March 11 / 14.15 Navan

14.15

Yielding

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8092.92
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 14 runners
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Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 001131 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has won three of his last four starts and arrives on the back of a 5l success at Naas last month; up another 9lb but clearly thriving and the runner-up from last time ran a big race before fading late in the Morebattle last week; versatile with regards to ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

25th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:35 Listowel

Little Mixup

11st 5lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Has won four times over hurdles but chasing didn't go well a year ago and has mostly struggled back over hurdles.

33/1

7th

9

17th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Wexford

Little Mixup

10st 11lb

J: Daniel King

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Four-time winner over hurdles but very much out of form this winter after unhappy spell over fences in early autumn; hard to support at present.

40/1

Form: 1-P0 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden hurdle last season but shown nothing in two starts since and was beaten a long way out last time; tongue-tie needs to have dramatic effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Mar 2023

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:20 Navan

Enchanted Magic

11st 11lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: C A McBratney

Won a maiden hurdle last season but has shown nothing in two starts since and was beaten a long way out last time; tongue-tie needs to have dramatic effect.

25/1

15th

6

19th Feb 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 115y

15:45 Punchestown

Enchanted Magic

11st 2lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: C A McBratney

Made a winning debut in a 2m Gowran maiden last year when trained by Eoin Doyle; flopped in a Gowran handicap on only start for Willie Mullins; has changed stable again and tackles a new trip.

25/1

Form: P3-P1P D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Gained a first win over hurdles at Punchestown in November but pulled up a long way out when up in trip back at that venue a month later; while a return to this sort of trip will probably help, he may not want the rain to arrive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(15)

8th Sep 2023

Good

2m 2f 0y

18:05 Down Royal

Pike County

9st 12lb

J: W J Lee

T: Mrs Denise Foster

Won on the Flat (1m5f) and over hurdles (2m) last year; lightly raced this year, beaten 7l over 1m3f at Roscommon on Monday and not sure to stay.

14/1

8th

2

(10)

4th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 3f 140y

18:15 Roscommon

Pike County

10st 2lb

J: W J Lee

T: Mrs Denise Foster

midfield, lost position and towards rear over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never near to challenge

20/1

11th

9

6th Jul 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

19:25 Tipperary

Pike County

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Mrs Denise Foster

towards rear

12/1

Form: 64-556 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Struggling over fences of late; return to this sphere might help and he's back on his last winning mark; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

4th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:50 Kilbeggan

Flindt

11st 4lb

J: E Walsh

T: Ciaran Murphy

Locally-trained Flat and hurdles winner but has struggled so far over fences and tipped up at the first at Tipperary.

12/1

4

18th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 1f 105y

15:50 Tipperary

Flindt

11st 12lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Ciaran Murphy

held up in rear, fell 1st

25/1

5th

4

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 1f 160y

16:00 Limerick

Flindt

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Ciaran Murphy

prominent in chasing group, pushed along and lost position after 3 out, no extra when jumped right 2 out

13/2

Form: 7F-800 D

Last run: 175 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Has won four over hurdles but the losing run is mounting up and he was virtually tailed off over C&D when last seen; off 175 days and his record fresh isn't inspiring.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

(2)

29th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Hearts Are Trumps

9st 12lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Desmond McDonogh

All five wins have been gained over hurdles, including a valuable handicap at Fairyhouse in 2021; has had limited Flat opportunities; unplaced here in April on his only AW attempt; good effort at Navan on his most recent hurdles start; cheekpieces for the first time.

10/1

2nd

4

16th Sep 2023

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 120y

14:45 Navan

Hearts Are Trumps

11st 8lb

J: Miss A B O’Connor

T: Desmond McDonogh

in touch with leaders, headway after 2 out, switched right then challenging before last, went second when ridden and kept on run-in, no match for winner

6/1

9th

9

(10)

8th Sep 2023

Good

2m 2f 0y

18:05 Down Royal

Hearts Are Trumps

9st 4lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Desmond McDonogh

Back to winning ways off much reduced hurdles mark at Ballinrobe in July; held at Tramore since and hasn't made much impact so far in three Flat handicaps.

