March 03 / 13.40 Leopardstown

13.40

Soft To Heavy

Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle (IRE Incentive Race)

  • Prize money: £10260.87
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 7 runners
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Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle (IRE Incentive Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 212-15 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper last term and made easy work of his return in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown; didn't progress when a close up fifth in a novice hurdle at Naas last month behind two of these rivals but wasn't helped by being held up in a steadily run contest; conditions fine and could be involved if he handles the drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 72y

16:30 Ballinrobe

Blizzard Of Oz

11st 8lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

146-rated chaser; decent strike rate of 3-6 over hurdles; won on testing ground at Tipperary (2m7f, sft-hvy) on penultimate but pulled up in Fairyhouse Grade 2 on latest (2m4f, yld-sft); acts on better ground but this trip may be on the sharp side; place shout.

11/2

4

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Blizzard Of Oz

11st 3lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Got his career back on track on returning to hurdles at Thurles (2m7f, soft to heavy), but that was still beneath his peak form and Paul Townend deserts him for Storm Heart.

12/1

1st

3

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 198y

16:05 Thurles

Blizzard Of Oz

11st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Bumper and dual hurdle winner; ran well in defeat over fences last season and got off the mark on return in Wexford Listed contest (2m7f, good to yielding); has questions to answer after a trio of no-shows but is a definite player in this lineup back over timber.

13/8

12/1

  • Place: £8.60

Form: 74U315 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Career best to get off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Thurles in January but struggled at Fairyhouse since; gets weight from her rivals but still has a bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

19th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 165y

14:46 Downpatrick

Purse Price

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Has won a point, maiden hurdle and beginners' chase but lost her form over fences for Gordon Elliott last autumn; no better on debut for this yard but could do better returned to hurdles today.

9/1

2

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:28 Downpatrick

Purse Price

11st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Consistent hurdler was a chase debut winner for Gordon Elliott at Tramore last summer (2m, yielding) but well held in novices and handicaps afterwards; debuts for new yard here.

15/2

Form: 31-23

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ballinrobe bumper winner last season; two places in front of Blizzard Of Oz and a place behind Captain Cody when third at Naas last time; not sure to be suited by the drop in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

16

2nd Feb 2025

Yielding

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Backtonormal

10st 4lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Much improved on yard debut to win over hurdles at Punchestown festival in May; absent until November and some merit in three beginners' chases, latest over inadequate trip here at Christmas; likely improver now upped in trip for handicap debut.

4/1

1st

16

2nd Feb 2025

Yielding

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Backtonormal

10st 4lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Much improved on yard debut to win over hurdles at Punchestown festival in May; absent until November and some merit in three beginners' chases, latest over inadequate trip here at Christmas; likely improver now upped in trip for handicap debut.

4/1

6th

1

27th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

12:35 Leopardstown

Backtonormal

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

towards rear, headway from 2 out, kept on well run-in, not reach leaders

14/1

Form: 160-12 D BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner last year before a promising sixth in the Champion Bumper; made easy work of his return in a maiden hurdle, despite not jumping well and had two of these in behind when runner-up at Naas since (Blizzard Of Oz and Backtonormal); might have won that without a mistake at the last and sets the standard on form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Captain Cody

11st 11lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Last season's 4m Scottish National winner but mixed bag this term however, including early faller in Thyestes and most recently mistakes before unseating four out in Aintree National; hard to be confident in and handicapper not relenting.

16/1

21

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Captain Cody

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: W P Mullins

Leopardstown seventh to Favori De Champdou at Christmas was a glimpse of what he's capable of; the performance which really gets the juices flowing, however, came in the Scottish National at Ayr (4m, good to soft) last April when very confidently ridden and unleashed to find a tremendous response on the run-in, cutting down the leader; it's very hard to rule him out after that, despite the 12lb higher mark.

16/1

5th

5

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Captain Cody

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Ended last season with Scottish National win at Ayr (4m, good to soft); very pleasing return when third to top-class Romeo Coolio in Grade 1 Drinmore here (2m4f, yielding to soft); a shade disappointing in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown when seventh (3m, yielding); well backed to land the Theyestes last time when stable first string but fell at the fifth; Townend abandons ship now but he has ability and likes this track.

6/1

Form: 52613

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Second to Jeriko Du Reponet in a point last year and lots of promise under rules since including a Down Royal maiden hurdle win and distant third in a novice back at that venue in January; room for improvement in the jumping department and has a little bit to find here but may get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

The Other Mozzie

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: L J Morgan

Three chase wins for Gavin Cromwell included comfortable win in good event at Ayr (2m, good to soft) one year ago; fluffed the start on stable debut in Cheltenham's Grand Annual but had yet to be asked for his effort when falling three out last month; now back down to that Ayr mark, while the first-time visor and booking of Harry Cobden are other points of interest.

8/1

11

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

The Other Mozzie

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Won in good style for Gavin Cromwell at Ayr (2m, good to soft) last April and on that evidence this 3lb higher mark may not be beyond him; however, he was underwhelming on his final two runs for that yard and a major turnaround is needed on this stable debut, for which a tongue-tie goes on.

50/1

11th

6

14th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 1f 30y

14:15 Fairyhouse

The Other Mozzie

11st 2lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Two wins last winter, including a premier handicap chase at Ayr in April; ran well before fading into seventh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in November; never landed a blow at Kelso early last month; plenty to prove as a result.

25/1

Form: 4160 D

Last run: 106 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won mares' bumper at Stratford last summer but hasn't got the form to play a part in this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 110y

18:30 Bellewstown

Mill House Creek

11st 7lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Stephen Gerard Carey

Won a Stratford bumper last summer on good ground, pick of three attempts hurdling on latest when third in Limerick maiden; more likely needed to play a major role here.

10/1

3rd

7

30th May 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 100y

17:45 Limerick

Mill House Creek

11st 3lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Stephen Gerard Carey

prominent, not fluent 2 out, went third approaching last, kept on towards finish

14/1

5th

3

19th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 1f 144y

17:07 Ballinrobe

Mill House Creek

11st 7lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Stephen Gerard Carey

prominent, outpaced and lost ground approaching last, soon weakened

8/1

Form: 86

Last run: 106 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest form in bumpers and has mountain to climb here; off 106 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Drumgill

11st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Three times a hurdles winner here and excellent second to well-treated winner in last year's renewal; lost form after but regained it in November when winning Listed handicap at Fairyhouse; below-par since then; back from a break and, given his track record, has to be respected.

14/1

2

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:18 Gowran Park

Drumgill

11st 8lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: John Patrick Ryan

Better form over shorter distances after being pulled up in the 3m4f Munster National; placed over C&D and Punchestown (2m5f, soft to heavy) before winning a competitive handicap chase at Fairyhouse (2m1f, yielding to soft) in November; set tough tasks on last three starts, this looks more realistic.

14/1

5th

4

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:30 Naas

Drumgill

11st 1lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Has done well over shorter distances since pulled up in the 3m4f Munster National; placed at Gowran (2m, heavy) and Punchestown (2m5f, soft to heavy) before winning a listed handicap chase at Fairyhouse (2m1f, yielding to soft); tailed off in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 last month and beaten 15l in a Leopardstown handicap (2m1f, soft) last time; likely to find these to be too talented.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €46.60
Straight Forecast €29.67
Trifecta €124.40

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Captain Cody

SPOTLIGHT:

Blizzard Of Oz

TOPSPEED:

Purse Price

The Irish Sun:

Captain Cody

POSTDATA:

Blizzard Of Oz