December 26 / 13.58 Down Royal

13.58

Good To Yielding

Metcollect Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4957.98
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 16 runners
RTV
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Metcollect Handicap Chase

Runners: 16 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: P4-981

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Gained a first win in a handicap chase at Punchestown last time; will need more again to defy his revised mark and this shorter trip might not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

14th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

14:12 Fairyhouse

Highstreetfashion

10st 6lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Rooney

Pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown when last seen and off 394 days; no worthwhile form for a couple of years.

20/1

14

14th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

14:12 Fairyhouse

Highstreetfashion

10st 6lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Rooney

Pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown when last seen and off 394 days; no worthwhile form for a couple of years.

20/1

0

9

16th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 0f 157y

12:20 Punchestown

Highstreetfashion

10st 3lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Patrick Rooney

prominent, mistake towards rear of midfield 11th, detached from 5 out, pulled up 3 out

10/1

Form: 522321

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the 16th attempt over fences when justifying favouritism at Tramore earlier this month; this looks tougher from 9lb higher and career best called for.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

16th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Walking The Walk

11st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Kerry Lee

Conversion rate of just 2-27 over fences; several long absences following his last win in summer 2023, and hasn't been since a 47l last of five finishers in this race last year; best watched.

16/1

5th

2

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Walking The Walk

12st 0lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Started off for Kerry Lee with two pretty good thirds in early part of last season, the latter over C&D on good ground, but was pulled up in refitted cheekpieces (retained) on next two outings and it's hard to know what to expect from him after a 200-day absence.

16/1

5th

2

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Walking The Walk

12st 0lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Started off for Kerry Lee with two pretty good thirds in early part of last season, the latter over C&D on good ground, but was pulled up in refitted cheekpieces (retained) on next two outings and it's hard to know what to expect from him after a 200-day absence.

16/1

Form: 47745P

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
15-race maiden; promise in a beginners' at Downpatrick in August but hasn't built on that and was pulled up on handicap chase debut last time after making mistakes; cheekpieces on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

8th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:05 Downpatrick

Finnians Row

11st 8lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

His three chase wins includes one at this course and was in decent form last autumn; however, has questions to answer after being pulled-up both runs this spring; blinkers replace visor.

8/1

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:08 Wexford

Finnians Row

11st 10lb

J: Niall Moore

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

C&D winner last August off this mark (good); pulled up on last month's comeback here on soft but entitled to come on for that and ground coming in his favour.

12/1

2

17th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

16:32 Wexford

Finnians Row

12st 0lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

C&D winner last August off 3lb lower but only by the skin of his teeth and has been beaten between 10l and 14l in his last three races; needs to pull out more to win again but should run well.

8/1

Form: 03-521

Last run: 6 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Gained a first win with a chase success at Naas last week; might need a bit more to follow up under a 7lb penalty and has stamina to prove at this trip, but he's open to improvement on just his sixth chase start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Hexham

Know The Game

11st 9lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

in rear

16/1

9

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Hexham

Know The Game

11st 9lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

towards rear, bumped 1st, mistake 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 7th

16/1

6th

4

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

12:40 Wetherby

Know The Game

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Runner-up over fences at Limerick in April for Tom Dreaper but well beaten the next twice (fences/hurdles) and is now just 1-21; makes stable debut and others are preferred.

20/1

Form: 097-66

Last run: 80 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Rated 108 over hurdles; shown little in two chase starts so far, making mistakes each time and tailed off when last seen on the Flat; others look stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

16th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 0y

12:30 Fairyhouse

Room To Roam

11st 2lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

disputed lead early, led narrowly before 1st, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out

10/1

Form: 4090P-

Last run: 338 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Sole win came on the Flat and poor form in points in recent starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

15

21st Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 41y

16:25 Punchestown

Monoxide

10st 13lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Neill McCluskey

Flat winner; 0-36 over jumps, perhaps some chance of breakthrough after recent second over fences at Down Royal; overall profile makes it hard to be confident.

