August 24 / 19.40 Killarney

19.40

Good To Yielding

Irish Examiner Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £6004.42
  • 1m 6f 40y
  • 9 runners
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Irish Examiner Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

20/1 (Won)

  • Win: £20.70
  • Place: £4.40

Form: 0-0575

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Not much to shout about in seven starts since returning from a lengthy break; a 9yo now and others are safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(6)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Jake Peter

9st 0lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: M A Cahill

Dual-purpose veteran; four-time Flat winner (once over C&D in 2018); hasn't been pulling up any trees over hurdles in recent times; made little impression over C&D four weeks ago; others preferred; cheekpieces.

25/1

6th

13

27th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:22 Wexford

Jake Peter

11st 5lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: M A Cahill

Dual-purpose; 3-24 over hurdles, the last win coming off 3lb higher at Cork in November 2024; hasn't looked like taking advantage of sliding mark recently and fell on latest at Punchestown; needs a revival.

22/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 520-48

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Very nearly won a 1m3f handicap here last October (soft) off just 2lb lower; beaten about 5l in her two runs this season and might be nearing peak fitness; unraced beyond 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

16:50 Downpatrick

Chatterbox

11st 10lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: John Joseph Murphy

0-8 over timber but went close at Killarney last summer and arrives on the back of a big Flat run; on a fair mark and not many of her rivals arrive in-form.

3/1

10

(14)

1st Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 40y

16:40 Listowel

Chatterbox

9st 7lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John Joseph Murphy

Longstanding maiden who has shown his best form at Killarney; needs to improve considerably from a Rsocommon run; not a strong contender.

16/1

10

(14)

1st Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 40y

16:40 Listowel

Chatterbox

9st 7lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John Joseph Murphy

Longstanding maiden who has shown his best form at Killarney; needs to improve considerably from a Rsocommon run; not a strong contender.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 062533 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Gained his sole victory at Tramore last August when 7lb lower, after which he went close in this race off today's mark; consistent this year without being able to get the job done but he's unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

15

26th Dec 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:45 Leopardstown

Barometer

10st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John Joseph Murphy

midfield

20/1

17th

4

17th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 3

16:05 Cheltenham

Barometer

11st 11lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Joseph Murphy

One 2m win from 21 races on the Flat, showing fair form; has shown ability in all four starts (maidens) over hurdles, the latest when runner-up to an impressive odds-on winner at Punchestown in October; could have more to give in this sphere and it is needed.

20/1

Form: 0-1494

Last run: 62 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose horse with six wins to his name, the latest a 1m5f handicap at Navan in April; remains 3lb higher than that day and recent efforts could have been better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

16:42 Wexford

Rich Belief

11st 8lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Karl Thornton

Best hurdles form was in 2022, and he has done most of his racing on the Flat in recent years; second at Clonmel last September has been the only bright spot since a 2024 Chester win; no merit in his recent Navan run; may struggle to run up to an official rating of 117.

8/1

19th

13

(23)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 5f 0y

17:25 Navan

Rich Belief

9st 11lb

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Karl Thornton

Second at Clonmel last September has been the only bright spot since a 2024 Chester win; some merit in his recent Clonmel run.

12/1

6th

8

(6)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Rich Belief

9st 2lb

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Karl Thornton

Seven wins between both codes but last one came on the Flat at Chester in 2024; would have a chance if back to the form of his Clonmel second last September.

14/1

11/2

Form: 523/20 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
After a spell over hurdles he was second of 14 over 1m4f at Ballinrobe and posted a similar RPR when about 5l away at Tipperary; however, only 1-33 and has been placed too many times for comfort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

16

(13)

22nd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:32 Navan

Viceregent

9st 3lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: H D McGuigan

Both wins have been on soft including this race two years ago when with Charles Byrnes; much lower mark nowadays and just okay runs of late; more needed.

