June 15 / 13.40 Downpatrick

13.40

Good

Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5643.48
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 10 runners
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Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.70
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 09/12/ BF

Last run: 708 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner is returning from a near two-year absence for a new yard and is probably best watched unless the market suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(6)

13th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 95y

15:35 Roscommon

Petrol Head

9st 12lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: H D McGuigan

Has developed into a pretty good hurdler but couldn't raise his modest Flat profile in a 1m maiden last week (stable debut).

50/1

9th

8

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Petrol Head

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Returned from long layoff to win two in a row in Ireland last summer for Katy Brown (2m2f/2m1f, good); has also won on yielding ground; absent since but he could still have more left in the tank and the betting may be informative on stable debut.

12/1

12/1

  • Place: £4.90

Form: 5247-0

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Was consistent last year, winning at Roscommon and several decent efforts in defeat; however, was well beaten on return and might need to drop in the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 165y

15:21 Downpatrick

Only One Plan

11st 13lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: M Flannery

Added his third hurdles win at Ballinrobe in July (2m1f, good) off 96; not at the same level in two runs following that off 4lb higher; dropped 1lb now, but his form is erratic.

11/1

8th

11

5th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:32 Kilbeggan

Only One Plan

10st 4lb

J: Benjamin P Kennedy

T: M Flannery

Is 3-30 over hurdles with his most recent win coming at Ballinrobe in July off a mark of 96 (2m1f, good); beaten a long way off a 4lb higher mark back at that track last time (2m, good); could bounce back here.

12/1

9th

2

11th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 169y

18:55 Ballinrobe

Only One Plan

12st 0lb

J: Conor Owens

T: M Flannery

3-28 over hurdles, two wins with Philip Rothwell and placed twice at this venue for that stable; has found his form again; built on Kilbeggan second when scoring for his locally-based trainer here last month; only 4lb higher, same 7lb claimer aboard

11/2

2/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 2546-1

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Came back to form when winning well over fences at Tramore last time and is now rated 104 in that sphere; should be a big player if transferring that form to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

12th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 40y

14:40 Bellewstown

Mater Matuta

10st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: E D Delany

Five-time winner between jumps and the Flat including at this track; is 7lb higher than for last hurdle win at Tramore last August and might need this outing.

9/2

3rd

4

12th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 40y

14:40 Bellewstown

Mater Matuta

10st 3lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: E D Delany

Five-time winner between jumps and the Flat including at this track; is 7lb higher than for last hurdle win at Tramore last August and might need this outing.

9/2

9th

12

(9)

3rd Oct 2024

Soft

1m 4f 37y

16:45 Bellewstown

Mater Matuta

8st 13lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: E D Delany

dwelt start, raced wide, in rear, some headway halfway, midfield over 3f out, weakened 2f out

9/1

Form: 4P1-45

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won a handicap hurdle easily at Tramore and solid efforts in defeat twice since off much higher marks; didn't jump that well at Sligo four days ago and a visor replaces cheekpieces; can go well but vulnerable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Brownstone

11st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Won two handicaps in Ireland; building some momentum for his new yard and probably needs further than the 2m2f he ran over at Exeter last time (stays 3m); needs considering.

20/1

5th

2

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Brownstone

11st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Won two handicaps in Ireland; building some momentum for his new yard and probably needs further than the 2m2f he ran over at Exeter last time (stays 3m); needs considering.

20/1

4th

1

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

12:25 Exeter

Brownstone

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Grace Harris

Runner-up at Leicester (2m4f, good) last month on second stable start and again ran well when fourth at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) seven days later; won on soft ground in Ireland; could have a part to play.

7/1

Form: 5618-9

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won a handicap hurdle at Tramore last summer on soft ground but has been well beaten twice since and has to do much more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Worcester

Boskill Borden

10st 3lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Twice placed in 2m4f hurdle races here last summer (good) but ended last year's campaign on a low, achieving little on October's chasing debut; can't be certain he will hit the ground running in 2026.

25/1

5

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Boskill Borden

11st 5lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Flat-bred, but one half-brother has won three chases; trail has gone cold since the summer's pair of Worcester 2m4f handicap hurdle frame finishes (good), and moderate results last time cheekpieces were tried.

