August 20 / 14.35 Curragh

14.35

Good

Neville O’Byrne Memorial Irish EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap

  • Prize money: £12394.96
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Neville O’Byrne Memorial Irish EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.40
  • Place: £3.30

Form: 0-0913 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Another course winner, she bounced back into form completely out of the blue the past month but up in grade here and against it (6lb out of handicap).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(8)

3rd May 2023

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:50 Gowran Park

Star Image

9st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Thomas Mullins

Looked ordinary starting out last season but, after winning Galway festival handicap off 66, finished the campaign with a mark of 99; placed in Curragh Group 3 over 2m and fourth in Naas Listed contest over 1m4f; made a pleasing reappearance when fourth over 1m4f at Cork; not without a chance of turning the tables on runner-up Irish Lullaby over this trip.

7/2

4th

8

(10)

21st Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 25y

15:08 Cork

Star Image

9st 2lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Thomas Mullins

soon towards rear of midfield

8/1

4th

6

(4)

6th Nov 2022

Heavy

1m 3f 180y

15:57 Naas

Star Image

9st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Thomas Mullins

held up in rear

18/1

OUR TIP

5/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 214-35 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Tends to run (well) here or Leopardstown, thereabouts in handicaps here last thrice (good); yard had sluggish campaign but two recent handicap winners, one here at 20s; could be improving too and looks very straightforward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 4f 0y

14:35 Curragh

Kazakdaria

9st 2lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: D K Weld

prominent in chasing group, pressed leaders when pushed along over 3f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, edged right under 2f out, outpaced when disputing second 1f out, kept on and went second but no chance with winner inside final 110yds

5/2

3rd
3 (1)
Kerkiyra

3/1

Form: 522-31 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Not out of turn when prevailing by a neck here last month, despite losing ground under a drive; cheekpieces ought to help and 4lb rise no issue; very early days handicapping and new trip can help too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(6)

15th Oct 2023

Heavy

1m 3f 202y

15:25 Naas

Kerkiyra

9st 7lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

midfield

13/2

4th

3

(3)

18th Sep 2023

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 20y

15:10 Fairyhouse

Kerkiyra

9st 7lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

midfield

12/1

6/1

Form: 725324

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Typically reliable Sir Percy banging on door this summer and should go well again with Lordan taking over; 1-31.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

14:17 Cork

Pachmena

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Dual-purpose Flat winner yet to score over timber; soundly beaten first two starts for this yard over hurdles at Sligo and on the Flat at Bellewstown; revival required.

11/1

2

(5)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

0m 7f 205y

14:48 Bellewstown

Pachmena

10st 1lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: Matthew J Smith

Dual-purpose mare whose best recent Flat form has come over 1m4f-1m6f; beaten 20l in a 25.5f handicap hurdle on latest; headgear worn that day discarded; this trip surely too sharp.

20/1

Form: -42870 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 8st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Often front-runs, as when third chasing latest; bit late in day to try blinkers but only second start for small yard (second-time tongue tie); limitations exposed over C&D in June when beaten 23l; really game in victory at Killarney hurdling last night.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Gowran Park

Effernock Fizz

10st 8lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Admirable front-runner but recent form far from encouraging, 3m beyond her last time; return to 2m to suit but hard to see her lasting it out.

25/1

Form: 533256 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
This course winner rarely disappoints when tried at 1m2f+ and ought to give another good account; hardly deserved to be 33s at Galway when running well but this looks tougher and 2lb wrong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

18

(15)

6th Nov 2022

Heavy

2m 0f 25y

16:27 Naas

Willesee

8st 7lb

J: Tom Madden

T: Mrs John Harrington

Struggling this year and can't see her getting this trip so easily opposed; 3lb out of handicap.