25/1

17

(1)

13th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 4f 46y

17:05 Roscommon

Viceregent

9st 4lb

T: H D McGuigan

First reserve; two-time soft ground winner but on a long losing run; not the worst effort at Bellewstown latest and he's on a dangerous mark; could go well if getting a run.

6th

7

(9)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 77y

16:45 Bellewstown

Viceregent

9st 8lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: H D McGuigan

Struggled for form since leaving Charles Byrnes in 2023 and no signs of a revival at Down Royal last month; return to slower ground may help and on a career-low mark but he's hard to recommend.

25/1

Form: 932/90

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
An 11-race maiden; has placed form to his name but only recently returned from a mammoth absence and was well behind Zileo at the Curragh only 11 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(10)

11th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 144y

18:45 Clonmel

Weather Alert

11st 3lb

J: Mr C Mullins

T: Thomas Mullins

Maiden who has not run on the Flat since second over 2m at Thurles in October 2023; ordinary form over hurdles this year; addition of tongue-tie could spark a revival.

10/1

11th

19

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

16:10 Punchestown

Weather Alert

10st 8lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Thomas Mullins

Dual-purpose maiden has been soundly beaten in handicaps over various trips and isn't easy to fancy.

50/1

12th

16

27th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 63y

20:00 Ballinrobe

Weather Alert

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Thomas Mullins

Dual-purpose maiden is 0-5 over timber; hasn't shown enough in two handicap hurdles to be of interest here, though could improve if the ground turns soft (has run well on soft on the Flat).

25/1

Form: 760365

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Ran them ragged in a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in June; beaten 4l (maiden) and about 8l (handicap) in his two Flat runs since then; others are more likely winners of this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 155y

16:50 Tipperary

Wrecking Ball Paul

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Paul Mulligan

Dual-purpose; 1-15 over hurdles and rated 99; not many positives to glean from two starts over fences; others preferred.

25/1

7

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

17:35 Downpatrick

Wrecking Ball Paul

11st 3lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Paul Mulligan

Hasn't taken to fences the last twice but those were after some underwhelming runs on the Flat and over hurdles; bit to prove right now.

20/1

Form: 5003-0

Last run: 59 days

W: 8st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Ten-race maiden who has been struggling under both codes this year; out of the handicap and tries cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 85y

18:02 Killarney

Vintage Gold

10st 8lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: John Joseph Murphy

Sole win over hurdles came over C&D in 2023; some decent runs in defeat last year but has to bounce back from a poor Listowel effort.

22/1

6

31st May 2025

Good

2m 4f 80y

15:40 Listowel

Vintage Gold

11st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: John Joseph Murphy

Sole win came over this sort of trip at Killarney in August 2023; running well in defeat from this sort of mark at the end of 2024 and may have needed this month's return at Tipperary; some rain would be in his favour.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 226652

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Won over 1m5f in France; has dropped a long way down the weights since joining current yard and, in this new headgear combination, he was second in a huge field at the Curragh 11 days ago (1m6f, good); doesn't look the easiest to win with but won't be far away if repeating that latest effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(5)

22nd Dec 2023

Standard

2m 0f 0y

18:30 Dundalk (AW)

Zileo

9st 5lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: M Halford & T Collins

pushed along briefly, soon in touch with leaders, led after 4f

16/1

7th

3

(8)

29th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Zileo

9st 13lb

J: W J Lee

T: M Halford & T Collins

Three runner-up finishes on turf this year, two of them over further than this; has failed to show his best form at this venue and it looked as if he needed further when sixth over C&D four weeks ago; on a positive note, his yard is in excellent form.

5/1

6th

4

(15)

1st Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:05 Dundalk (AW)

Zileo

10st 1lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: M Halford & T Collins

Stays a lot further and plenty of placed form on turf, including three runner-up finishes this year; not shown his best at this venue albeit not had that many goes here.

12/1

Non-runners

Votre Homme

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €117.80
Straight Forecast €106.19
Tricast €370.48

Selections

POSTDATA:

Zileo

SPOTLIGHT:

Barometer

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Weather Alert

The Irish Sun:

Zileo