August 13 / 15.10 Downpatrick

15.10

Yielding To Soft

A J C Group Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5221.24
  • 2m 1f 65y
  • 13 runners
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A J C Group Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 9U069- BF

Last run: 208 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced on his first completed handicap start at Navan in November; ran to a similar level when sixth at Cork the following month; tailed off when favourite at Clonmel in January, so probably best watched now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

15th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 110y

14:35 Punchestown

Gwan Tadhg

11st 10lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: E J O’Grady

midfield, outpaced 5th, dropped to rear after 3 out

15/2

11th

4

15th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 110y

14:35 Punchestown

Gwan Tadhg

11st 10lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: E J O’Grady

midfield

15/2

3rd

2

31st May 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

18:50 Tramore

Gwan Tadhg

11st 13lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: E J O’Grady

In fine form last last summer, winning at Downpatrick (twice) and Bellewstown on good/soft; absent since November but runs well fresh; career-best needed off this mark.

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: P0-060 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Nothing of any merit in his form since he was a 2m6f course winner 13 months ago; cheekpieces now as well as usual tongue-tie; perhaps that will help to produce a revival in form; stable has had a couple of recent winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:10 Limerick

Fassbender

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Mark Michael McNiff

held up in rear, hit 4th

16/1

13

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:10 Limerick

Fassbender

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Mark Michael McNiff

held up in rear, hit 4th

16/1

8th

7

11th Oct 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 180y

16:30 Downpatrick

Fassbender

11st 6lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Record of 2-39 over hurdles, both wins at this track; mostly below form this year but staged a revival when third of 15 at Roscommon (20.5f, yielding) last month; 15lb below last winning mark; claims.

11/2

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 26-2F2

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on his last three completed starts; form of Wexford run has been boosted by another success for the winner Ricky Langford at Cork; good second in the 5.55 at Kilbeggan on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

1st Oct 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:00 Southwell

Crafty Gael

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-17 over hurdles before he scored by a head at Worcester (near 3m) three weeks ago, with a step up in trip; back up 6lb but perhaps he has more to offer as a stayer; solid compared to today's rivals.

6/5

1st

2

10th Sep 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Worcester

Crafty Gael

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-17 over hurdles but, with a tongue-tie added, has been placed over 2m4f (good) on both starts for new stable this summer; can make his presence felt again if suited by this new trip.

9/2

2nd

3

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:38 Worcester

Crafty Gael

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Ex-Irish 7yo; 0-16 over hurdles but made promising stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie) last month, keeping on for third; not yet fully exposed over this sort of trip; shortlisted.

7/2

Form: 008-

Last run: 160 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won three races over 1m2f in Britain; has tended to struggle since his arrival in Ireland but managed a fair sixth of 18 in a Flat handicap at Navan in March; limited hurdling experience; first outing for this stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

10

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 150y

14:27 Cork

Sandyman

11st 6lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: William Harvey

Three-time Flat winner; never in the first three over hurdles, though has shown some ability in handicaps at Downpatrick; needs to improve from stable debut at Fairyhouse in November.

22/1

14th

9

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 44y

16:40 Punchestown

Sandyman

12st 0lb

J: Evie Pierce

T: William Harvey

Three-time Flat winner has been regressive in the last while and has lots to find.

100/1

Form: 8274U7

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Flat winner; has failed to score in 27 races over jumps; second over fences at this venue in June; modest form in Britain more recently.
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: 8770-3

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Showed huge improvement at Sligo when blinkered for the first time, finishing third at 50-1 in a 2m1f contest; more progress feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

4th Oct 2026

Good

2m 4f 180y

16:30 Killarney

Woodstream Lad

11st 12lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: David O’Sullivan

Three-time winner over hurdles and has a bit of chasing experience, but rated 99 in this sphere and won't be good enough here.

25/1

6th

7

25th Sep 2026

Good

2m 2f 125y

14:15 Listowel

Woodstream Lad

11st 6lb

J: Alyse Clarke

T: David O’Sullivan

Last of three wins for Philip Rothwell came at Downpatrick last summer (2m3f); didn't land a blow but not entirely disgraced on yard debut in competitive handicap at Galway festival but good bit more likely required now.

14/1

12th

14

27th Jul 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 130y

17:40 Galway

Woodstream Lad

11st 7lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: David O’Sullivan

Last of three wins for Philip Rothwell came at Downpatrick last summer (2m3f); Clonmel claiming second in May his best recent run; debuts for new yard here.

33/1

Form: 9769

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Maiden pointer, never better than sixth; track form is weak; does not appear well treated for his first handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

9

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

15:20 Downpatrick

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Course winner on soft ground in October last year off 90 over 21.5f and 2lb lower now; best run since when beaten 6.25l over this C&D in August but no impact in two runs since; visor now tried instead of cheekpieces and hard to know what to expect.