10/1

2nd

13

23rd Jan 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 100y

15:30 Down Royal

Monoxide

10st 9lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Neill McCluskey

didn't always jump with fluency, led, clear before 4th

16/1

Form: 60-077

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won a handicap chase at Thurles in February and went close in his follow up bid but has lost his way since; beaten 22l at Naas last week; handicapper slow to relent.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

6th Mar 2023

Yielding

2m 5f 97y

16:35 Leopardstown

Hollybank King

10st 7lb

J: Miss A McGuinness

T: Stephen McConville

Veteran whose sole win came over 2m at Thurles over a year ago; recent form regressive and very stiff task here from 11lb out of handicap.

33/1

10

1st Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:17 Ayr

Hollybank King

10st 3lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Stephen McConville

He's well treated on form as recent as last February but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive since, most recently over C&D.

25/1

9th

3

9th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Ayr

Hollybank King

11st 7lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Stephen McConville

held up in rear, ridden and lost touch 7th

12/1

Form: 788

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
1-6 in points; hasn't shown much in a trio of runs in beginners'; step back up in trip and cheekpieces could both help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

16th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:35 Tramore

Definetly Darsi

10st 9lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Point winner; 0-10 over fences and makes debut for new yard returning from 315 days off; probably best watched.

50/1

3rd

9

6th Oct 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 110y

17:20 Downpatrick

Definetly Darsi

11st 0lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Cian Collins

1-6 in points and 0-9 over fences; has yet to get even placed and he ran no race last time at Killarney.

25/1

0

11

1st Oct 2023

Yielding

2m 7f 0y

16:45 Killarney

Definetly Darsi

10st 9lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Point winner is lightly-raced maiden under Rules; fair fifth at Wexford in the spring; well-beaten fourth to Glenmalure Lodge at Ballinrobe after a break but should strip fitter here.

12/1

Form: 434034

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Improved from his chase debut when fourth of 12 in a beginners' at Tramore earlier this month; lenient looking mark for handicap chase debut and ought to be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

12th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 208y

20:23 Ballinrobe

Whos Houdini

11st 4lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Eight race maiden over hurdles but shaped well enough when fourth off 96 at Limerick last time; not seen since and can only be watched on return from 444 days off, unless the market speaks in his favour.

18/1

Form: 005800 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-10 over fences and tailed off in each of his last three starts including a cross-country race at Punchestown last month; easy to oppose in his current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Dec 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:58 Down Royal

Magic Sea

11st 9lb

J: Conor Brassil

T: Sarah Dawson

0-10 over fences and tailed off in each of his last three starts including a cross-country race at Punchestown last month; easy to oppose in his current form.

25/1

14th

15

20th Nov 2022

Yielding

3m 0f 180y

11:45 Punchestown

Magic Sea

11st 4lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Sarah Dawson

towards rear, mistake 5th, soon reminders, hampered 14th

100/1

11th

7

4th Nov 2022

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 30y

13:55 Down Royal

Magic Sea

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Moore

T: Sarah Dawson

in rear, hampered by faller 1st, pushed along briefly after 7th, reminders after 4 out, keeping on when jumped slightly right 2 out, made no impression

20/1

Form: P-7P8U

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Handicap hurdle winner in June 2021 but he's struggled since and he unseated on chase debut last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:25 Market Rasen

Massons Castle

11st 1lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Only win was in 2021; four runs for this yard, beaten a distance into second first time over fences and pulled up in three subsequent outings (the latest over hurdles); no significance in the return of cheekpieces.

66/1

6

10th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:25 Market Rasen

Massons Castle

11st 1lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Only win was in 2021; four runs for this yard, beaten a distance into second first time over fences and pulled up in three subsequent outings (the latest over hurdles); no significance in the return of cheekpieces.

66/1

8

2nd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

15:25 Southwell

Massons Castle

10st 10lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Mike Sowersby

Second on stable debut at Southwell (3m2f, good) last September, beaten a long way; pulled up both starts since, when soft/heavy ground may have been against him; switches back from chasing but sole win came back in June 2021.

