December 10 / 14.15 Cork

14.15

Soft

Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £52212.39
  • 2m 0f 160y
  • 6 runners
RTE1
View Course
Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

2/9 (Won)

Form: /1111- D

Last run: 227 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 172

Form & Verdict
Top-class novice hurdler the season before last; unbeaten in four starts over fences; beat stablemate Dysart Dynamo by 10l at Leopardstown before defeating Jonbon in the Arkle at Cheltenham; signed off with an effortless Punchestown festival win, despite a few little errors; head and shoulders above these rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

El Fabiolo

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form.

5/1

1st

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 2f 72y

15:25 Leopardstown

El Fabiolo

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance.

10/11

5th

3

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

El Fabiolo

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower.

10/1

Form: 5106-2 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Smart juvenile hurdler two seasons ago; after winning his first start over fences, was well beaten in a couple of Grade 1s, including a remote fifth behind El Fabiolo at Leopardstown; sent back over hurdles and won a Grade 3 event at Gowran; made a race of it with EL Fabiolo's stablemate Dinoblue in a Grade 3 chase at Naas four weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:37 Gowran Park

Fil Dor

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.

11/2

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

Form: F101-4 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Just four runs last season but put up a career-best when beating El Fabiolo's stablemate Dinoblue in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham in March; made a bad mistake when last of four finishers on seasonal debut over 2m4f at Clonmel; suited by strong-run 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

17:25 Punchestown

Maskada

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Gave 2lb and a 6 1/2l beating to Dinoblue in last season's Grand Annual; in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level on her three Irish outings this season but her form has been unconvincing; faded from three out when bidding to repeat her Grand Annual win; Dinoblue now 11lb superior on official ratings; hard to fancy unless addition of tongue-tie does the trick.

25/1

4th

9

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

17:25 Punchestown

Maskada

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Gave 2lb and a 6 1/2l beating to Dinoblue in last season's Grand Annual; in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level on her three Irish outings this season but her form has been unconvincing; faded from three out when bidding to repeat her Grand Annual win; Dinoblue now 11lb superior on official ratings; hard to fancy unless addition of tongue-tie does the trick.

25/1

7th

3

13th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:50 Cheltenham

Maskada

11st 8lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Saw off Dinoblue to land this race off 8lb lower on soft 12 months ago; below par when in the frame at Listed/Grade 2 level in her three outings this season but last year's winning form has been consistently advertised by the runner-up and this mare would be a danger to all if recapturing that level.

9/1

Form: 11/1/ D

Last run: 708 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in three starts for Willie Mullins; backed up bumper win November 2020 with wide-margin maiden hurdle success at Punchestown in February 2021; made all for an easy win in a beginners' chase over an extended 2m5f at Fairyhouse in January 2022; has had issues and faces a huge task against that background.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Jungle Boogie

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Talented but delicate 12yo who has run just ten times over the years; conditions suit but he's been soundly beaten and pulled up in his two starts for new yard; will do very well to add to trainer's three wins in the race.

40/1

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Jungle Boogie

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 12yo; had a record of 3-3 for Willie Mullins and 2-5 for Henry de Bromhead, but he was tailed off on stable debut at Cheltenham (22-1) on New Year's Day and needs to have come on a ton in the 16 days since.

14/1

Form: 36F22-

Last run: 239 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Albert Bartlett winner in 2021; more than two years since his only win over fences, in a Grade 2 event over an extended 2m6f at Punchestown; restored to his best when second to Kemboy in last season's Bobbyjo Chase and put in a terrific effort when second in the Grand National; begins new campaign over an inadequate trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Vanillier

10st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Thorough stayer who came second in the 2023 Grand National; not very consistent nowadays but did very well to finish third behind Stumptown in this race last year (good to soft), having lost ground when nearly taking the wrong course in early stages, and returns here after a win on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy) last month.

7/1

Form: 2151-0 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Wide-margin of a valuable 2m1f Fairyhouse handicap in January; gave a resolute display to win Grade 3 Newlands Chase over 2m in February; should be sharper now as a result of last month's reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Naas.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 50y

15:08 Gowran Park

Rebel Gold

11st 12lb

J: Mr Alan O’Sullivan

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; continues to show plenty of zest, in front of Piccolo Player when third at Naas 13 days ago.

11/2

3rd

15

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 110y

15:00 Naas

Rebel Gold

10st 5lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; weakened into a 19.5l third here last time (2m3f, heavy); 13l behind Peaceinthevalley on that occasion; hit the front early that day, so perhaps can get closer more patiently ridden.

16/1

3rd

8

25th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 150y

14:25 Naas

Rebel Gold

11st 3lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced several good displays off his much higher chase mark during 2025; hard to be sure how effectively he will cope on his return to hurdling at the age of 13

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €2.47

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Fabiolo

RP RATINGS (IRE):

El Fabiolo

TOPSPEED:

El Fabiolo

POSTDATA:

El Fabiolo

The Irish Sun:

El Fabiolo