August 17 / 16.35 Curragh

16.35

Good

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £28217.39
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • 5 runners
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Comer Group International Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 31-372

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Group 3 winner last year and made a very bold bid from the front in the Group 2 Curragh Cup hare last month, only worn down late by stablemate Tower Of London; might not be ridden so forcefully this time but likely to be in the shake-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

14th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:40 Doncaster

Grosvenor Square

9st 3lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: A P O’Brien

Did well in the mud as a 2yo and has come good again with seriously committed front-running rides over 1m6f at the Curragh (good) on last two outings; had a huge lead turning for home in both, cut down by a very smart older stablemate in Group 2 on first occasion but thoroughly dominating at 1-2 in a Group 3 four weeks ago; that makes him a serious player on form and the others should not bank on him faltering if he again sets up a big lead.

5/1

1st

5

(1)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Grosvenor Square

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

made all, soon clear, 10 lengths ahead before halfway

5/4

2nd

11

(7)

20th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Grosvenor Square

8st 13lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: A P O’Brien

led, soon clear, 10 lengths ahead halfway, 20 lengths ahead 3f out, reduced lead over 1f out, headed towards finish

16/1

100/1

  • Place: £8.70

Form: -03169 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Handicap winner over 1m4f here in June but well out of his depth in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Courageous Strike

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Fairly useful Flat racer with 2-6 strike-rate over hurdles; gave good account when third of eight at Kempton (2m, good) last month and is probably still on a workable mark but has something to prove on the much slower ground here.

3/1

7

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

15:35 Newton Abbot

Courageous Strike

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful Flat racer who was 2-3 in novice/maiden hurdles for Paul Nicholls in the spring; tackles much stronger opposition on this handicap hurdle debut and his tendency to race too freely is a nagging concern but, nevertheless, he's still very unexposed over jumps.

5/2

1st

1

14th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:19 Newton Abbot

Courageous Strike

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won Flat handicaps at about 1m1f (AW) and 1m4f (good; RPR 83) and he's found a new calling over hurdles judged by the way he won at Chepstow (dropped to 2m, good) recently; he shouldn't have a problem with this sharp 2m and is the one to beat.

2/9

Form: 141-17 D BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner for Barry Fitzgerald; didn't quite get home over this trip on his stable debut at Royal Ascot; capable of better but others preferred on his debut in Group company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(1)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

A Piece Of Heaven

9st 6lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

One of three runners for the yard; lightly raced 8yo who was second in the 2m1f Irish Cesarewitch in 2024 and also in non-handicaps over 10.5f and 1m6f on his latest two starts this year; will probably be in good form but needs a career best.

7/1

2nd

3

(7)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:27 Curragh

A Piece Of Heaven

9st 5lb

J: Shay Wallace

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second runner for yard; three-time Flat winner was second in the 2024 Irish Cesarewitch; has had his issues since but despite being very weak in the betting, ran a lovely second at Dundalk in February (ahead of Dallas Star); entitled to improve but unproven on soft.

7/2

2nd

1

(6)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

A Piece Of Heaven

9st 6lb

J: Shay Wallace

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three-time Flat winner (including 2m course handicap); second in the 2024 Irish Cesarewitch; has had his issues since, failing to land the odds in 1m7f conditions race at Leopardstown last summer and beaten out of sight on hurdle debut at Thurles this month; the one to beat if at his best.

3/1

6/4

Form: 7/217- D

Last run: 284 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Has been very effective in a mixed campaign the last two seasons, winning the Ebor handicap and seventh in the Melbourne Cup, before coming from well off the pace to win the County Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Absurde

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

One of three for trainer; dual-purpose sort who has run creditably in the last three Melbourne Cups (rated 107 on the Flat); 2024 County Hurdle winner was well below his best in that race this season back from a break (2m1f, soft); improved display at Cork when 3.25l behind Ndaawi (16.5f, yielding); a good bit to find with Lossiemouth even if running to his rating, which he hasn't done so far this term.

40/1

2nd

3

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 70y

13:50 Cork

Absurde

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Classy dual-purpose sort who has run creditably in the last three Melbourne Cups (rated 107 on the Flat); below best after a break in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham but should be sharper now and Harry Cobden has won on him before; top rated at 153 and obvious chance.

5/4

20th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Absurde

11st 13lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Won this in 2024 and third last year, albeit off much lower marks; operated a little below his very best on the Flat last year, including in Australia in the autumn, which perhaps raises a few doubts as to whether he'll be able to find the career-best hurdle performance which will be needed to defy such a lofty mark.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0/514/ D

Last run: 898 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Four-time winner at up to 2m on the Flat in Britain; fair hurdler for Paul Gilligan, winning three times this year, but might be high enough in the handicap in that sphere now; has a fair bit to find to be a factor here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

13:25 Galway

Zeeband

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Winner of eight races (four Flat) and four over hurdles between March and June last year; rated a very respectable 136 over hurdles; pulled up before the last on his recent chase debut at Sligo, having made a bad mistake four out; beat watched for the moment.

20/1

9

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 120y

14:25 Sligo

Zeeband

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Dual Flat winner has won four over hurdles, with the last of those coming at Killarney in 2024; well beaten in a Grade 2 novice when last seen; needs to be at his best on chasing debut after a long absence.

16/1

8th

8

1st Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

13:35 Fairyhouse

Zeeband

11st 4lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

soon prominent

20/1

Non-runners

Kinesiology

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €39.70
Straight Forecast €34.27
Trifecta €73.20

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Grosvenor Square

The Irish Sun:

A Piece Of Heaven

SPOTLIGHT:

Absurde

TOPSPEED:

Grosvenor Square

POSTDATA:

Grosvenor Square