10/1

Form: 10-P3F D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Got his act together over hurdles when winning on handicap debut last season; however, not as good since and hasn't really taken to fences in two runs for this yard; wears first-time cheekpieces; 7lb above winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 170y

13:40 Wexford

Ideal Pal

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Cian Michael Collins

Best known as a six-time winner on the Flat; overall hurdles form not very convincing; will need to pick up more chasing experience judged on first two attempts.

20/1

16

27th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 40y

15:40 Punchestown

Ideal Pal

11st 7lb

J: Conor Orr

T: Cian Michael Collins

Much better known as a six-time winner on the Flat; hurdles form not very convincing; only four runners in a weak event in which he was second at Warwick four weeks ago.

25/1

23th

8

26th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

15:40 Punchestown

Ideal Pal

11st 7lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Cian Michael Collins

prominent, went second after 4th

20/1

Form: 503385 CD

Last run: 160 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
1-24 over hurdles; tailed off on the Flat when last seen but had been running well in defeat in this sphere previously; tends to go well fresh and absence of four months isn't a major concern; best form on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

15

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Rock On Seamie

12st 0lb

T: Ray Hackett

Three-time Flat winner; out of form over hurdles this season; others more likely.

50/1

15th

15

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Rock On Seamie

12st 0lb

T: Ray Hackett

Three-time Flat winner; out of form over hurdles this season; others more likely.

50/1

3

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 60y

16:37 Limerick

Rock On Seamie

11st 6lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: Ray Hackett

Both hurdle wins came over 2m, the latest at Downpatrick in the summer of 2023; regressive since and tried at a range of trips; fell early at Gowran in February; much to prove.

20/1

Form: -25719 D

Last run: 175 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner; below form over C&D when last seen and his best form is on good; off 175 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

18:50 Limerick

Swelltime

11st 4lb

J: G B Noonan

T: W J O’Doherty

Dual-purpose; 4-33 over hurdles; last won at Killarney off 4lb lower last July (20.5f, yld-sft); good ground is fine but lacks a run and overall record when fresh suggests he'll come on for this run.

14/1

9th

11

26th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 2f 0y

13:58 Listowel

Swelltime

11st 8lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: W J O’Doherty

Four-time winner over hurdles, with his latest win coming at Killarney in July (2m4f, yielding to soft) in a comfortable fashion; three starts since then have been middling; chance on best form.

20/1

Form: -71140 D

Last run: 169 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won a competitive Galway handicap hurdle last term but not as good at Listowel when last seen over timber and he's been off since a run on the Flat in October; stiff enough mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:37 Downpatrick

Darkened

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

9yo who has had a lot of racing and steered clear of fences since finishing fourth of seven at Clonmel two years ago; however, was running well before finishing second in a claiming hurdle last time and he's now with John McConnell.

4/1

3rd

3

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:37 Downpatrick

Darkened

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

9yo who has had a lot of racing and steered clear of fences since finishing fourth of seven at Clonmel two years ago; however, was running well before finishing second in a claiming hurdle last time and he's now with John McConnell.

4/1

2nd

5

14th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 160y

16:25 Tramore

Darkened

10st 10lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Noel C Kelly

Second runner for yard; dual-purpose; 3-26 over hurdles and rated 98; in good form on the AW in recent weeks and ran well on his only previous visit to this track; goes on any ground, notable jockey booking and not without a chance.

5/1

Form: 30-U00 D

Last run: 102 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Showed very little in three runs for Noel Kelly; switches to another new yard and capable from this sort of mark; off 102 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 0y

13:55 Limerick

Cafe Con Leche

10st 10lb

J: Mr A D Bustin

T: C Byrnes

Five-time winner including two here over 2m; scored over 2m4f at Cork in November; well below that level in three starts since but could rebound now dropped into this grade.

5/1

12

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 40y

13:20 Navan

Cafe Con Leche

10st 12lb

J: Mr A D Bustin

T: C Byrnes

Won his fifth race over hurdles at Cork in November (2m4f, yielding); unfancied and struggled off revised mark in two runs following that; needs to return to form.