20/1

Form: /86D1P-

Last run: 510 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Won prior to a disqualification at Limerick in June 2021; pulled up on only Rules start since; point winner when last seen in May when returning from 299-day absence; hard to gauge back under Rules and would probably prefer a bit further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

12

23rd Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 205y

14:30 Thurles

Blustery

11st 2lb

J: Mr E P O’Brien

T: Robert Tyner

Winning pointer but track form is quite modest; pulled up at Down Royal in December; others preferred.

20/1

8

26th Dec 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:58 Down Royal

Blustery

11st 2lb

J: Ambrose McCurtin

T: Robert Tyner

Won prior to a disqualification at Limerick in June 2021; pulled up on only Rules start since; point winner when last seen in May when returning from 299-day absence; hard to gauge back under Rules and would probably prefer a bit further.

7/1

Form: 387679

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
0-11 over fences; tailed off at Clonmel last month but feasibly treated on his placed form from this summer; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

26th Dec 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:58 Down Royal

Different Strokes

10st 11lb

J: Corey McGivern

T: Mrs C O’Leary

0-11 over fences; tailed off at Clonmel last month but feasibly treated on his placed form from this summer; needs to bounce back.

20/1

9th

9

17th Nov 2022

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 96y

15:23 Clonmel

Different Strokes

10st 12lb

J: Conor Maxwell

T: Mrs C O’Leary

Has only won a claiming hurdle; has placed form over fences but he's 0-10 and looks vulnerable to improvers.

12/1

Form: -22597

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
0-15; beaten 19l in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown last month and tough ask on chase debut here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

30th Aug 2024

Yielding

3m 1f 0y

19:25 Wexford

Glenmalure Lodge

10st 13lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: P J Rothwell

Won off 4lb lower at Ballinrobe last September; found to have bled when beaten a long way on return at Killarney; a player if back to best.

14/1

12th

11

19th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

16:50 Killarney

Glenmalure Lodge

10st 12lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Exposed 10yo mare who won a Ballinrobe handicap chase over this trip last September; 4lb higher now and she has been off the track since January; tough assignment on her return to action.

16/1

Form: -05060

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
17-race maiden; beaten a long way out over hurdles last time and showed very little on sole chase start; blinkers now tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

26th Dec 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

13:58 Down Royal

Our Patron Saint

10st 8lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: Sarah Dawson

17-race maiden; beaten a long way out over hurdles last time and showed very little on sole chase start; blinkers now tried.

33/1

19th

22

19th Nov 2022

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

15:23 Punchestown

Our Patron Saint

10st 0lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Sarah Dawson

towards rear of midfield

33/1

7

4th Nov 2022

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 120y

16:15 Down Royal

Our Patron Saint

11st 12lb

J: E Walsh

T: Sarah Dawson

Poor maiden is out of his depth in this.

200/1

OUR TIP

Form: 50892U C

Last run: 103 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Sole win in 49 starts came here over hurdles; was leading before a bad mistake 2 out at Sligo last time (unseated); went close on his penultimate outing at Downpatrick and giving the impression his turn may be near again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Zagnzig

10st 10lb

J: John Shinnick

T: S Wilson

Veteran who is yet to add to his handicap hurdle win in 2018 and has struggled to get competitive this year; now with new stable having previously been owner-trained.

20/1

9th

15

13th Jul 2023

Yielding

2m 5f 170y

17:35 Downpatrick

Zagnzig

10st 13lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: H Smyth

Veteran has been pulled-up over hurdles and fences lately and not easy to make a case for.

50/1

17

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 5f 60y

14:55 Downpatrick

Zagnzig

11st 3lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: H Smyth

Veteran was second over fences here last summer; has failed to complete last four outings; second reserve.

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €28.88
Tricast €228.96

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Who's Houdini

RP Ratings (IRE):

Finnians Row

POSTDATA:

Walking The Walk

The Irish Sun:

Who's Houdini