August 17 / 19.30 Sligo

19.30

Good

Francie “Banger” Burns Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5701.68
  • 2m 4f 141y
  • 9 runners
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Francie “Banger” Burns Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.40
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 900-13 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Came on from his stable debut/return to produce a career best win at Ballinrobe in May; didn't build on that when a beaten favourite back at that venue since; might just need further than this but still respected off a 10lb higher mark than his winning one.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

18:48 Clonmel

Story Rory

11st 5lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Brendan Maurice Walsh

Shown nothing in six runs since handicap hurdle success at Tramore (2m6f) in 2023; best watched for now; headgear combination.

80/1

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 137y

18:48 Clonmel

Story Rory

11st 5lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Brendan Maurice Walsh

Shown nothing in six runs since handicap hurdle success at Tramore (2m6f) in 2023; best watched for now; headgear combination.

80/1

13/2

  • Place: £3.20

Form: /26-33 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Veteran probably past his best, but best run for a while when third in a conditions chase at Galway and has a 16lb lower mark over hurdles; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 194y

15:40 Sligo

Snugsborough Benny

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

Old boy has been off since August; had decent form over fences a year ago but will surely be better for this.

33/1

9th

1

28th Aug 2023

Good

2m 5f 160y

15:50 Downpatrick

Snugsborough Benny

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

Veteran has gone a long time without a win; several good runs in defeat last year and also when third in a handicap chase at Punchestown in April; back over hurdles for last two runs, down the field at Galway, slipped up at Tramore; trainer won this race 12 months ago.

14/1

0

1

18th Aug 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

19:18 Tramore

Snugsborough Benny

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

towards rear of midfield, midfield when slipped up on turn before 6th

20/1

25/1

  • Place: £5.80

Form: 4188P- D

Last run: 329 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
No wins over hurdles for two years; pulled up when last seen over timber and below form on the Flat in two recent outings; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

(4)

17th Aug 2023

Good

1m 7f 0y

20:05 Leopardstown

Abraham

10st 13lb

J: Mr Elliot Ohgren

T: John C McConnell

held up in rear

7/2

4th

9

(8)

15th Jun 2023

Yielding

1m 7f 0y

20:30 Leopardstown

Abraham

9st 4lb

J: Siobhan Rutledge

T: John C McConnell

held up in rear, pushed along and headway when bumped under 2f out, ridden and ran on well up the centre from 1f out, went fourth final strides

33/1

Form: 8-7533

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
One win from 49 starts probably doesn't tell the whole story; has run well here and a mistake at the last cost him somewhat over C&D two weeks ago; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Sep 2022

Good

2m 5f 47y

16:20 Sligo

Guido Reni

11st 7lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Karl Thornton

Sole win in 51 starts came over hurdles in 2018; below form last time out and hard to fancy off this sort of mark on the form of his two chase starts so far; blinkers added.

16/1

4th

8

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

19:30 Sligo

Guido Reni

11st 0lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Karl Thornton

held up in behind leaders, towards rear going okay 4 out, not fluent 3 out, pushed along when squeezed through before 2 out, keeping on when bad mistake 2 out, soon ridden, not reach leaders

9/2

Form: P0-158 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Beat Hophornbeam in a mares novice handicap here last month; faded disappointingly at Galway on latest start when 6lb out of the handicap; should stay but others preferred at this stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

2nd Sep 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Kilbeggan

Innisfree Beauty

10st 7lb

J: Jack Foley

T: Ciaran Murphy

led, not fluent 1st, headed and prominent before 4th, not fluent and pushed along 2 out, ridden and led again approaching last, ridden out

10/1

15

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 3f 0y

17:35 Kilbeggan

Innisfree Beauty

11st 1lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Ciaran Murphy

Sligo novice handicap winner last month has run just okay since in handicaps, including here over 2m; didn't seem to get home over 2m4f at Sligo on Wednesday.

12/1

5th

9

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

19:30 Sligo

Innisfree Beauty

10st 11lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Ciaran Murphy

led narrowly early, headed when not fluent but prominent 2nd, not fluent 5th, led again from 4 out, headed when mistake and pushed along 3 out, soon joined leader, ridden and no extra after 2 out, weakened gradually after last

16/1

Form: 028-12 D BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Decisive winner of a Down Royal handicap hurdle in June and probably stepped up on that off 10lb higher at Killarney last month when narrowly beaten; up another 4lb but has a good 7lb claimer on board and has to be respected in a competitive heat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

30th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 0y

16:27 Gowran Park

The Grey Lad

10st 9lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Paul W Flynn

towards rear early, steady headway after 1st, joined leader after 3rd, led before 4th, not fluent 7th, joined when pushed along home turn, headed when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no extra, no match for first two

7/1

6th

1

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

19:30 Sligo

The Grey Lad

12st 0lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Paul W Flynn

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leaders when mistake and pecked on landing 5th, lost position when pushed along after 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out

5/1

Form: 0-1124

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Wins at Clonmel and Cartmel were followed by a narrow defeat against today's rival Innisfree Beauty here last month; ran well at Galway since while shaping as though the step up to this trip will suit; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

11th Oct 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 50y

14:25 Punchestown

Hophornbeam

11st 5lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: W J Burke

in rear

14/1

7th

2

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

19:30 Sligo

Hophornbeam

11st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

prominent, led narrowly 2nd, pushed along briefly on turn after 7th, headed when pushed along briefly from 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened gradually after 3 out, dropped to rear when mistake 2 out, tailed off

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: U6-721

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Again showed his liking for Downpatrick when landing a 2m6f handicap hurdle there last month; ran okay in a Flat handicap here subsequently; should be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:10 Limerick

Fassbender

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Mark Michael McNiff

held up in rear, hit 4th

16/1

13

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:10 Limerick

Fassbender

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Mark Michael McNiff

held up in rear, hit 4th

16/1

8th

7

11th Oct 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 180y

16:30 Downpatrick

Fassbender

11st 6lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Record of 2-39 over hurdles, both wins at this track; mostly below form this year but staged a revival when third of 15 at Roscommon (20.5f, yielding) last month; 15lb below last winning mark; claims.

11/2

Form: 60036-

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Unsuccessful over hurdles since joining this yard prior to a low-key return to the Flat at Galway; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

11th Oct 2022

Good

2m 7f 70y

16:40 Punchestown

Endlessly

10st 6lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Matthew J Smith

towards rear early, midfield halfway, in touch with leaders when ridden after 2 out, weakened before last

20/1

9th

17

19th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 0y

16:35 Listowel

Endlessly

11st 2lb

J: Peter Carberry

T: Matthew J Smith

midfield, in touch with leaders on inner when not fluent 6th, lost position when pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no extra after 2 out

16/1

6

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

19:30 Sligo

Endlessly

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Matthew J Smith

Unsuccessful over hurdles since joining this yard prior to a low-key return to the Flat at Galway; others preferred.

10/1

Non-runners

Endlessly

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €110.00
Straight Forecast €75.38
Tricast €2379.89
Trifecta €835.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Grey Lad

The Irish Sun:

Innisfree Beauty

POSTDATA:

Hophornbeam

RP Ratings (IRE):

The Grey Lad

TOPSPEED:

The Grey Lad