April 05 / 18.20 Wexford

18.20

Heavy

Visit Wexford Novice Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £8208.7
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • 7 runners
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Visit Wexford Novice Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 21-445 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Good novice hurdler last year, beating Spillane's Tower at Punchestown; not so effective in three runs over fences but quite well-handicapped on his hurdles form and has a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Monbeg Park

11st 8lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Jack Foley

Better known as a chaser but has shown smart hurdles form in the past; would have a squeak if back in top form off a lower hurdle mark.

14/1

9th

4

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Monbeg Park

11st 6lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Jack Foley

Two wins include this race last year off 2lb lower; standout run this term when second in Grade 3 Punchestown contest (2m7f), tame effort last time (albeit stiff task) in Grade 2 at Thurles; not one to rule out back in handicap company.

15/2

4th

5

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

Monbeg Park

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Jack Foley

Useful sort; best form at Punchestown, including when second to the talented Heart Wood three starts ago; 2-16 record over fences is not a great return bearing in mind his 147 rating; inferior to the four Mullins-trained runners on official figures

12/1

Form: 60-44F D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
No show on his first two starts over fences; in contention when falling four out in a novice handicap at Naas in January; tongue-tie tried here and an interesting runner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:12 Down Royal

Spirit Of Legend

11st 11lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

Hurdles winner is 0-7 chasing, having failed to complete on three of those; still not a fluent jumper although penultimate Fairyhouse effort was a solid one; hard to be confident in.

9/2

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 165022 C

Last run: 111 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m handicap hurdle here last year; sent to Cheltenham in October and December and runner-up in staying handicap chases both times; drops back in trip here on his first start this year; every chance of being involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Midnight Our Fred

10st 6lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: J P Flavin

Stays a lot farther and needs good ground; some good runs in defeat around Cheltenham and when second to Perceval Legallois in 2024 Paddy Power at Leopardstown; second off much lower hurdles mark in November, but moderate form since; reckon this track will be plenty sharp for him.

20/1

7th

8

14th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 0y

17:42 Clonmel

Midnight Our Fred

11st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: J P Flavin

Rated 19lb higher over fences but lost his form in that sphere; has failed to exploit his lower hurdles mark on last two runs over timber and may need quicker ground than this.

8/1

Form: 32535B

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Consistent handicap chaser over the winter; has found a way to lose once or twice but may have been unlucky when brought down at Limerick last month; should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 5f 0y

12:23 Fairyhouse

Dundaniel

11st 10lb

J: Mr P W Gleeson

T: Patrick J F Hassett

Has won three points and a hunter chase; best run since joining this yard when close second in Killarney hunter chase last May; big run after short break when fourth at Limerick last month in the mud; can go well from same mark.

12/1

3rd

2

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 35y

15:18 Tipperary

Dundaniel

11st 11lb

J: Sean Cleary-Farrell

T: Patrick J F Hassett

Second in a Killarney hunter chase in May but was well below that form in a similar race at Listowel since so needs to bounce back in a handicap.

14/1

5th

3

2nd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:50 Listowel

Dundaniel

11st 11lb

J: Mr P W Gleeson

T: Patrick J F Hassett

Three point wins and won a Cork maiden hunter chase in 2023; close second to Bartlemy Boy in a Killarney hunter chase last time over 2m7f, staying on; 4lb better off today and extra furlong should help; big player.

9/2

Form: 23/921

Last run: 85 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Narrowly lost out to a good hunter chaser at Limerick over Christmas and did enough to win a similar contest at Clonmel in January; very interesting on his handicap chase debut although not that easy to assess.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 170y

15:34 Limerick

Casey West

10st 4lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Hunter chase winner; yet to win a handicap, recent pick being 2m6f Fairyhouse second off 106 in first-time cheekpieces; two uninspiring recent efforts (on heavy) don't inspire confidence and headgear left off here.

8/1

6th

13

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

16:20 Navan

Casey West

10st 13lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Hunter chase winner; yet to win a handicap and is getting on in years; creditable second at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start; not a bad effort at Punchestown last time over a trip that was probably short of his best.

14/1

Form: 91/405 D

Last run: 96 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh two years ago but very little to recommend in just three runs since; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

31st Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 7f 173y

13:15 Punchestown

The Big Galloper

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: C Byrnes

Staying hurdles winner is 0-6 chasing and tailed off at Cork last month; no obvious claims but yard back among the winners during the week.

16/1

Form: 64526F

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Did well in some competitive handicap hurdles early last year; runner up in a Tramore beginners chase in November; would likely have been second but for falling at the last at Limerick last time; could go well; also engaged 4.03 Clonmel Thursday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 4y

14:00 Thurles

Wee Charlie

11st 6lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Gerard O’Leary

midfield, good headway after 3 out

7/1

5

6th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 4y

14:00 Thurles

Wee Charlie

11st 6lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Gerard O’Leary

midfield, good headway after 3 out

7/1

Verdict

A tight contest and cases can be made for most of them. There has to be more to come over fences from MONBEG PARK and he could be well enough in here to land this. The consistent Dundaniel and good stayer Midnight Our Fred are dangers, as is hunter chase winner Casey West. [Justin O’Hanlon]

Selections

The Irish Sun:

Spirit Of Legend

SPOTLIGHT:

Monbeg Park

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Midnight Our Fred

POSTDATA:

Wee Charlie

TOPSPEED:

Casey West