August 26 / 16.15 Downpatrick

16.15

Good

C Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £5643.48
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • 6 runners
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C Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.10

Form: P3P-26 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Multiple Flat/hurdle winner who has always been smart on his day and goes on any ground; posted an RPR of 129 in his first chase last year and was runner-up - albeit a remote one - on his belated return to fences this May; 3m1f probably too far for him when tailed off last time at Kilbeggan; there can be no excuses here.
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.

6/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: -77033 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Best hurdling form reads well in the context of today's company and it's been a solid start over fences with a couple of thirds over this far at Wexford; big shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

15

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Watch The Weather

10st 5lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: R P Cody

Mixes chasing with hurdling and has run well here over flights; won a couple of handicap chases in 2024 but held in four starts over the larger obstacles since, including on first start of the year at Wexford last month; second over hurdles since and has dropped below latest winning chase mark.

9/1

2nd

3

11th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 50y

18:07 Killarney

Watch The Weather

11st 9lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: R P Cody

Dual chase winner with three hurdle wins on the board; beaten 17l over fences on last month's return from a lengthy break but might strip fitter here and Kennedy is booked.

10/1

6th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Watch The Weather

10st 11lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: R P Cody

Won over fences last season, over C&D (good) and on soft at Punchestown (2m6f) off this mark; form earlier this season not so good, absent since never counting in Munster National in October; noteworthy jockey booking on return to action.

12/1

Form: 21PP-7

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a big-field maiden hurdle at Down Royal last September and highly tried afterwards (pulling up both times); 12-1 and beaten 25l on her switch to fences at Roscommon; opposable on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 160y

13:40 Cork

Air Drop

10st 13lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

sweating, prominent, led after 1st, joined 5 out, headed 4 out, lost position home turn, soon reminder, weakening when bad mistake and unseated 3 out

20/1

2

8th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 160y

13:40 Cork

Air Drop

10st 13lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

sweating, prominent, led after 1st, joined 5 out, headed 4 out, lost position home turn, soon reminder, weakening when bad mistake and unseated 3 out

20/1

5th

2

9th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

11:52 Gowran Park

Air Drop

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fair hurdler who likes to get on with things on the front end, collared late on in Downpatrick beginners' chase (19.5f, good) in August; jumped out to right when poor at Listowel next time and unseated rider two from home after leading for a long way in Punchestown Grade 3 latest; right-handed track will suit and dangerous if allowed to dictate back in trip.

7/4

Form: 167-53

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Failed to make any impression on her chase debut at Clonmel in June but since placed over hurdles at Sligo, a regular haunt of her's; others in here were more talented in that discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

30th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

18:05 Galway

Red Ball Of Fire

10st 5lb

J: Alan King

T: Mark Michael McNiff

All three wins over hurdles at Sligo but only one success since 2021 and she's been off 276 days; tough ask given her record fresh.

40/1

12

27th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Curragh

Red Ball Of Fire

11st 9lb

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Three hurdle wins but is a maiden on the Flat and has to find improvement off a break.

28/1

6th

12

27th Oct 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 11y

16:13 Galway

Red Ball Of Fire

11st 0lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: Mark Michael McNiff

prominent, outpaced approaching last, kept on, not reach leaders

12/1

10/1

Form: 3279-P

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner who ran well behind respected opposition in two small-field affairs at Naas in February; has gone backwards since then and didn't jump or travel when pulled up on chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

16:13 Sedgefield

Pacini

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

Left Gordon Elliott under a cloud and for £3,500; has run in three soft-ground handicaps for new yard, finishing closer on latest but still beaten 25l so he looks best watched for now despite the cheekpieces (tried once in Ireland, finished second of four) being reinstated.

33/1

6th

6

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

16:13 Sedgefield

Pacini

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

Left Gordon Elliott under a cloud and for £3,500; has run in three soft-ground handicaps for new yard, finishing closer on latest but still beaten 25l so he looks best watched for now despite the cheekpieces (tried once in Ireland, finished second of four) being reinstated.

33/1

4th

4

6th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Pacini

11st 12lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Andrew Hamilton

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 2nd

50/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6108-U C

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler but inferior to some of these in that scene; was offering little on the Flat prior to chase debut at Tramore where he was held when unseating.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:15 Downpatrick

Bukhill

11st 12lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: Peter Fahey

in touch with leaders, nudged along after 4 out, 6 lengths down when fell 3 out

12/1

2

15th Aug 2024

Good

1m 7f 120y

17:20 Tramore

Bukhill

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Peter Fahey

led, raced in second when headed 3rd, outpaced when stumbled badly and unseated 2 out

6/1

7th

1

(18)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 80y

20:20 Killarney

Bukhill

10st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Peter Fahey

Two-time winner over hurdles; handicapped on his third to Uxmal at Tramore last year; might be high enough on his handicap debut.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €4.70
Straight Forecast €5.35
Trifecta €14.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Watch The Weather

SPOTLIGHT:

Prairie Dancer

POSTDATA:

Red Ball Of Fire

The Irish Sun:

Watch The Weather

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Prairie Dancer