August 02 / 20.10 Galway

20.10

Yielding

Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race

  • Prize money: £9491.3
  • 1m 6f 14y
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 22112- D BF

Last run: 406 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Was right back to his best when last seen, finishing runner-up in a Listed race at Down Royal; however, absent for 14 month and would need to be back at his best on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(3)

31st Jul 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 14y

20:40 Galway

Taipan

9st 9lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

8yo has won this race for the past two years on soft and yielding ground; soundly beaten in both starts in handicaps this term, but connections have likely targeted this race and could make a bold bid.

10/1

11th

3

(6)

3rd May 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 30y

15:43 Cork

Taipan

9st 9lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Mrs John Harrington

Five-time winner has yet to score in a handicap; won a 1m6f conditions race at Galway for the second year running last August; poor run over 1m6f on seasonal debut; stable appears to have two stronger contenders.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 3-5725 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Below his best in a Listed race at Sandown last time but his penultimate run when second in the Queen Alexandra Stakes was a career best Flat effort; suspicion he may need further than this these days so may not confirm form with Dawn Rising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

17:20 Limerick

Run For Oscar

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: C Byrnes

Smart dual-purpose performer, although he has been lightly raced since taking a 3m1f Kilbeggan conditions hurdle in August 2024; absent since last October; would receive 16lb from Daddy Long Legs in a handicap.

12/1

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 154y

16:27 Thurles

Run For Oscar

11st 6lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Smart dual-purpose performer although hasn't won since taking 3m1f Kilbeggan conditions hurdle last summer; two recent runs under his belt could give him a fitness edge but lots to find on ratings with Hewick.

7/4

3

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 129y

16:50 Galway

Run For Oscar

11st 6lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Eight-time winner, including four over hurdles; disappointed on the Flat at Killarney on return from 314-days off; should strip fitter now and handles soft but the majority of his best form has come on good ground; not discounted, especially if the track dries out.

7/2

7/1

Form: 013-4P D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen; some smart form last year including a heritage handicap win at Hamilton off a mark of 97 when trained by Roger Varian but hasn't shown enough for this yard yet; market support could be significant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(6)

26th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

15:10 Newcastle (AW)

Postileo

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Alan Brown

Big chance on best 2023 efforts for Roger Varian but he did not shine last year (hurdles/Flat) for Emmet Mullins; 8,500gns buy in September and heavily beaten at 100-1 in a hot AW handicap (2m; first-time visor) in April; others are more solid at present.

50/1

OUR TIP

Form: 644622

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Arrives in good form, which is more than can be said for plenty of these and looked as good as ever when runner-up in a Listed race at Roscommon last time; solid place contender if he sees out this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(7)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 70y

19:02 Limerick

Cristal Clere

9st 12lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Third career win came on final start last season in 1m Listowel Listed in testing conditions under a positive ride (just a day after being well beaten in a handicap); failed to beat a single rival home in 1m4f Curragh Listed on return; balance of form is over shorter than this so others preferred.

20/1

9th

3

(6)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Cristal Clere

9st 10lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Third career win came on final start last season in 1m Listowel Listed in testing conditions under a positive ride (just a day after being well beaten in handicap); balance of form is over shorter than this so others preferred on seasonal return.

16/1

Form: 6/32-0

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Well held 10th in the Ascot Stakes last time; rated 156 over hurdles so probably has the ability to play a part in this and the drop in trip might not be against him; interesting runner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

10st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Gained all three chase wins in small-field novice events last April-June; not beaten far when ninth of 28 in valuable Leopardstown handicap won by Favori De Champdou over Christmas (3m, yielding; wore usual cheekpieces) and seemed to be running well when falling at third-last fence in the Thyestes at Gowran (3m1f, heavy; blinkered) in January; has stamina to prove on cross-country debut but not ruled out; cheekpieces back on today.

25/1

9

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Pied Piper

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart hurdler in his early days; all three chase wins recorded in small-field events between April and June last year; failed to prosper in Grade 3 events before livelier displays at Cheltenham and when fifth behind Answer To Kayf in the Troytown; no impact in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairhouse; no threat from the last when ninth in the Paddy Power.

33/1

1

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Hit the ground running over fences with three wins in small fields (2m4f-2m7f) but now on a recovery mission after three blips, admittedly at Grade 3 level; would be a strong contender on these terms if back on song.

5/1

6th
1 (9)
Enemy

6/1

Form: 212758 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Good run at Riyadh in February but seems to have lost his way; was tailed off in the Ascot Gold Cup when last seen after a low-key run in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester's May meeting; would have a claims if bouncing back but he looks risky on recent form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23

(19)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Enemy

8st 11lb

T: Ian Williams

Reserve; won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year but his strike-rate on turf is only 3-39 (last win in January 2023); close third at Ascot (second-time cheekpieces) two weeks ago was his best turf result for ages but he's been 14th, 16th and 20th when outsider in his three previous Ebors.

50/1

3rd

5

(5)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Enemy

9st 12lb

J: Mme Frida Valle Skar

T: Ian Williams

Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year; only 3-38 on turf but quite encouraging runs in hot 1m3f/1m6f handicaps before finishing tailed off at Newmarket after starting slowly (1m4f); it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue should he run well but others are safer.

25/1

12th

6

(9)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Enemy

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Ian Williams

Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW early this year; beaten just over 7l in hot handicaps at Carlisle (1m3f) and Royal Ascot (1m6f) on last two outings, shaping much better than ninth of 16 suggests in the latter (big move to dispute lead early in straight) but his turf strike-rate is 3-37.

33/1

Form: 541/6/ BF

Last run: 792 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Completely out of form over hurdles and doesn't have the Flat form to have a say; wears first-time blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

6

3rd Oct 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 206y

16:25 Clonmel

Kings Commander

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Flat winner in UK in 2021; has missed plenty of time since then; soundly beaten on handicap hurdle debut at Kilbeggan and outclassed on the Flat at Galway since; others preferred.

18/1

Non-runners

Dawn Rising, Hidden Land

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €21.30
Straight Forecast €27.09
Trifecta €148.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Dawn Rising

TOPSPEED:

Pied Piper

The Irish Sun:

Pied Piper

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dawn Rising

POSTDATA:

Dawn Rising