August 26 / 19.40 Curragh

19.40

Good

Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race

  • Prize money: £52.21
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • 13 runners
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Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.40
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 10-421

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
At the top of his game over 2m; now rated 100 after Galway second and fine Ascot win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(12)

23rd Aug 2024

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:12 Killarney

The Very Man

9st 12lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Mrs John Harrington

slowly into stride, always behind

12/1

9th

2

19th Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 180y

15:05 Killarney

The Very Man

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Mrs John Harrington

Talented dual-purpose performer; cracking fifth in red-hot 2m4f Punchestown handicap on latest hurdles run.

7/1

12th

2

(9)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

18:05 Ascot

The Very Man

9st 11lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Very solid sequence last spring/summer on ground ranging from good (unraced on firmer) to heavy, including a dominant display from the back over 2m at this track; 7lb higher mark today demands a career-best Flat performance but he was bang there in blanket finish to a good handicap hurdle last month and it's not hard to think that this trip will suit.

25/1

16/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won ordinary maiden hurdle at Sligo, well held in Galway handicap hurdle last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:15 Downpatrick

Bukhill

11st 12lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: Peter Fahey

in touch with leaders, nudged along after 4 out, 6 lengths down when fell 3 out

12/1

2

15th Aug 2024

Good

1m 7f 120y

17:20 Tramore

Bukhill

11st 5lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Peter Fahey

led, raced in second when headed 3rd, outpaced when stumbled badly and unseated 2 out

6/1

7th

1

(18)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 80y

20:20 Killarney

Bukhill

10st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Peter Fahey

Two-time winner over hurdles; handicapped on his third to Uxmal at Tramore last year; might be high enough on his handicap debut.

16/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 341/8-

Last run: 470 days

W: 12st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Mid-field Galway Hurdle run respectable; was worthy of mid-80s mark on Flat in Britain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

14:00 Naas

Amir Kabir

11st 3lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

towards rear

10/1

1st

1

16th Sep 2023

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 120y

14:10 Navan

Amir Kabir

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

made all, faced challenge 2 out, soon ridden, went clear again final 110yds, kept on well

Evs

3rd

3

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

19:40 Curragh

Amir Kabir

12st 6lb

J: Ms Hannah Smullen

T: Gordon Elliott

Mid-field Galway Hurdle run respectable; was worthy of mid-80s mark on Flat in Britain.

7/1

Form: -04300

Last run: 11 days

W: 12st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won two valuable handicap prizes last year; not as good lately but has rating to contend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Jungle Cove

12st 0lb

J: Patrick James Chesters

T: Mrs John Harrington

3-34 on the Flat and rated 74, off since poor run at Laytown last September.

11/1

6

(2)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:10 Laytown

Jungle Cove

11st 13lb

J: Miss J Townend

T: Mrs John Harrington

Did well to overcome slow start when winning this last term; hasn't fully fired this season and was well held in charity race at the Curragh on Saturday; like last year, he could come into things if they go hard up front.

4/1

4

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

17:47 Curragh

Jungle Cove

12st 6lb

J: Claire O’Ryan

T: Mrs John Harrington

Three Flat wins over shorter; below best in just two runs this year and yard have a stronger contender in Mo Ghille Mar.

9/1

Form: 77-310

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Gained sixth Flat win at Sligo in May; not much since but rated to be competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 80-000

Last run: 150 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Modest maiden hasn't shown much for quite a while and looks outclassed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

22

17th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

12:45 Navan

Adhuil

10st 11lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

A couple of good efforts in Flat handicaps earlier in the year; not much to recommend over hurdles and has not run over flights in 22 months; tried in a tongue-tie here.

40/1

13th

22

17th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

12:45 Navan

Adhuil

10st 11lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

A couple of good efforts in Flat handicaps earlier in the year; not much to recommend over hurdles and has not run over flights in 22 months; tried in a tongue-tie here.

40/1

14th

24

(15)

17th Oct 2024

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Adhuil

8st 13lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Record of 0-20 on the Flat but has shown flashes of potential, including when runner-up at Gowran (7f, yielding) from 2lb higher in April and third at Tipperary (1m1f, soft) in May; needed the run at Punchestown last month and might figure.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Six-time hurdle winner at a modest level; unlikely to match some of these on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

19:40 Curragh

Gotthenod

12st 4lb

J: Fergus Lawlor

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Six-time hurdle winner at a modest level; unlikely to match some of these on the Flat.

25/1

9th

2

8th Aug 2023

Soft

2m 7f 130y

18:30 Roscommon

Gotthenod

12st 0lb

J: Tom Harney

T: Ross O’Sullivan

led, hit 3rd, joined 10th, lost position 3 out, switched left 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/1

6th

2

9th Jul 2023

Good

3m 1f 88y

16:55 Sligo

Gotthenod

11st 13lb

J: Tom Harney

T: Ross O’Sullivan

prominent

5/1

Form: /017-6

Last run: 51 days

W: 12st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Mark of 84 from his time in Britain but out of form Flat and jumps for current yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(13)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:10 Laytown

Fireworks

11st 12lb

J: Mr B O’Neill

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Missed all of 2024 and shown nothing in four runs over jumps this year; won over slightly further at Beverley in 2021 but hard to make a case for.