16/1

Form: 65FP7/ D

Last run: 544 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Was poor over fences when last seen and is returning from a long absence; seems yard's second-string and likely best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:35 Tramore

Just Jacob

11st 2lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won over C&D last month and was a solid third at Ballinrobe five days ago off this mark; has a chance again if this doesn't come too soon

4/1

3rd

2

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 55y

18:50 Ballinrobe

Just Jacob

11st 11lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gavin Cromwell

in touch with leaders, prominent after 1st

4/1

1st

2

18th Aug 2024

Good

1m 7f 140y

16:33 Tramore

Just Jacob

11st 10lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual hurdle winner on good ground, never sighted on return from 544-day absence at Downpatrick in June; reverts to fences here having shown nothing in three attempts in late 2022 so impossible to assess on handicap debut; market likely best guide.

14/1

Form: U5P-45 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Last of three hurdle wins came in a Sligo claimer last summer; decent effort in a Clonmel claimer but below that level in a handicap here since; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Bigz Belief

10st 4lb

J: Tpr Elizabeth Feakes

T: Fergal O’Brien

Best of three hurdle runs for new stable this season when second of five in soft-ground Leicester seller (2m4f) in December; reverts to this code after going close off his basement Flat mark three weeks ago but others have more compelling claims; first ride under rules for Elizabeth Feakes.

6/1

2nd

8

(2)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

This season's hurdling form for Fergal O'Brien was uninspiring and he was safely held when fourth in C&D classified race on Flat return in January; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

4th

1

(6)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Triple hurdle winner but his last success was in 2023 and he was well held at Taunton last Saturday; now returns to the Flat for the first time in 16 months and he's 1-24 in this sphere; opposable.

12/1

Form: 76-990

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Has a regressive profile and even though is dropping down the weights was poor last time so not easy to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 85y

18:10 Killarney

Swelltime

12st 0lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: W J O’Doherty

Four wins over hurdles, the most recent coming in this race last year off 2lb lower on yielding to soft, his second win over C&D; out of depth on the Flat last time, but this is more suitable and acts on good ground; player.

8/1

6th

5

(3)

2nd Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 71y

20:23 Bellewstown

Swelltime

11st 0lb

J: Miss S E Leahy

T: W J O’Doherty

A winner of six races (four over hurdles and two on the level); however, a Flat rating of just 40 leaves him with heaps to find on these unfavourable terms.

40/1

8th

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

18:50 Limerick

Swelltime

11st 4lb

J: G B Noonan

T: W J O’Doherty

Dual-purpose; 4-33 over hurdles; last won at Killarney off 4lb lower last July (20.5f, yld-sft); good ground is fine but lacks a run and overall record when fresh suggests he'll come on for this run.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2255-6 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Two hurdle wins, including here over 2m6f and in decent form when last seen in this discipline last autumn at this track; well beaten over fences lately but respected back hurdling with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 50y

12:15 Navan

Gladiatorial

11st 1lb

J: Jody McGarvey

T: Noel C Kelly

Looked booked for second when presented with victory by the faller of the leader at the last in a handicap chase at Sligo last month; well beaten in a handicap hurdle at the same venue last time; a long time since he won over hurdles.

25/1

Form: 060-22 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Was disqualified for interference after winning at Down Royal and was then a solid second at Ballinrobe; needs more up another 3lb but looks likely to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 90y

14:50 Sligo

Tell Us This

11st 3lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Andrew McNamara

Won a Tramore claimer comfortably in April and was a decent third in a Downpatrick handicap since for this yard; raised 1lb and can go well again.

6/1

3rd

3

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 185y

17:52 Downpatrick

Tell Us This

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Andrew McNamara

Won over C&D last July and came back to form when a comfortable winner of a Tramore claiming hurdle last time; needs to do more back in handicap company but yard is maintaining its good form so respected.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €57.20
Straight Forecast €56.94
Tricast €326.34
Trifecta €214.10

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

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SPOTLIGHT:

Mater Matuta

TOPSPEED:

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POSTDATA:

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The Irish Sun:

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