16.00

12/1

Place: £2.40

Form: 16322P CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict

Won over C&D off 23lb lower a year ago; went close off more similar marks to this in handicap chases at Naas and Cork in November; well below par at Thurles last time but won't be far away on his previous form.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 3	21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 150y	20:18 Limerick Battle Of Mirbat 11st 10lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Michael J McDonagh	Gained third chase win off 5lb lower at Down Royal in November; some decent runs in defeat since including when a 12.5l fourth of 13 at Leopardstown on latest (28.5f, yld-sft); this trip more suitable; place shout but may need more help from the handicapper to get his head back in front.	17/2
4th 2	2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 4f 61y	16:55 Leopardstown Battle Of Mirbat 11st 11lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Michael J McDonagh	Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest in January after the leader unseated; weakened into a 12.5l fifth at Thurles last time (2m5f, yielding); tries this trip for the first time but probably not crying out for it.	10/1
5th 8	18th Jan 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 198y	14:50 Thurles Battle Of Mirbat 10st 11lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Michael J McDonagh	Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest last time after the leader unseated; needs more to score again.	6/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

3

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 150y

20:18 Limerick

11st 10lb

Gained third chase win off 5lb lower at Down Royal in November; some decent runs in defeat since including when a 12.5l fourth of 13 at Leopardstown on latest (28.5f, yld-sft); this trip more suitable; place shout but may need more help from the handicapper to get his head back in front.

17/2

4th

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 4f 61y

16:55 Leopardstown

11st 11lb

Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest in January after the leader unseated; weakened into a 12.5l fifth at Thurles last time (2m5f, yielding); tries this trip for the first time but probably not crying out for it.

10/1

5th

8

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 198y

14:50 Thurles

10st 11lb

Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest last time after the leader unseated; needs more to score again.

6/1

3rd

4

Birchdale

J: Mark Walsh

T: E Bolger

5/1

Place: £1.90

Form: F2631U CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict

Won the Leopardstown Chase two years ago off a 3lb lower mark and fourth in the same race last year; unseated very early in this year's renewal after winning over banks at Punchestown in November; very much respected at his best.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4	12th May 2024 Good 3m 2f 0y	16:30 Killarney Birchdale 11st 3lb J: Mark Walsh T: E Bolger	Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third behind Brideswell Lad two months ago; ran out of steam in the closing stages of the La Touche at Punchestown ten days ago and was pulled up.	13/2
4	12th May 2024 Good 3m 2f 0y	16:30 Killarney Birchdale 11st 3lb J: Mark Walsh T: E Bolger	Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third behind Brideswell Lad two months ago; ran out of steam in the closing stages of the La Touche at Punchestown ten days ago and was pulled up.	13/2
3	2nd May 2024 Yielding 4m 1f 11y	16:50 Punchestown Birchdale 11st 12lb J: Simon Torrens T: E Bolger	Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third two months ago; beat the veteran course specialist Vital Island over 3m here last November; Enda Bolger has won this race 14 times as a trainer.	5/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4

12th May 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

11st 3lb

Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third behind Brideswell Lad two months ago; ran out of steam in the closing stages of the La Touche at Punchestown ten days ago and was pulled up.

13/2

4

12th May 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

11st 3lb

Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third behind Brideswell Lad two months ago; ran out of steam in the closing stages of the La Touche at Punchestown ten days ago and was pulled up.

13/2

3

2nd May 2024

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

11st 12lb

Best form over 2m5f at Leopardstown where he won at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and was a creditable third two months ago; beat the veteran course specialist Vital Island over 3m here last November; Enda Bolger has won this race 14 times as a trainer.

