January 22 / 15.10 Thurles

15.10

Yielding To Soft

W.T. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7048.67
  • 2m 7f 0y
  • 5 runners
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W.T. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 15-24 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Touched off Santonito in a Leopardstown bumper last season; second in a Cork maiden hurdle before putting in a poor enough round of jumping at Leopardstown; did not appear to be crying out for a step up in trip that day; respected for all that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Embassy Gardens

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Stablemate of Gaelic Warrior; record of 3-6 over fences features a very useful performance at Tramore (2m7f, heavy) on New Year's Day; subsequently came up short in the Irish Gold Cup, taking overall Grade 1 form figures to P6P6; still has something to prove at this level.

8/1

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Embassy Gardens

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Stablemate of Gaelic Warrior; record of 3-6 over fences features a very useful performance at Tramore (2m7f, heavy) on New Year's Day; subsequently came up short in the Irish Gold Cup, taking overall Grade 1 form figures to P6P6; still has something to prove at this level.

8/1

6th

2

1st Feb 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 70y

15:30 Leopardstown

Embassy Gardens

11st 10lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: W P Mullins

led narrowly or disputed lead, prominent 3rd

12/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: F34217 D BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Some decent efforts in maiden hurdles and rewarded with a dominant performance from the front in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle before Christmas; well beaten on testing ground at Limerick five days later although that may have come too soon; could go well at a track suitable to his style of racing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

10th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 0y

15:27 Naas

Kilbree Warrior

10st 13lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Oliver McKiernan

Pulled-up either side of a fine second at Navan; front-runner is at her best when getting a clear lead but is inconsistent; a player if at that best.

16/1

Form: 653813

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Got the better of a driving finish to land a Cork handicap hurdle last month; unable to match that on deeper ground at Limerick; this ground will suit better and the trip is fine but likely to find one or two too good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

26

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Meetingofthewaters

10st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Big improver sent chasing by his new yard last season and he then disputed the lead over the final fence in this race, only to end up 16l behind in seventh; needs to see it out a lot better and, after he faded well out of contention on all three starts this term, he nevertheless returns to Aintree with a 1lb higher mark than last year.

20/1

5th

26

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Meetingofthewaters

10st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Big improver sent chasing by his new yard last season and he then disputed the lead over the final fence in this race, only to end up 16l behind in seventh; needs to see it out a lot better and, after he faded well out of contention on all three starts this term, he nevertheless returns to Aintree with a 1lb higher mark than last year.

20/1

8th

2

2nd Mar 2025

Yielding

2m 5f 107y

16:02 Leopardstown

Meetingofthewaters

11st 9lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: W P Mullins

Big improver over fences on joining this yard last season, notably running away with 3m Paddy Power here and good third in Ultima at Cheltenham; two runs here this term well below best, in Paddy Power and never landing a blow off considerably lower hurdles mark at DRF; another with a bit to prove right now.

14/1

Form: 221

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in a pair of bumpers before bolting up in a Tramore maiden hurdle three weeks ago on heavy ground; this is a step up again and he looks the stable second string but can continue his progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Cardamon Hill

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Miss A M Slack

Three listless performances since returning from 13 months out; 12lb below his last winning mark now, but no good thing to capitalise.

100/1

5

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Cardamon Hill

11st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Miss A M Slack

Won twice in November 2024 (2m7f/3m, good/good to soft) but mainly disappointing since including on both runs since a 404-day break; plenty to prove at present.

20/1

5th

3

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

13:57 Sedgefield

Cardamon Hill

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Miss A M Slack

Stays 3m and acts on the forecast sound surface; 50-1, always behind and pulled up on his return from 13 months off the track at Wetherby on latest start; bit to prove.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21-421

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten a nose by Embassy Gardens in a Leopardstown bumper last season; his progression has been the more convincing, ran into Marine Nationale and Hiddenvalley Lake in a pair of autumn maiden hurdles before holding off subsequent winner Eye Van in a Clonmel maiden hurdle last month; likely to relish the step up in trip and looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:30 Newcastle

Santonito

11st 12lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott and sold on for 22,000euros; the form of his first three races for this yard stacks up well (from 2m4f to 3m) and reportedly bled when below par last time; definite chance should the wheels stay on.

15/2

2

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:30 Newcastle

Santonito

11st 12lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott and sold on for 22,000euros; the form of his first three races for this yard stacks up well (from 2m4f to 3m) and reportedly bled when below par last time; definite chance should the wheels stay on.

15/2

6th

3

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

12:14 Wetherby

Santonito

11st 2lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

in touch with leaders, hit 7th

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €10.00
Straight Forecast €9.71
Trifecta €52.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Santonito

TOPSPEED:

Embassy Gardens

POSTDATA:

Embassy Gardens

RP Ratings (IRE):

Santonito

The Irish Sun:

Santonito