25/1

13

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

17:47 Curragh

Fireworks

12st 0lb

J: Ben Cusack

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Both wins over shorter; hurdling (to little effect) of late, hard to be confident in back on the level.

33/1

16

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 50y

14:30 Killarney

Fireworks

10st 3lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Poor on last three starts and can't be fancied on that evidence.

66/1

Form: 14000- D

Last run: 365 days

W: 12st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Been running okay over hurdles but even the best of his Flat form leaves him up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

24th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

16:35 Naas

The Virginian

9st 4lb

J: Ross Fagan

T: Padraig Roche

AW winner in 2022; in moderate form over jumps before finishing last back on the Flat here 20 days ago; 7f would have been inadequate but still has serious questions to answer.

20/1

16th

8

(6)

4th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

15:46 Naas

The Virginian

9st 7lb

J: Ross Fagan

T: Padraig Roche

Pretty much tailed off in his last four jumps races split between hurdling and chasing; unlikely to have the gears for this.

50/1

11

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

17:00 Wexford

The Virginian

10st 11lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Has been mixing chasing and hurdling recently to no avail; handicapper giving him a chance but hard to be confident in.

33/1

Form: 200078

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Long-standing maiden over around 1m; very stiff task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

27th

30

(1)

17th Oct 2024

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Tall Story

8st 12lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Low-grade handicapper is now 0-41 after latest no show on first try over hurdles at Gowran; easy to look elsewhere.

50/1

13th

10

4th Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Gowran Park

Tall Story

11st 12lb

J: Tom Harney

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Low-grade Flat handicapper, 0-40 record is off-putting though placed ten times; no hurdling experience.

20/1

7th

12

(10)

17th Sep 2024

Good

1m 1f 39y

17:30 Punchestown

Tall Story

8st 12lb

J: Jack Cleary

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Is 0-39 but has hit the frame on multiple occasions; poor effort at Leopardstown last month but went close off 47 at Fairyhouse (7f, good) on his penultimate start; 2lb wrong but 7lb claimer negates that and he could bounce back; place claims.

16/1

Form: 699070

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Has a mark in the mid-60s and not in much form lately.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

15

(13)

9th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 115y

20:10 Tipperary

Halcyon Spirit

9st 7lb

J: Abbie Murphy

T: J Motherway

in touch with leaders, prominent after 4f

50/1

12th

17

(1)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 103y

19:50 Killarney

Halcyon Spirit

8st 12lb

J: Abbie Murphy

T: J Motherway

Second reserve; soundly beaten in four runs for this stable; others preferred.

9th

16

(4)

3rd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 120y

20:20 Tipperary

Halcyon Spirit

8st 12lb

J: Abbie Murphy

T: J Motherway

AW winner for Marcus Tregoning and John McConnell; down the field in three turf starts for this stable.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Been in good form over hurdles, bolting up at Tipperary and fourth over 2m6f at Galway.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

15

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Watch The Weather

10st 5lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: R P Cody

Mixes chasing with hurdling and has run well here over flights; won a couple of handicap chases in 2024 but held in four starts over the larger obstacles since, including on first start of the year at Wexford last month; second over hurdles since and has dropped below latest winning chase mark.

9/1

2nd

3

11th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 50y

18:07 Killarney

Watch The Weather

11st 9lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: R P Cody

Dual chase winner with three hurdle wins on the board; beaten 17l over fences on last month's return from a lengthy break but might strip fitter here and Kennedy is booked.

10/1

6th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Watch The Weather

10st 11lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: R P Cody

Won over fences last season, over C&D (good) and on soft at Punchestown (2m6f) off this mark; form earlier this season not so good, absent since never counting in Munster National in October; noteworthy jockey booking on return to action.

12/1

Form: 480089

Last run: 134 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 43

Form & Verdict
50-race maiden with a lowly mark; should enjoy the day out without being competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(9)

12th Sep 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

17:45 Laytown

Cometh The Man

10st 3lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Long-standing maiden got the half-century up when well held at Dundalk in April; ran well above his mark in C&D contest a year ago so that gives him a little chance of getting into the money.

14/1

13th

12

26th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

19:40 Curragh

Cometh The Man

12st 0lb

J: Joey Ryan

T: John C McConnell

50-race maiden with a lowly mark; should enjoy the day out without being competitive.

100/1

9th

6

(13)

14th Apr 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:40 Dundalk (AW)

Cometh The Man

9st 1lb

J: Dean Curran

T: John C McConnell

49-race maiden; wasn't beaten far here on Tuesday and won't mind return to 7f but hard to fancy for win purposes given his overall record.

16/1

Non-runners

Sign From Above, Laishann, Abu Hazem

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €16.90
Straight Forecast €22.10
Trifecta €47.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Very Man

RP RATINGS (IRE):

The Very Man

POSTDATA:

The Very Man

The Irish Sun:

The Very Man