October 06 / 13.50 Downpatrick

13.50

Yielding To Soft

Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5221.24
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 9 runners
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Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.70
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 4-4432

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lightly 4yo going the right way judged on his third here and second at Roscommon (2m, soft) when going down by only a neck; obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 19y

14:25 Leopardstown

Yeats Star

10st 10lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

All three wins came on soft over shorter trips; has looked in the handicapper's grasp over both hurdles and fences of late; cheekpieces now tried.

40/1

9

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

Yeats Star

11st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Very useful handicap hurdler on his day but yet to make any further progress over fences since winning Listowel beginners' chase last season; went close at Perth last time, faces a much harder task in a handicap of this standard.

14/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 220-F

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
No threat to the winners of the bumpers in which he finished second and was well beaten at Punchestown in April; departed early when 7-1 for a recent maiden at Listowel.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 29y

15:55 Naas

Talk In The Park

11st 8lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Dual hurdles winner is now 0-8 chasing but some good runs in defeat, including 2m6f Listowel handicap; no match for 15l winner The Enabler in Fairyhouse novice on latest but remains of interest back in handicap with cheekpieces now tried.

15/2

14

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

Talk In The Park

10st 9lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Best of four runs in beginners' chases when second at the Galway festival; creditable third over 2m6f at Listowel on handicap debut; could not be guaranteed to uphold form with Weveallbeencaught who may have needed the run.

9/1

7

27th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 0y

16:30 Listowel

Talk In The Park

11st 6lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Best of four runs in beginners' chases came at Galway last time where beaten 0.75l into second of 16; could be well treated for his handicap chase debut on that evidence but seems best going right-handed.

13/2

6/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for 120,000GBP after finishing second in a point; made the frame in a Navan bumper (yielding; 9-4) despite not settling great and the fifth in that race won easily at Galway on Tuesday; should have every chance, especially if taking to the hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

17th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 51y

19:15 Kilbeggan

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Second in sole point and maiden hurdle winner at Sligo in the autumn; tailed off both chase starts.

100/1

11th

4

7th May 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 31y

19:20 Ballinrobe

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

midfield, not fluent 2nd, weakened from 3 out

25/1

11th

4

7th May 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 31y

19:20 Ballinrobe

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

midfield, not fluent 2nd, weakened from 3 out

25/1

Form: 5552-5

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden (0-8 hurdling) but very nearly won a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle (2m, soft) on his penultimate run; that was back in January and he was well held in a maiden on August's return, while the addition of blinkers is a grey area.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 210y

19:29 Kilbeggan

Musta Lovea Lovea

11st 5lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Still a maiden after 22 starts under rules; struggled in two chase starts early last year; faces a huge task after a long break.

33/1

13th

7

6th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 4y

13:25 Thurles

Musta Lovea Lovea

11st 12lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

towards rear

100/1

13th

7

6th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 4y

13:25 Thurles

Musta Lovea Lovea

11st 12lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

towards rear throughout

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0-5504

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
21-race maiden for various yards; never-dangerous fourth on his return to this yard in a C&D maiden three weeks ago but he ran okay (just behind Yeats Star); more needed, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

7

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:20 Punchestown

Figurehead

11st 4lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Harry Cleary

Maiden in all categories after 45 races; some of his better runs earlier in his career were over hurdles, placed four times from 18 attempts; a top jockey booked for the trainer's first runner.

33/1

3

29th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 198y

13:25 Thurles

Figurehead

11st 12lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Michael G Cleary

No wins in a varied 44-race career, although ran well in a couple of beginners' this term; was 11lb wrong on handicap chase debut at Leopardstown last time; percentage call is to oppose.

25/1

Form: 8U

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to several Flat winners; 100-1 when unseating early at Fairyhouse on Monday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

14

(10)

20th Jun 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

19:20 Leopardstown

Crystals Heir

8st 12lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Paul W Flynn

Brings weak form claims from the Flat and beaten out of sight in a Sligo maiden hurdle latest; tongue-tie tried here but makes little appeal.

14/1

12th

4

11th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 182y

17:15 Sligo

Crystals Heir

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Paul W Flynn

Brings weak form claims and was midfield in a low-grade Flat handicap at Navan on Saturday.

33/1

8th

20

(4)

8th Jun 2024

Good

1m 2f 40y

17:15 Navan

Crystals Heir

8st 12lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Paul W Flynn

Well beaten in maidens and handicaps lately off low marks and isn't easy to fancy.

33/1

Form: 9

Last run: 153 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
No worthwhile Flat form (three runs) and finished tailed off on switch to hurdling at Cork.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 150y

16:00 Kilbeggan

Benzine

10st 10lb

J: Niall Moore

T: J Morrison

Ordinary form over hurdles; returned from a break with an excellent first run over fences at Limerick, finished second despite making a few slight errors; strong chance if that improvement is maintained on his return to hurdling.

4/1

2nd

10

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 157y

16:43 Limerick

Benzine

10st 10lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: J Morrison

Winless in five Flat starts and 13 over timber; hasn't looked as though the breakthrough is close, 30l behind at Thurles in October; chase debut.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Getaway half-brother to 2m4f hurdle winner Little Actress; dam unraced half-sister to 1m2f/2m Flat and high-class 2m-2m3f hurdle winner Iktitaf; interesting on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:10 Southwell

Pay The Tab

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Max Comley

Kept on for third in soft-ground Down Royal bumper for Gordon Elliott in 2023 but left that stable after two very disappointing runs; now back over hurdles for new yard; hooded for first time; probably best watched.

16/1

5

3rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:10 Southwell

Pay The Tab

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Max Comley

always behind, lost touch and pulled up after 3 out

16/1

Form: -80340

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Has placed form in maidens but not progressing and looks to have her work cut out with the best of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

7th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 194y

16:15 Sligo

Nurse Garvey

11st 3lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: D M Christie

Made the frame in pair of maidens last summer, one of them here, but handicap form has been poor.

50/1

10

3rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Listowel

Nurse Garvey

10st 6lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: D M Christie

towards rear

16/1

9th

18

28th May 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 75y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Nurse Garvey

10st 8lb

T: D M Christie

Second reserve; C&D maiden fourth last September one of her better efforts and has run well fresh; handicap debut.

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €12.20
Straight Forecast €12.18
Trifecta €42.30

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Yeats Star

SPOTLIGHT:

Charming Fortune

TOPSPEED:

Yeats Star

POSTDATA:

Yeats Star

The Irish Sun:

Charming Fortune