22/1

7th

4

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:50 Downpatrick

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Sole win did at least come here over hurdles last October and again ran well back here in that discipline two starts back; however, he was soon in trouble when tailed off on his chase debut at Kilbeggan only last Friday (beaten too far out to blame the trip of 3m1f); cheekpieces tried.

20/1

10th

6

23rd Aug 2024

Good

3m 1f 100y

18:55 Kilbeggan

Moneynabane

11st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

towards rear

10/1

Form: P-P5P4 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a spell of decent form for this yard in the autumn of 2021; lesser form for other trainers before returning to this stable this summer; not a bad effort at Wexford last time but hard to be confident on account of 1-21 hurdles record.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Mullins Cross

10st 11lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

2-42 when trained in Ireland; respectable fourth under Ben Smith at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in February was easily the best of her four races for new yard; 7lb lower today but she probably can't be relied upon.

10/1

6

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Mullins Cross

10st 11lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

2-42 when trained in Ireland; respectable fourth under Ben Smith at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in February was easily the best of her four races for new yard; 7lb lower today but she probably can't be relied upon.

10/1

7th

9

23rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Carlisle

Mullins Cross

10st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: R Mike Smith

held up in last

14/1

Form: U3-437

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won a point-to-point in the spring but is a longstanding maiden under rules; has been running in hunter chases/handicap chases; hard to fancy given a 0-23 hurdles record, and he is 8lb higher than over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

28th Aug 2023

Good

2m 3f 55y

16:55 Downpatrick

Lesssaidthebetter

10st 9lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: P J Rothwell

Winning pointer but a longstanding maiden under rules (0-24 hurdles, 0-9 chasing); overall profile strikes a note of caution but a breakthrough is not out of the question; the outcome could hinge on his ability to reverse Tramore form with Brehon Star who beat him quite handily there; 6lb better off and blinkered for the first time.

4/1

2nd

15

20th Aug 2023

Yielding

1m 7f 150y

14:45 Tramore

Lesssaidthebetter

10st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: P J Rothwell

midfield, jumped right and bumped rival 1st, hampered by faller when left in third 5th, went second before 2 out, challenging approaching last, went clear with winner run-in, kept on

14/1

OUR TIP

16/1

Form: 60U-69

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Only 2-52 on Flat but often placed; 0-13 over hurdles; hard to make a strong case for him after a poor run at Punchestown nine weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

19th Sep 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

15:26 Navan

Lariat

10st 8lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Liam P Cusack

Losing run stretches back to April 2022 on the Flat and winless over flights; good second on the Flat at Tramore in July but well beaten since.

16/1

Form: 80P-U7

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
A long time since he showed his best form; has run creditably at this track on occasion but otherwise does not seem to have much going for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

28th Aug 2023

Good

2m 3f 55y

16:55 Downpatrick

Copia Verborum

11st 2lb

J: Miss A McGuinness

T: J J Lambe

A long time since he showed his best form; has run creditably at this track on occasion but otherwise does not seem to have much going for him; in rear over hurdles here earlier in the month.

25/1

11th

10

13th Aug 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 65y

15:10 Downpatrick

Copia Verborum

11st 4lb

J: Miss A McGuinness

T: J J Lambe

A long time since he showed his best form; has run creditably at this track on occasion but otherwise does not seem to have much going for him.

25/1

10th

1

(2)

9th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:25 Ayr

Copia Verborum

10st 0lb

J: James Sullivan

T: J J Lambe

Irish challenger who is one to watch in the betting on his first Flat start since October 2021, but he hasn't really shone over hurdles subsequently and his claims aren't compelling.

16/1

Form: /7405-

Last run: 406 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Handicap debut at Tramore 13 months ago was encouraging, not beaten far in fifth; could go well if ft and ready on his first outing since then.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

13th Aug 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 65y

15:10 Downpatrick

Finches Cross

11st 9lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: Miss Elizabeth Anne Lalor

Handicap debut at Tramore 13 months ago was encouraging, not beaten far in fifth; could go well if ft and ready on his first outing since then.

12/1

Form: P75/0/

Last run: 754 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Absent for well over a year and having his first outing for this stable; up against it on first hurdles start in over two years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

15

20th Aug 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:50 Tramore

Self Assessed

10st 13lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Sean Aherne

led

33/1

13th

11

13th Aug 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 65y

15:10 Downpatrick

Self Assessed

11st 2lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Sean Aherne

Absent for well over a year and having his first outing for this stable; up against it on first hurdles start in over two years.

20/1

Non-runners

Up And Out, West Of Carrig, Redwood Queen, Depeche Mo, Silverstrand

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €93.00
Straight Forecast €79.80
Tricast €223.44
Trifecta €168.40

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Silverstrand

The Irish Sun:

Finches Cross

SPOTLIGHT:

Woodstream Lad

POSTDATA:

Silverstrand