January 22 / 15.40 Thurles

15.40

Yielding To Soft

Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8353.98
  • 1m 7f 112y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.40
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -31UP4 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler; won handicap hurdle over 2m1f at Clonmel in October before unseating at Cheltenham in November; pulled up at Gowran but ran as well as could be expected in Grade 2 at Punchestown last time out behind Impaire Et Passe; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

22th

18

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

15:05 Fairyhouse

Hey Johnny

10st 7lb

J: Jody McGarvey

T: Thomas Mullins

midfield

100/1

22th

18

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

15:05 Fairyhouse

Hey Johnny

10st 7lb

J: Jody McGarvey

T: Thomas Mullins

midfield

100/1

12th

3

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 60y

13:10 Cork

Hey Johnny

11st 10lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Thomas Mullins

midfield

33/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 14 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
C&D winner; lightly-raced; won maiden hurdle at this track on Rules debut in December, beating Purse Price by 7l; didn't shape badly when beaten 28l into fourth in strong race at Fairyhouse three weeks ago; drop back in trip likely to suit and she is a strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

18:45 Clonmel

Popova

11st 1lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has only won on goodish ground but seems effective on softer (rain forecast); solid second to My Gaffer from well off the pace after a break at Killarney and now better off at the weights with that rival; firmly in the mix.

3/1

2nd

4

12th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:08 Killarney

Popova

11st 6lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear, headway before 3 out, switched right and went third 2 out, disputing second last, kept on

10/1

2nd

4

12th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:08 Killarney

Popova

11st 6lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear, headway before 3 out, switched right and went third 2 out, disputing second last, kept on

10/1

Form: 160/90 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
12th in handicap hurdle at this track last month, beaten roughly 40 lengths; cheekpieces back on; dropped 3lb and hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:23 Uttoxeter

Sacchoandvanzetti

11st 13lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

In good form when last in action, coming from off the pace to score at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) just over one year ago, but has fitness to prove here.

12/1

1st

3

2nd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:40 Stratford

Sacchoandvanzetti

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Both hurdle wins in Ireland during 2019; thereabouts in handicaps at 2m and 2m4f for this yard in the second half of 2023 and was still travelling well enough when falling three out at Hereford (2m3f, good) this May; unproven beyond 2m4f but has the ability to figure; one of two runners for the stable.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 140P-1 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
C&D winner; won handicap hurdle here last month after 15 months off, beating Marvel Fan by half a length; battled well that day; entitled to improve again but needs to with 7lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

2nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

13:50 Plumpton

New Ross

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Suzy Smith

Record of 2-15 for Joseph O'Brien; couple of dismal performances in summer 2023 and now returns from 16-month absence on debut for new yard; market helpful.

20/1

7

2nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

13:50 Plumpton

New Ross

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Suzy Smith

Record of 2-15 for Joseph O'Brien; couple of dismal performances in summer 2023 and now returns from 16-month absence on debut for new yard; market helpful.

20/1

0

1

7th Aug 2023

Good

2m 2f 150y

16:53 Cork

New Ross

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

led narrowly, headed after 3rd, not fluent 4th

14/1

Form: 105560 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Last win at Killarney in July over hurdles; had been in respectable form prior to disappointing effort at Punchestown over 2m4f last time out; dropped 1lb; drop back to 2m should suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:30 Killarney

Zoffanien

11st 5lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Terence O’Brien

Has hit the frame in both handicap hurdle outings in 2025, the latest when runner-up at Cork beaten 2l in April; mixed signals on the strength of that form but fit after respectable Flat outing last month and feasibly treated on old form.

9/1

10

(8)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:05 Navan

Zoffanien

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Terence O’Brien

Three-time hurdles winner and 2-12 on the Flat; has run well on every outing since joining this yard, including four Flat runs in the second half of last year; stayed on well when second over hurdles at Cork when last seen; will be doing best work late.

14/1

Form: 61FP-

Last run: 315 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Lightly-raced winner; won maiden hurdle at Punchestown a year ago; last seen when pulled up in Grade 3 novice hurdle at Limerick; off 315 days; down in trip; has the talent to win off this rating but best watched after long lay-off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Rock On Cassie

11st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Pulled up on three of her four starts since returning from a mammoth absence this season, and has a lot to prove on first venture beyond 2m6f under rules.

66/1

4

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Rock On Cassie

11st 5lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott in 2022 but steadily on the decline ever since; no worthwhile form for current yard.

66/1

6

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Rock On Cassie

11st 11lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Lightly raced 10yo who won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott in 2022; however, following a mammoth absence she's been pulled up/well beaten on her two outings this winter; others have less to prove.

66/1

Form: 0-7806 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Respectable sixth in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse over 2m4f last month; down in trip; usually leads; blinkers come off; dropped 2lb; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Bigz Belief

10st 4lb

J: Tpr Elizabeth Feakes

T: Fergal O’Brien

Best of three hurdle runs for new stable this season when second of five in soft-ground Leicester seller (2m4f) in December; reverts to this code after going close off his basement Flat mark three weeks ago but others have more compelling claims; first ride under rules for Elizabeth Feakes.

6/1

2nd

8

(2)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

This season's hurdling form for Fergal O'Brien was uninspiring and he was safely held when fourth in C&D classified race on Flat return in January; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

4th

1

(6)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Triple hurdle winner but his last success was in 2023 and he was well held at Taunton last Saturday; now returns to the Flat for the first time in 16 months and he's 1-24 in this sphere; opposable.

12/1

Non-runners

Bigz Belief

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €8.50
Straight Forecast €10.84
Trifecta €104.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hey Johnny

The Irish Sun:

Rock On Cassie

POSTDATA:

Zoffanien

RP Ratings (IRE):

Hey Johnny

TOPSPEED:

Hey Johnny