28/1

7th

18

(5)

6th Sep 2022

Yielding

1m 4f 42y

18:40 Galway

Willesee

9st 1lb

J: Tom Madden

T: Mrs John Harrington

prominent on inner, ridden home turn, weakened gradually final furlong

40/1

6th

7

(3)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 4f 0y

14:35 Curragh

Willesee

8st 7lb

J: Tom Madden

T: Mrs John Harrington

briefly led, headed after 1f, soon chased clear leader, pressed leader when pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened from over 2f out

12/1

Form: 50-340 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Dual-code; on her day would win this but hard to have full faith in her, even if she ran well in 1m6f pattern races in May; rarely runs in handicaps but won one over C&D in 2020; could go either way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(10)

23rd Oct 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

15:45 Curragh

Mighty Blue

9st 6lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

towards rear, rapid headway against far rail and prominent over 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden disputing third inside final furlong, no extra towards finish

12/1

8th

15

(5)

25th Sep 2022

Yielding

2m 0f 124y

16:15 Curragh

Mighty Blue

9st 5lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

towards rear of midfield, pushed along over 3f out, headway when hampered over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, not reach leaders

28/1

4th

7

(2)

6th Sep 2022

Yielding

1m 4f 42y

18:40 Galway

Mighty Blue

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

midfield, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, went fourth inside final furlong, not reach leaders

8/1

Form: 8-7516 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Not sure what to make of her as Down Royal win was out of the blue but was still favourite off 16lb higher when fading tamely, last of six at Killarney; better than that surely and given a little time but mark remains a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(16)

29th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Onameridance

10st 1lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Wide-margin handicap winner over this trip at Down Royal last year; well beaten in her two starts this year (Listed last time); needs her best again; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

11/1

4th

2

(4)

23rd May 2023

Good

1m 1f 100y

17:10 Gowran Park

Onameridance

9st 12lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, soon ridden and dropped to rear, no extra over 1f out

8/1

Form: 1-5533 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Won her maiden here at 2 and bang there in handicaps of late; best form seems on easy ground so opposable from 3lb out of weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(6)

19th Oct 2022

Soft

1m 2f 0y

15:55 Navan

Dark Vega

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Mrs John Harrington

towards rear, pushed along and headway towards near side 2f out, no impression inside final furlong

7/1

6th

4

(12)

6th Oct 2022

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 101y

16:20 Thurles

Dark Vega

9st 9lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

dwelt start, in touch with leaders, pushed along from 3f out, bit short of room when edged right and bumped rival 2f out, soon no impression, ridden briefly and no extra inside final furlong

5/1

2nd

5

(9)

13th Sep 2022

Good

1m 1f 0y

16:20 Punchestown

Dark Vega

9st 6lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

dwelt start, towards rear, pushed along under 3f out, still plenty to do over 1f out, switched left and ridden 1f out, ran on well, went second final strides

5/1

Form: -63159 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Racing 7lb out of weights, she can hardly win this, but at least tends to give her running; ground-versatile.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(13)

6th Oct 2022

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 101y

16:20 Thurles

Hymn Book Too

9st 4lb

J: Kevin Manning

T: J S Bolger

prominent on outer, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed when edged right and lost second over 1f out, soon weakened, lost fourth final strides

7/1

3rd

12

(3)

13th Sep 2022

Good

1m 1f 0y

16:20 Punchestown

Hymn Book Too

9st 2lb

J: Kevin Manning

T: J S Bolger

slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway on inner over 1f out, bit short of room inside final furlong, kept on

14/1

7

(3)

29th Aug 2022

Good

1m 3f 182y

19:00 Roscommon

Hymn Book Too

9st 10lb

J: Kevin Manning

T: J S Bolger

Ground-versatile maiden somehow found soft ground or worse last thrice (10s or longer), bit disappointing at Galway last time; course run previously was better; well drawn but not sure she's progressive.

20/1

Non-runners

Mighty Blue, Onameridance, Dark Vega, Hymn Book Too

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €34.70
Straight Forecast €34.76
Tricast €69.83
Trifecta €89.00

Selections

RP Ratings (IRE):

Pachmena

The Irish Sun:

Dark Vega

POSTDATA:

Kerkiyra

SPOTLIGHT:

Kazakdaria

TOPSPEED:

Pachmena