September 08 / 17.30 Down Royal

17.30

Good

Grant Thornton Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £5482.3
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • 9 runners
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Grant Thornton Nursery Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.80
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 40055

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
4lb wrong at the Curragh so 6lb lower for this and he didn't run too bad a race in finishing mid-division (6f); returning to 7f may help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

21:00 Hamilton

Velvet Skies

9st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Stephen Hanlon

Fair ex-Irish 6f winner; yet to hit top form in four runs for his current yard, tried in a visor when fourth of seven in 6f Southwell handicap 15 days ago; needs to step forward despite a falling mark.

9/1

4th

4

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Velvet Skies

9st 6lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

Well handicapped on last year's Irish best; has not made a big impact in three runs for Stephen Hanlon (single-figure price on each occasion) and cheekpieces didn't help over 7f three weeks ago; dropping down the weights and new headgear is tried but there are risks attached.

8/1

9th

1

(5)

7th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Velvet Skies

9st 9lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Stephen Hanlon

3-47 with his wins coming over 6f/7f on turf/Polytrack in Ireland; has made a low-key start for this yard and needs to improve for the fitting of cheekpieces.

6/1

OUR TIP

8/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 6695

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Finished a little closer in each of his maiden runs but probably unwise to blame the step up to 1m for his ordinary first run in a nursery; blinkers now turned to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

2

(9)

5th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

The Bear Trap

10st 3lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: John Geoghegan

midfield

12/1

2

(9)

5th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

The Bear Trap

10st 3lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: John Geoghegan

Off the mark at the 18th attempt with a 7f Dundalk maiden win last December; not beaten far at Leopardstown on his return to turf.

12/1

5th

5

(3)

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 14y

16:18 Leopardstown

The Bear Trap

9st 8lb

J: Ben Coen

T: John Geoghegan

midfield

16/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 985

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 7lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Looked outclassed in her maidens, finishing no closer than 15l; goes handicapping with much to prove, though the same can be said for others.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(13)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:53 Roscommon

Finsceal Annie

9st 13lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Ciaran Murphy

Won twice last season, both at Leopardstown over 7f on good and soft; remains 9lb above her last win and she ran poorly on her seasonal return last month; yard form a plus.

12/1

15th

2

(3)

15th Apr 2026

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

16:52 Leopardstown

Finsceal Annie

10st 0lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Ciaran Murphy

Won two races within a week here last year over C&D on different ground types; some good efforts at Laytown and Dundalk since then; beaten 8l in an AW handicap when last seen in November (1m); 10lb higher since last winning mark but worth a look back at this track.

14/1

2nd

2

(1)

31st Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Finsceal Annie

9st 12lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Ciaran Murphy

Won two races within a week at Leopardstown in June and nearly went in again at Laytown last month; latest effort at Roscommon wasn't her best but has bouncebackability.

12/1

4th
7 (9)
Expecto

6/1

Form: 85084

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 12lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Finished just ahead of The Bear Trap in a 1m nursery at Killarney for which she was 20-1 in the first-time cheekpieces; dropped 6lb which can only help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(2)

13th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

15:50 Chepstow

Expecto

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

Of interest on her best form for Jim Bolger but she's finished well beaten in two starts for new connections this spring; lots to prove for now.

33/1

13th

2

(2)

13th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

15:50 Chepstow

Expecto

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

Of interest on her best form for Jim Bolger but she's finished well beaten in two starts for new connections this spring; lots to prove for now.

33/1

9th

3

(3)

5th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:45 Bath

Expecto

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Grace Harris

midfield

20/1

Form: 7055

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 11lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Showed plenty of early dash before finding no extra in the finish on nursery debut at the Curragh; today's drier ground may help now raised in distance and has been gelded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

(20)

10th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

18:10 Cork

Poppadom

8st 12lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

27-race maiden but was only beaten a neck in a soft ground 1m handicap at Gowran in June; hasn't kicked on since and may need a bit further than 7f these days.