5/1

4th

11

The Abbey

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

25/1

Form: 113985

Last run: 133 days

W: 10st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict

Five-time winner under all codes; off since October and out of form when last seen; plenty to do on that form.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 2	18th Aug 2024 Good 2m 6f 0y	16:03 Tramore The Abbey 11st 2lb J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott	Better chaser than hurdler, winning at Downpatrick and Limerick last year; okay runs initially this year but well held over 3m2f last twice; back in trip here with a bit to find.	7/1
9th 11	7th Jul 2024 Good 3m 1f 146y	16:50 Sligo The Abbey 11st 5lb J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott	Getting into the veteran stage and he's a better chaser; this trip is a minimum for him but little of note over hurdles for quite some time; change of headgear.	16/1
10th 14	12th May 2024 Good 3m 2f 0y	16:30 Killarney The Abbey 10st 1lb J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott	Just 2-17 over fences; fair fourth behind today's rival Brideswell Lad at Leopardstown in March after a break; failed to improve on that when taking the same place over 3m2f at Down Royal four weeks ago.	12/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

2

18th Aug 2024

Good

2m 6f 0y

11st 2lb

Better chaser than hurdler, winning at Downpatrick and Limerick last year; okay runs initially this year but well held over 3m2f last twice; back in trip here with a bit to find.

7/1

9th

11

7th Jul 2024

Good

3m 1f 146y

11st 5lb

Getting into the veteran stage and he's a better chaser; this trip is a minimum for him but little of note over hurdles for quite some time; change of headgear.

16/1

10th

14

12th May 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

10st 1lb

Just 2-17 over fences; fair fourth behind today's rival Brideswell Lad at Leopardstown in March after a break; failed to improve on that when taking the same place over 3m2f at Down Royal four weeks ago.

12/1

5th

7

J: Simon Torrens

T: E Bolger

7/1

Form: -26382

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict

Winless still over fences; good run when third in a Listed handicap chase at Navan in December; runner-up over banks at Punchestown last month; acts on the ground and each-way chance.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2	15th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3	17:45 Aintree Genois 11st 8lb J: Harry Cobden T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	Had lost his way but very much rejuvenated in his last four races and was closing on the winner, whom he beat the time before, over 2m4f at Haydock last time (good); edging up the weights but firmly in the reckoning.	100/30
2nd 16	4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 2	15:20 Haydock Genois 10st 10lb J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	Won at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on Boxing Day before good second there (2m3f, soft) in January, and he returned to winning ways at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago when clear with Outlaw Tom; this rejuvenated 10yo still has mileage in his mark and is firmly in calculations.	13/2
1st 9	6th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 3	15:40 Exeter Genois 10st 10lb J: Richie McLernon T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	Only 2-24 over fences but good to see him follow his Wetherby win on Boxing Day (2m3f, soft) with a similar performance in defeat the following month; does have his share of off days but couldn't rule him out.	3/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Had lost his way but very much rejuvenated in his last four races and was closing on the winner, whom he beat the time before, over 2m4f at Haydock last time (good); edging up the weights but firmly in the reckoning.

100/30

2nd

16

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

10st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on Boxing Day before good second there (2m3f, soft) in January, and he returned to winning ways at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago when clear with Outlaw Tom; this rejuvenated 10yo still has mileage in his mark and is firmly in calculations.

13/2

1st

9

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

10st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Only 2-24 over fences but good to see him follow his Wetherby win on Boxing Day (2m3f, soft) with a similar performance in defeat the following month; does have his share of off days but couldn't rule him out.

3/1

6th

10

The Little Yank

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

10/1

Form: 44P479 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict

Six career wins and numerous placed efforts to his credit, although 23 runs now since his last win; not a lot to be encouraged from his last couple of runs and others preferred.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4	16th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 3f 60y	16:30 Limerick The Little Yank 11st 8lb J: John Aherne T: John Patrick Ryan	Veteran improved his hurdles strike-rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory on the 101st outing of his career in January off 93; generally unpredictable; pulled up on his three most recent attempts.	66/1
3	12th Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 6f 170y	13:34 Limerick The Little Yank 11st 10lb J: John Aherne T: John Patrick Ryan	Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up on his two most recent attempts.	20/1
15	10th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 5f 0y	14:25 Limerick The Little Yank 11st 12lb J: John Aherne T: John Patrick Ryan	Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up at Thurles last Thursday; first reserve.

