16.10

5/1

Place: £1.60

Form: 1-2251 CD

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict

C&D winner; arrives on the back of a career best success in a Listed handicap at Fairyhouse in December; 9lb higher here but there could be more to come if he settles better and one to consider.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 6	25th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 99y Class 1	14:55 Sandown Solness 11st 10lb J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Smart front-runner whose Grade 1 form features three wins at Leopardstown (2m1f) in 2024/2025 and neck second, showing career-best form, at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; one of the main contenders back down in distance.	7/2
2nd 7	10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1	15:30 Aintree Solness 11st 10lb J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Tailed off at Leopardstown in February when the soft ground was against him and a visor replaced his usual cheekpieces, which return today; prior to that he posted a third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; there's a question mark regarding the step back up in trip for this front-runner but his trainer won this twice in a row with Fakir d'Oudairies in 2021 and 2022, and this 8yo arrives fresh after just two starts this winter; chance.	9/1
5th 6	1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 1f 0y	14:10 Leopardstown Solness 11st 12lb J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Made huge progress last season, emerging from handicaps to win two Grade 1s over C&D including this race, beating Marine Nationale; wasn't as good at Cheltenham and Punchestown after but returned to again get the better of his old rival back over C&D last time; is at his best around this track, but the testing ground isn't in his favour; visor replaces cheekpieces.	3/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

6

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

11st 10lb

Smart front-runner whose Grade 1 form features three wins at Leopardstown (2m1f) in 2024/2025 and neck second, showing career-best form, at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; one of the main contenders back down in distance.

7/2

2nd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

11st 10lb

Tailed off at Leopardstown in February when the soft ground was against him and a visor replaced his usual cheekpieces, which return today; prior to that he posted a third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; there's a question mark regarding the step back up in trip for this front-runner but his trainer won this twice in a row with Fakir d'Oudairies in 2021 and 2022, and this 8yo arrives fresh after just two starts this winter; chance.

9/1

5th

6

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

11st 12lb

Made huge progress last season, emerging from handicaps to win two Grade 1s over C&D including this race, beating Marine Nationale; wasn't as good at Cheltenham and Punchestown after but returned to again get the better of his old rival back over C&D last time; is at his best around this track, but the testing ground isn't in his favour; visor replaces cheekpieces.

3/1

4th

9

Pats Choice

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

14/1

Form: 312671 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict

Just about a career best when gaining a third chase success in a handicap at Naas; didn't appear to have much left in the tank and he's opposable from 4lb higher but it's interesting that Kennedy keeps the partnership intact.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
11	4th Aug 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 2f 54y	15:30 Galway Pats Choice 10st 0lb J: Jordan Gainford T: Gordon Elliott	C&D winner in October; latest win came at Naas in January over 2m; holding his form reasonably well since and didn't run badly lto when beaten 11.5l into sixth by Galway Plate winner Pinkerton; likes soft ground.	11/1
6th 17	2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 55y	16:15 Punchestown Pats Choice 10st 1lb J: Jordan Gainford T: Gordon Elliott	Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.	16/1
6th 17	2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 55y	16:15 Punchestown Pats Choice 10st 1lb J: Jordan Gainford T: Gordon Elliott	Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

11

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 54y

10st 0lb

C&D winner in October; latest win came at Naas in January over 2m; holding his form reasonably well since and didn't run badly lto when beaten 11.5l into sixth by Galway Plate winner Pinkerton; likes soft ground.

11/1

6th

17

2nd May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 55y

10st 1lb

Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.

16/1

6th

17

2nd May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 55y

10st 1lb

Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.

16/1

5th

4

Rebel Gold

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Patrick T Foley

22/1

Form: 151-06 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict

Veteran; won twice over fences last season; struggled in two runs this term, although had his work cut out against El Fabiolo in Grade 2 company last time; this mark looks on the high side for what he's achieved so far but Stone-Walsh's 5lb claim will help in that regard.

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

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

10st 5lb

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

11st 3lb

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

6th

11

J: Mark McDonagh

12/1

Form: 5P2116 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict

Stayed on well to win a beginners' over 2m3f at Kilbeggan and followed up in a Listed handicap chase at Cork in October; not as good over C&D since behind some of these and while lightly raced over fences, it's hard to see him turning the form around.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
9th 1	29th May 2026 Good 1m 7f 110y	17:55 Tramore Typical Thomas 11st 12lb J: Conor Smithers T: James Andrew Fahey	Two-time chase winner but losing run stretches back to October 2023; off since okay run on the Flat at Listowel last September; poor record when fresh; others preferred.	16/1
11	26th Sep 2025 Yielding 1m 6f 0y	17:25 Listowel Typical Thomas 11st 0lb J: Miss H Heffernan T: James Andrew Fahey	Hurdles rating of 113 leaves him with a lot to find in this company; tailed off in a Thurles conditions hurdle in March and not much better in two most recent handicap chase starts; exceedingly unlikely.	40/1
7	16th Jun 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 51y	19:48 Kilbeggan Typical Thomas 10st 4lb J: Peter Smithers T: James Andrew Fahey	Did well to win 2m2f Listed handicap chase at Cork off 119 in 2023 but hasn't run to that level since, most recently when too keen in first-time cheekpieces at Tipperary last month; handicapper quite slow to relent.	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

9th

1

29th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 110y

17:55 Tramore

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

Two-time chase winner but losing run stretches back to October 2023; off since okay run on the Flat at Listowel last September; poor record when fresh; others preferred.

16/1

11

26th Sep 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

17:25 Listowel

11st 0lb

J: Miss H Heffernan

Hurdles rating of 113 leaves him with a lot to find in this company; tailed off in a Thurles conditions hurdle in March and not much better in two most recent handicap chase starts; exceedingly unlikely.

40/1

7

16th Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 51y

19:48 Kilbeggan

10st 4lb

J: Peter Smithers