P Fahey

led

20/1

14th

4

(10)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

18:05 Ascot

Boher Road

9st 9lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Unraced on firmer than good; fairly useful hurdler who's won from the front in three of his last four Flat starts, including at Navan (1m5f, good to yielding) and Killarney (2m1f, soft; Almuhit fourth) in his two runs this season; the latter was in fine style and a major step forward with the step up in trip, so this improving 5yo is one to take seriously despite his rise in the weights and a much stronger race.

14/1

Non-runners

Saraqael, Bella Nebula

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €30.30
Straight Forecast €34.29
Tricast €148.68
Trifecta €394.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Boher Road

The Irish Sun:

Devore

TOPSPEED:

Alma Libre

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Boher Road

POSTDATA:

Boher Road