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4

16th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 60y

11st 8lb

Veteran improved his hurdles strike-rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory on the 101st outing of his career in January off 93; generally unpredictable; pulled up on his three most recent attempts.

66/1

3

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 170y

11st 10lb

Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up on his two most recent attempts.

20/1

15

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 0y

11st 12lb

Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up at Thurles last Thursday; first reserve.

7th

3

Now Where Or When

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

7/1

Form: 163P-5

Last run: 106 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict

Pulled up in Irish National in April; tailed off on comeback in 2m Grade 2 at Navan; has been taken out several times due to soft or heavy ground so further rain would be a concern.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
10	1st May 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 160y	16:15 Punchestown Now Where Or When 12st 0lb J: Mr S Connor T: S R B Crawford	Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points; however, could manage only a moderate fourth in an incident-packed Fairyhouse race won by Five Star Getaway.	50/1
4th 7	5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 180y	17:30 Fairyhouse Now Where Or When 12st 0lb J: Mr S Connor T: S R B Crawford	Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points, this looks too demanding.	20/1
16	26th May 2025 Good 2m 7f 72y	18:30 Ballinrobe Now Where Or When 10st 13lb J: J J Slevin T: S R B Crawford	Veteran is 3-19 over fences; won off 121 at Down Royal (3m, gd-yld) in January; pulled up next two starts then beaten 16.5l off this mark on latest at Punchestown; likes going right-handed but others hold more pressing claims.	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

10

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

12st 0lb

Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points; however, could manage only a moderate fourth in an incident-packed Fairyhouse race won by Five Star Getaway.

50/1

4th

7

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

12st 0lb

Veteran has been competing quite effectively in points, this looks too demanding.

20/1

16

26th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 72y

10st 13lb

Veteran is 3-19 over fences; won off 121 at Down Royal (3m, gd-yld) in January; pulled up next two starts then beaten 16.5l off this mark on latest at Punchestown; likes going right-handed but others hold more pressing claims.

16/1

OUR TIP

8th

1

J: Ricky Doyle

6/1

Form: U2124-

Last run: 310 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict

Winning hurdler-chaser, landed a Gowran beginners chase last year and a good second in a Limerick Grade 3; not seen since fourth in a Grade A contest at the Punchestown festival; has run well fresh before; the class act of the race and respected if fit enough.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
18th 6	28th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 81y	15:05 Punchestown Grandero Bello 11st 5lb J: Kieren Buckley T: Eddie & Patrick Harty	Has come up dry since winning a handicap chase at Galway in October 2024; soundly beaten all four starts this term; won his maiden hurdle here but others arrive in better form.	50/1
8th 4	8th Mar 2026 Heavy 3m 0f 174y	16:02 Naas Grandero Bello 10st 11lb J: Kieren Buckley T: Eddie & Patrick Harty	Dual chase winner with last win coming at Galway in October 2024 (2m7f, soft); tailed off in a Grade 2 hurdle on seasonal return at Navan and similar story in a Listed handicap chase back there next time (2m5f, soft to heavy); distant third over hurdles at Gowran last month (2m4f, heavy); back down to winning mark now but others more likely.	12/1
3	3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 104y	16:15 Punchestown Grandero Bello 11st 5lb J: Ricky Doyle T: Eddie & Patrick Harty	in touch with leaders, dropped to rear 7th	25/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

18th

6

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

11st 5lb

J: Kieren Buckley

Has come up dry since winning a handicap chase at Galway in October 2024; soundly beaten all four starts this term; won his maiden hurdle here but others arrive in better form.

50/1

8th

4

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 174y

16:02 Naas

10st 11lb

J: Kieren Buckley

Dual chase winner with last win coming at Galway in October 2024 (2m7f, soft); tailed off in a Grade 2 hurdle on seasonal return at Navan and similar story in a Listed handicap chase back there next time (2m5f, soft to heavy); distant third over hurdles at Gowran last month (2m4f, heavy); back down to winning mark now but others more likely.

12/1

3

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

16:15 Punchestown

11st 5lb

J: Ricky Doyle