May 31 / 19.30 Down Royal

19.30

Good

His Majesty’s Plate (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £20521.74
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
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His Majesty’s Plate (Listed Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-92

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unexposed and came on for seasonal reappearance to finish second at Listed level over 1m6f at Gowran; brother was third in Ebor and Listed winner over this trip which she is trying for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

27th

11

(20)

29th Sep 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 170y

16:25 Curragh

Countess Of Tyrone

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

prominent, hampered and lost position after 2f

20/1

8th

1

(1)

10th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

18:30 Fairyhouse

Countess Of Tyrone

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

Galway maiden winner over 1m4f on only start at three; improved from seasonal debut when second in a Listed race over this trip at Gowran; battled well to win over 2m at Down Royal.

9/2

1st

7

(2)

31st May 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:30 Down Royal

Countess Of Tyrone

9st 0lb

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

prominent, challenging going okay 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden from over 1f out, kept on well towards finish, pushed out

7/2

2nd
8 (8)
Esquiline

14/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 25-569

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Best form has come over 1m4f and finished in front of Countess Of Tyrone over that trip in Cork Listed contest; long way behind that rival over 1m6f on heavy latest and stiff task at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(11)

10th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

18:30 Fairyhouse

Esquiline

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Maiden winner over 1m4f last year; limitations generally evident in Listed races, though managed to finish within a neck of Countess Of Tyrone over 2m at Down Royal on her penultimate start.

7/1

6th

6

(4)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 110y

16:05 Limerick

Esquiline

9st 4lb

J: Shane B Kelly

T: J P Murtagh

Maiden winner over this trip last year put up her best effort since when second in a Down Royal Listed upped to 2m last time; needs to reproduce that down in trip again.

9/1

2nd

8

(8)

31st May 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:30 Down Royal

Esquiline

9st 0lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

in touch with leaders, headway when bit short of room over 2f out, ridden and challenging inside final furlong, kept on well, just held

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 11-

Last run: 330 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
140-rated hurdler has won both Flat starts but much stiffer task here; ran well after nearly six months off when sixth in hot handicap hurdle at Punchestown festival; place claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(15)

21st Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:25 Ascot

Party Central

9st 3lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

raced wide, took keen hold, midfield, some headway 2f out, weakened from over 1f out

18/1

8th

14

(15)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

19:15 Ascot

Party Central

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Gordon Elliott

Talented hurdler who won last year on her first two Flat starts and good Listed third at Down Royal (2m, good) last month; she may have more to offer in this code but such improvement is necessary off her opening mark.

14/1

3rd

6

(5)

31st May 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:30 Down Royal

Party Central

9st 1lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

towards rear but in touch with leaders, headway and prominent on near side of group 3f out, pressed winner under 2f out, lost second and no extra inside final furlong

16/1

Form: 4-7494

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Started season rated 102 and now back on that mark having been raised 5lb for getting to within 5l of Kyprios in Leopardstown Group 3 over 1m6f; that was a slowly-run affair and might well be flattered by the bare form; stamina concerns over this trip too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Serious Challenge

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has improved for patient tactics, winning at Haydock (1m7f, good) before going close in the always-strong Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (good to soft); raised 3lb for that but this former smart Flat performer should be seen to good effect around here.

6/1

2nd

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Challenge

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Made it four wins from his eight starts over hurdles (various ground) when returning to form to score at Haydock (1m7f, good) two months ago, when ridden more patiently; 5lb higher in a better race today and needs a career-best but he's unexposed under hold-up tactics and is not written off.

10/1

4th

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Serious Challenge

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Talented Flat performer (stayed 1m6f) who won three novice hurdles this year (2m4f/2m, various ground) before finishing fourth of 14 in novice handicap final at Sandown (2m, good) in April; could have more to offer now back up in trip and trainer has won the last three runnings.

5/2

Form: 42170- D

Last run: 230 days

W: 9st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose type won 2m Ascot handicap off 92 last summer; good run over hurdles in competitive Punchestown festival handicap and that should have brought him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(12)

23rd Aug 2024

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:12 Killarney

The Very Man

9st 12lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Mrs John Harrington

slowly into stride, always behind

12/1

9th

2

19th Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 180y

15:05 Killarney

The Very Man

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Mrs John Harrington

Talented dual-purpose performer; cracking fifth in red-hot 2m4f Punchestown handicap on latest hurdles run.

7/1

12th

2

(9)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

18:05 Ascot

The Very Man

9st 11lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Very solid sequence last spring/summer on ground ranging from good (unraced on firmer) to heavy, including a dominant display from the back over 2m at this track; 7lb higher mark today demands a career-best Flat performance but he was bang there in blanket finish to a good handicap hurdle last month and it's not hard to think that this trip will suit.

25/1

Form: 6/516- D

Last run: 208 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Useful dual-purpose type won last year's Naas November Handicap; second over fences latest; stiff task on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Aug 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

18:53 Down Royal

Prairie Dancer

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Nine wins in all spheres with the last of those coming in a Thurles handicap chase last December; poor the last twice over hurdles including behind Happy Jacky at Cork; has to rebound

14/1

3

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

17:07 Killarney

Prairie Dancer

11st 6lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Flat winner who is now useful over hurdles and fences; runner-up over 2m4f at Clonmel before not staying 3m at Cork; exposed but shouldn't be far away.

7/1

21

31st Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

16:30 Galway

Prairie Dancer

10st 6lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Twice placed in conditions races this summer; little appeal in this company; first reserve.

OUR TIP

11/8

Form: 621-67 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Has been a fine servant over staying trips; touched off in Irish Cesarewitch in October before winning Curragh Group 3 over this trip; former winner of the Chester Cup and beaten less than 4l in latest renewal three weeks ago; that shows 9yo still has plenty left to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Falcon Eight

11st 6lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: D K Weld

Chester Cup winner in 2021, also a 2m Curragh Group 3 winner in 2023; seven Flat wins in all; at the veteran stage now; four seasons since his only hurdles success.

20/1

6th

5

(6)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:27 Curragh

Falcon Eight

9st 5lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: D K Weld

Veteran who got his seventh Flat win at Gowran last April (1m6f, yielding); hasn't counted in four handicaps since and finished last of the 20 runners at Naas when last seen in October; others preferred.

25/1

5

(9)

12th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 7y

16:20 Naas

Falcon Eight

9st 4lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: D K Weld

Veteran who got his seventh Flat win at Gowran in April (1m6f, yielding); hasn't counted in three handicap runs since and was well behind in the Irish Cesarewitch latest, although reportedly struck into; others preferred.

40/1

Form: /3100- D

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won valuable AW handicap at Newcastle last summer; third of six in this last year when returning from similar absence but this is a better renewal and she's up against it on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

3rd Oct 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 206y

15:55 Clonmel

La Hacienda

11st 5lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Decent Flat sort got off the mark over hurdles at Sligo in July; not as good since and needs to find more off an unchanged mark.

11/1

6

22nd Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 0y

15:00 Listowel

La Hacienda

11st 8lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Struggled in big amateur Flat handicap at the Galway festival; showed decent over hurdles during the summer, highlighted by a wide-margin win over 2m4f at Sligo; faded into fourth on the run-in when favourite for 2m4f Killarney event.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €49.60
Straight Forecast €45.12
Trifecta €259.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

The Very Man

SPOTLIGHT:

Falcon Eight

The Irish Sun:

Party Central

POSTDATA:

The Very Man

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Falcon Eight