33/1

Form: 764-39

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
21-race maiden and 0-6 over timber; tailed off on the Flat at Dundalk when last seen and tailed off on his handicap debut over hurdles when last seen in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

27th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

13:47 Wexford

Rock Ya Boy Ya

11st 2lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Francis Casey

It took him a while to get his head in front over hurdles but he hacked up in handicaps at Killarney (2m1f, yielding) and Tramore (2m, yielding) four days apart earlier this month; will need to progress again in this company but that's not impossible.

11/2

8

27th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

13:47 Wexford

Rock Ya Boy Ya

11st 2lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Francis Casey

It took him a while to get his head in front over hurdles but he hacked up in handicaps at Killarney (2m1f, yielding) and Tramore (2m, yielding) four days apart earlier this month; will need to progress again in this company but that's not impossible.

11/2

1st

1

9th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:40 Tramore

Rock Ya Boy Ya

12st 2lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Francis Casey

Had a couple of decent runs in defeat in maiden hurdles in 2023; returned from a lengthy break when well behind at Galway (2m, good to yielding) but was a very easy victor of a Killarney handicap hurdle four days ago (2m1f, yielding); could have more to come carrying a 7lb penalty as long as this doesn't come too quickly.

9/4

Form: 115-0P D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back handicap hurdles in 2021 but missed all of 2022 and shown nothing in two runs since returning, pulled up latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

15

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:20 Punchestown

Baltinglass Hill

10st 12lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Spent most of last season over fences; mid-division over hurdles at Clonmel on latest after being pulled up in consecutive chases; almost two years since the most recent of his three wins.

25/1

7th

9

14th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 216y

18:12 Clonmel

Baltinglass Hill

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: P J Rothwell

Pulled up in a chase at Wexford last Friday; much more effective as a hurdler, though he he has added only one win to his tally since 2021.

14/1

13

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:08 Wexford

Baltinglass Hill

10st 3lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three-time winning hurdler is 0-13 chasing, pulled up after some indifferent jumping last time; back from a break, handicapper has given him every chance and better ground in his favour.

14/1

Form: 460843

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-13 over hurdles but back to something like his best when making the frame at Hereford last month; this is tougher; back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

15

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 150y

19:05 Wexford

Astrophysicist

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: J A Nash

First reserve; Flat winner is 0-18 over hurdles but not bad efforts in this sphere the last twice; still needs more.

11th

12

(4)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 103y

19:50 Killarney

Astrophysicist

8st 12lb

J: Sean Davis

T: J A Nash

soon led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

Form: 700003 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
1-28 over hurdles but bounced back to form when hitting the frame at Thurles last month; could be involved if he can build on that given how well treated he is on old form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

26th Jul 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 200y

18:55 Kilbeggan

Future Proof

10st 9lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: P J Rothwell

Gained first win since 2020 in a handicap hurdle at Wexford and shaped like he was worth another go at this sort of trip; recent strike-rate isn't encouraging but 6lb rise is fair and can't be ruled out.

5/1

1st

11

29th May 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 0y

18:30 Wexford

Future Proof

11st 1lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: P J Rothwell

towards rear, headway on outer into midfield 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, ridden out and much reduced lead towards finish, all out

22/1

13th

9

4th May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:30 Punchestown

Future Proof

12st 0lb

J: Joanna Thornton

T: P J Rothwell

Losing run since 2020 and poor over hurdles this season.

33/1

Verdict

It’s hard to get away from LITTLE MIXUP who bids for his fourth win in five starts and the form of his win 13 days ago was boosted to some extent last weekend. Future Proof is well handicapped and may be able to build on his placed effort when last seen while Rock On Seamie is respected given his decent record when fresh. [Phill Anderson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Little Mixup

RP Ratings (IRE):

Astrophysicist

The Irish Sun:

Future Proof

TOPSPEED:

Pike County

POSTDATA:

Little Mixup