February 09 / 15.15 Thurles

15.15

Yielding

Leugh Rated Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8353.98
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Leugh Rated Novice Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.70
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 422510 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Underlined his progression when readily landing a handicap hurdle over this trip at Cork in November; ran no race under a 9lb penalty at Punchestown last time; suited by the race conditions and hard to beat if coming back to his previous form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:25 Punchestown

Riaan

10st 13lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Chase wins have been at Wexford and Sligo on decent ground, latter occasion when beating Jesse Evans 3.5l at levels in October when last seen, albeit steady pace possibly suited; has run well fresh and has his ground here, so one to consider.

8/1

3

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 27y

16:43 Sligo

Riaan

11st 10lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Rated 132; has caught the eye in some valuable handicap chases but consistency is not his strong suit and he has unseated, pulled up and been beaten 28l on his last three starts; capable of running well but comes with risks attached.

12/1

8

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 180y

16:50 Killarney

Riaan

11st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won on chase debut in a Wexford beginners' in 2023 (2m4f, yielding); best run in recent times was a 4.5l second at the Punchestown festival off his current mark (2m4f, yielding); he has been poor in three runs following that and Kennedy prefers Mars Harper.

20/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 132

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Expensive purchase from France; respectable debut in a Gowran maiden hurdle in November but no match for the useful Three Card Brag at Fairyhouse; holds entries in the Ballymore and the Albert Bartlett but would need to win this well to justify that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Spanish Harlem

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Smart staying handicapper at his best; won the Kerry National at Listowel last September and looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse, same outcome in the Grand National.

25/1

10

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Spanish Harlem

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Career with Willie Mullins took a long time to catch fire but it's done so this season and he looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park (3m1f, heavy) in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up behind Grangeclare West last time but back catalogue includes a creditable sixth in the Scottish National and fourth in bet365 Cup at Sandown, so he stays long distances; his revised mark since the Thyestes would be the chief worry.

33/1

9

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Spanish Harlem

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Got his first chase win at the 11th attempt at Punchestown in June before following up in the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, yielding); pulled up at Newbury but looked set for victory in the Theyestes (3m1f, heavy) last time when unseating at the final flight; firmly in the mix but Townend rides Grangeclare West.

4/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 22-216 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Gained a deserved success in a Down Royal maiden hurdle in December; can be forgiven a poor run at Fairyhouse latest; stays well and comes into it on his previous form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

12th May 2023

Yielding

2m 3f 20y

19:20 Kilbeggan

Eye Van

11st 12lb

J: Niall Moore

T: R P Cody

Record of 1-13 over hurdles and rated 123 in that sphere; some decent runs in defeat lately but was well below form at Punchestown last time; cheekpieces on for chasing debut.

16/1

5th

2

26th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:45 Punchestown

Eye Van

11st 12lb

J: Niall Moore

T: R P Cody

prominent, pushed along and lost position after 3 out, ridden and detached from 2 out

12/1

13

10th Apr 2023

Yielding

2m 5f 155y

16:15 Fairyhouse

Eye Van

10st 13lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: R P Cody

Form: 555

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced in a couple of bumpers and a Limerick maiden hurdle; much more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

29th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:35 Wexford

Fine Margin

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

A 126-rated hurdler; narrowly made a winning start as a chaser over C&D before struggling in a Grade 3 at Galway when 25-1; finished well behind Intellotto that day.

7/1

9th

2

31st Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 54y

14:10 Galway

Fine Margin

11st 1lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won three hurdle races in a row in Britain last summer on good ground; back from winter break for winning chasing debut in 2m4f Wexford beginners early this month, fresh but jumping well to beat two race-fit market principals on favoured good ground; looks like making a better chaser than hurdler and not one to dismiss despite jump in class.

12/1

3

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

15:50 Wexford

Fine Margin

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won three hurdle races in a row in Britain last summer at around 2m4f on good ground; pulled up in a better quality race next time at Worcester on soft ground (2m4f); 50l behind in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham last October; tries fences now but needs to bounce back.

7/2

Form: -81145

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Bolted up in a Tipperary bumper and decisive winner of a Limerick maiden hurdle; more exposed stepping up in class twice since but capable of a good showing here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:28 Ayr

Kiki Badger

10st 13lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Anthony McCann

Made no significant progress after last autumn's winning hurdle debut but returned from break with two encouraging chase runs this autumn (behind Rexem on first occasion) and has each-way claims here.

10/1

4th

6

7th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 0f 110y

13:55 Fairyhouse

Kiki Badger

11st 12lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Anthony McCann

Bumper/hurdles winner; fair third on first chase attempt at Galway, with the shorter-priced Annexation back in fifth; more on his plate now.

10/1

3rd

3

11th Sep 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 54y

18:15 Galway

Kiki Badger

11st 12lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Anthony McCann

pressed leader, joined leader after 6th, led narrowly 7th, headed and lost second from last, soon no extra, no match for first two

14/1

Form: 0F7170 C

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
33-1 winner of a mares maiden hurdle here in November; no show twice since but indicated last time as though the step up in trip would suit; could outrun her likely odds.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

10th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 80y

17:00 Cork

Navy Waves

10st 13lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: Mrs Julie Cashin

Has generally struggled since winning at Galway (22.5f, good) last September; a bit better when a plugging-on third of 16 at Tramore (2m5f, gd-yld) on latest but was 16l behind the winner; longer trip here a plus.

8/1

3rd

11

20th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 0y

18:12 Tramore

Navy Waves

11st 0lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: Mrs Julie Cashin

Unplaced in four starts since a 20-1 Galway win last autumn; remote sixth in a 3m handicap at Cork last month on first run after a break.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €16.80
Straight Forecast €15.31
Trifecta €49.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Riaan

POSTDATA:

Spanish Harlem

TOPSPEED:

Kiki Badger

RP Ratings (IRE):

Riaan

The Irish Sun:

Spanish Harlem