March 17 / 15.42 Wexford

15.42

Heavy

Micheal O’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £11286.96
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Micheal O’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly coudy

OUR TIP

Form: 79-609 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Most recent hurdles win was off 138 in valuable Leopardstown contest two years ago so he's not handicapped out of things and, having been mostly chasing in the interim, not shamed when mid-division in the corresponding race back at Leopardstown last month; this is less competitive and Gilligan's claim a big help but doesn't want it this heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

15:55 Newcastle

Call Me Lyreen

12st 1lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Eloise Quayle

midfield

66/1

Form: 0-5410 CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
C&D winner on heavy won well at Leopardstown over Christmas; bad mistake early on didn't help when behind a couple of these at same venue last month; probably on a stiff enough mark now but has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

20th Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 150y

16:48 Listowel

One Last Tango

10st 0lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Eoin Griffin

Triple hurdle winner is yet to win over fences but has run some fine races in defeat; was poor over hurdles when last seen in July and others preferred today; 1lb out of the handicap.

28/1

8th

3

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 90y

14:50 Sligo

One Last Tango

11st 7lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Eoin Griffin

The last of three hurdle wins came in 2023; some good runs over fences in the last two seasons without winning; needs best hurdles form, but is off a low mark.

14/1

Form: 711350 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Progressive in the autumn and conditions will be okay for him; not seen to best effect when given too much to do behind One Last Tango at Christmas and was wiped out last time when going well; probably still on a winnable mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

23rd Sep 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

16:15 Listowel

Conyers Hill

11st 2lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Only one win from 13 starts over fences; best of the Irish contingent when fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last November (2m4f, soft); runner-up on his last three starts, though no match for the winner in valuable handicaps at Punchestown and Ballinrobe; should be therabouts again on the evidence of a narrow defeat in the Galway Plate.

6/1

2nd

22

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:40 Galway

Conyers Hill

10st 8lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Career best form when fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November (2m4f, soft); back from a break with two seconds, though was no match for the winner on either occasion (including Nouvotic); travels well but doesn't always find much for pressure.

20/1

2nd

4

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Conyers Hill

11st 0lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Basically a bridle horse who doesn't find much when let down, but plenty of strong form and couldn't knock his latest second to an improver at Punchestown where he pulled clear of the rest (2m4f, yielding); doubt he wants this far, but easy track will help and valuable 7lb claimed.

8/1

Form: 223493 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
One of the gamest performers in the country has two runs under her belt now after a winter break; ran okay at Leopardstown last time, has won around here and will likely be ridden handy; heavy ground a worry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Gowran Park

Effernock Fizz

10st 8lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Admirable front-runner but recent form far from encouraging, 3m beyond her last time; return to 2m to suit but hard to see her lasting it out.

25/1

Form: 10-327 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Fairly unexposed compared to most of these and good second on heavy two runs back; ground will be fine but her best runs have been when going the other way around; yard produced the goods as usual at Cheltenham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

31st Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 54y

14:10 Galway

Belle The Lioness

10st 8lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

Maiden hurdle winner for Henry de Bromhead and in-foal mare steadily improving for this yard, winning Tipperary mares beginners chase and most recently second to a clear winner in 2m5f Killarney mares hurdle; looks out of her depth here though.

33/1

6

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 85y

17:32 Killarney

Belle The Lioness

10st 7lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

Maiden hurdle winner for Henry de Bromhead and won over fences last time for this yard; has a shout on these terms if back to some of her better hurdle form.

6/1

2

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 155y

16:18 Tipperary

Belle The Lioness

11st 7lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: S Curling

One of two for yard; bumper and hurdles winner on yielding and soft to heavy; much improved on second chase start when going close in a beginners' at Tramore (15.5f, gd-yld) in late May; this longer trip worth a go on the evidence of that run; chance.

11/1

Form: -0P383 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Front-running mare won this easily last year when completing a hat-trick; has struggled this season although highly tried a couple of times; had three of these behind when reeled in before the last at Leopardstown two runs back; hood returning might help and not ruled out if given too much rope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Doyen Ta Win

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Declan Queally

made all, not fluent 4th

5/1

1st

3

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Doyen Ta Win

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Declan Queally

made all

5/1

3rd

2

21st Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 110y

17:20 Tramore

Doyen Ta Win

11st 5lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Declan Queally

led, jumped slightly left 4 out, much reduced lead after 3 out

10/1

Form: 6302P7 CD BF

Last run: 76 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
C&D success on heavy was the middle leg of a handicap hat-trick in 2021; no joy since but two good placed efforts in the autumn, notably a second of 20 under this rider at Navan, would give him a chance; poor last twice though and returns from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:25 Wexford

Clarens

10st 6lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: J P Flavin

Novice chase winner at Tramore (2m, good to yielding); would have gone close if not hampered at Tipperary on handicap debut following that; returned to Tramore for another win last time over the same trip and ground; up 5lb now but the new trip may unlock more improvement after he has shown some signs of stamina in his runs.

5/1

1

30th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 110y

18:10 Tramore

Clarens

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: J P Flavin

Four-time hurdles winner and off the mark over fences at second attempt in C&D novice last month when making all; likely would have gone closer but for being hampered when third in Tipperary handicap latest so potential remains off this mark.

5/2

1

30th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 110y

18:10 Tramore

Clarens

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: J P Flavin

Four-time hurdles winner and off the mark over fences at second attempt in C&D novice last month when making all; likely would have gone closer but for being hampered when third in Tipperary handicap latest so potential remains off this mark.

5/2

Form: 631226 CD

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Oldest runner in the field won this on heavy in 2021 and chased home Doyen Ta Win in last year's renewal; been running well off higher marks over fences and this will be his first run over hurdles since last summer; 2lb wrong but no weight on his back and should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

4th Oct 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:55 Killarney

Bythesametoken

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Lightly raced in recent years; returned from over a year off to win at Listowel last year; has not scaled the same heights since although stayed on from a good bit back to be fourth in a handicap chase at the Galway festival; only got to the first fence at Listowel two weeks ago.

8/1

12

20th Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 150y

16:48 Listowel

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Second runner for yard; three wins apiece over hurdles and fences, with last win coming in this a year ago off 2lb lower; posted a good run at Galway last time from out of the weights; was behind Coming Up Easy then but it should be closer today.

7/1

4th

12

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Bythesametoken

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Owned by Galway people but hasn't clicked here yet, although has run well over hurdles at this venue; last win was over similar trip at last year's Listowel festival, but 8lb higher now because he's well out of the handicap.

18/1

Verdict

A tidy little contest and local hope CONYERS HILL (nap) is the selection. He hasn’t had things go his way since winning twice in the autumn and winning off this mark should be within his compass. One Last Tango won’t mind conditions but may be vulnerable off his rating and the fairly unexposed Belle The Lioness, who also goes well on heavy ground, may be more of a danger. [Mark Nunan]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Effernock Fizz

SPOTLIGHT:

Conyers Hill

The Irish Sun:

One Last Tango

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Bythesametoken

POSTDATA:

Effernock Fizz