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Easter Festival March 30th – April 1st Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5900
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Easter Festival March 30th – April 1st Novice Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Clear

OUR TIP

Form: 51

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for 160,000GBP after winning a maiden for Denis Murphy at Dromahane last April, runner-up is now a winning hurdler for Olly Murphy; stable's second string at this venue on his first bumper start; different proposition when landing a 2m maiden hurdle at Limerick with plenty to spare; trip should suit
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 140y

16:28 Tramore

Binge Worthy

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Point and two-time hurdles winner is 0-7 in chases; ran well when a close third at Navan in December and 1lb lower now but tailed off at Fairyhouse last time and needs to bounce back.

13/2

10th

6

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Binge Worthy

11st 6lb

J: Sarah Kavanagh

T: Gordon Elliott

Point and dual hurdles winner; ordinary chase form; no threat in first-time cheekpieces in 3m4f National Trial at Punchestown; a little better at Leopardstown but needs to find extra; cheekpieces discarded, blinkers tried.

14/1

8th

16

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Binge Worthy

10st 0lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Point and dual hurdles winner; chase debut at Naas last season not without promise but hasn't built on that, most recently never sighted in first-time cheekpieces in 3m4f National Trial at Punchestown last month; 4lb wrong.

16/1

Form: /12-51 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pointt winner in 2021; won a Wexford bumper last March; stronger form in defeat behind talented stablemate Ballyburn at Punchestown; jumping was untidy on hurdling debut over this trip at Navan; much more proficient when winning over the same course and trip a month ago; can continue to make progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Dancing City

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Has finished behind Stellar Story at the last two Cheltenham Festivals but was hindered by being pestered up front in latest; otherwise a smart stayer who retains the potential to land a top prize over fences, having been a three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including on this card 12 months ago; remains of major interest.

3/1

Form: 75-710

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Showed improved form to win a 2m Wexford maiden over 2m on heavy in November; jumping was ragged at times when down the field in a handicap over a little further than this at this venue 17 days ago; not suited by the race conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 80y

15:40 Listowel

Glorytogod Tom

12st 0lb

J: Mr D M Fitzgerald

T: Martin Paul Fitzgerald

Hasn't backed up a maiden hurdle success in November 2023 in five runs since and tailed off at Gowran when last seen.

16/1

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 80y

15:40 Listowel

Glorytogod Tom

12st 0lb

J: Mr D M Fitzgerald

T: Martin Paul Fitzgerald

Hasn't backed up a maiden hurdle success in November 2023 in five runs since and tailed off at Gowran when last seen.

16/1

10th

6

8th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 0f 30y

15:15 Gowran Park

Glorytogod Tom

11st 4lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Martin Paul Fitzgerald

Maiden hurdle winner over 2m at Wexford last season; fair handicap form but needs to find extra; faded from two out when favourite for a 23-runner contest over 2m4f at Fairyhouse two weeks ago.

7/1

Form: 412-61

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Landed a 2m3f Kilbeggan bumper on good ground in July 2022; returned from 14 months off and ran as if he needed it in a 2m3f Naas maiden hurdle in November; showed the benefit of that outing when accounting for favourite Teuchter's Glory over 2m at Navan; should not be out of place but stablemate Dancing City is preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Spread Boss Ted

11st 9lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

One of eight for trainer; bumper and dual winning hurdler had no chance when a faller on chasing debut at Navan in January (3m, soft to heavy) and was a moderate fourth of seven here next time (2m7f, heavy); much better when seeing off better-fancied stablemate Ballygunner Castle at Naas by 0.5l last time (2m4f, soft to heavy); in the mix on handicap chase debut.

13/1

1st

4

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

16:37 Naas

Spread Boss Ted

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

One of three for trainer; rated 143 over hurdles; dual hurdles winner was beaten 8l in 2024 Albert Bartlett; ran just once last season when 12l behind in a Fairyhouse Grade 2; looked beaten when falling on chasing debut at Navan (3m, soft to heavy); beaten 19l at Punchestown (2m7f, heavy) last time (11l in front of Supersundae).

6/1

7

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 0y

14:25 Navan

Spread Boss Ted

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Fourth in a strong edition of the Albert Bartlett in 2024; failed to make an impression in a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse on his only start last season; interesting chase prospect if he can recapture top form this season.

13/2

Form: 12

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Belied market weakness (28-1) when quite an impressive debut winner of Thurles bumper in October, beating subsequent dual bumper winner The Enabler; blundered at the second-last when second to a stablemate of The Enabler (and Binge Worthy) on hurdling debut over a longer trip at Down Royal
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Naas

The Busy Fool

11st 2lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Bumper winner; 2-6 over hurdles and rated 128; tailed off in beginners' chases at Naas and Punchestown in November; similar story in first-time tongue tie (retained) at Fairyhouse when last seen; enters handicap chase company now but others more likely.

22/1

Verdict

This looks like a good opportunity for point and bumper winner DANCING CITY to add to his maiden hurdle success over this trip at Navan. He could be tested by Binge Worthy who made a fine start over hurdles with a maiden win at Limerick. [Alan Sweetman]