33/1

7th

13

(12)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:30 Gowran Park

Poppadom

9st 1lb

J: Jimmy Dalton

T: Andrew Slattery

Maiden after 26 starts was well beaten over further here last time; however, was runner-up over C&D in June so has to get back to that form.

22/1

12

(18)

13th Aug 2025

Good

1m 1f 100y

20:05 Gowran Park

Poppadom

9st 2lb

J: Jimmy Dalton

T: Andrew Slattery

25-race maiden who went close to getting off the mark over 1m here in June; however, not as good twice since and has a tough draw to overcome now.

25/1

14/1

Form: 706

Last run: 42 days

W: 8st 9lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Goes handicapping after being gelded but beaten too far for comfort in his last two maidens (6f/7f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(3)

12th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 110y

18:00 Limerick

Rogerwaswrong

8st 7lb

J: Sean Davis

T: Sean Davis

Best run when third in a Bellewstown nursery on heavy ground last summer; two moderate runs this year; only 2lb out of the handicap but hard to make a case for him

20/1

8th

8

(7)

15th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 140y

18:45 Sligo

Rogerwaswrong

8st 8lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Sean Davis

in rear throughout

20/1

8th

8

(7)

15th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 140y

18:45 Sligo

Rogerwaswrong

8st 8lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Sean Davis

in rear throughout

20/1

Form: 006

Last run: 64 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Never a threat in his maidens (5f-7.5f) but consequently goes handicapping off a low mark and cheekpieces could bring something to the party.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(10)

18th Oct 2023

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

14:15 Navan

Hasshoffman

9st 7lb

J: Wayne Hassett

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

slowly into stride, raced near side, in touch with leaders

14/1

6th

10

(4)

4th Oct 2023

Soft

0m 5f 164y

14:25 Navan

Hasshoffman

8st 10lb

J: Wayne Hassett

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Will have to improve from modest nursery debut over 7f at Down Royal; blinkers now replace cheekpieces.

10/1

7th

4

(4)

8th Sep 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:30 Down Royal

Hasshoffman

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Never a threat in his maidens (5f-7.5f) but consequently goes handicapping off a low mark and cheekpieces could bring something to the party.

4/1

Form: 050

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Gelding

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
Not beaten many rivals in his three runs but this would be his first realistic assignment to date and trainer fits blinkers; market informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

21

(5)

18th Mar 2024

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

17:10 Curragh

Burn The Bridges

8st 7lb

J: Rory Mulligan

T: Jack W Davison

lost many lengths start, awkward start, raced in last and detached throughout

20/1

8th

7

(7)

2nd Feb 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

16:25 Dundalk (AW)

Burn The Bridges

8st 13lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Jack W Davison

prominent, soon went second

14/1

12th

8

(8)

17th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:45 Dundalk (AW)

Burn The Bridges

8st 13lb

J: Shane B Kelly

T: J P Murtagh

prominent early, soon steadied and in touch with leaders

16/1

7/1

Form: 078

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
This initial mark doesn't look overly generous on his modest achievements to date but clearly open to improvement for respected yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

4

(7)

1st Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

13:59 Gowran Park

Chou Chou

9st 8lb

J: Adam Grant

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Two wins last year over slightly further than this at Tipperary (gd-fm) and Clonmel (soft); remains 3lb above that last success and tailed off over hurdles at Killarney 23 days ago.

25/1

14th

5

9th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

13:53 Killarney

Chou Chou

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Didn't jump with fluency when running no race in sole hurdles start at Punchestown in 2024 for Noel Meade; bagged a Flat win at Clonmel in September off 48 (1m2f, soft); moderate form in three Flat starts since.

40/1

6

(17)

13th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 4f 46y

17:05 Roscommon

Chou Chou

9st 12lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Ground versatile sort won at Clonmel on penultimate (9.5f, soft); came up short off revised mark at Gowran latest; stamina to prove for this trip and may be on a tough mark.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €35.10
Straight Forecast €31.22
Tricast €290.53
Trifecta €558.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Poppadom

The Irish Sun:

Velvet Skies

POSTDATA:

Expecto

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Poppadom