September 27 / 16.55 Bellewstown

16.55

Yielding To Soft

Johnny Kierans Memorial Maiden

  • Prize money: £6526.55
  • 1m 4f 50y
  • 14 runners
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Johnny Kierans Memorial Maiden

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Abandoned

Form:

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field in a belated Navan maiden debut earlier this month; safe to look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(4)

16th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

13:05 Dundalk (AW)

He Is Brave

9st 12lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Luke Comer

Down the field over 1m at Navan on his only start; tried with a hood; safe to rule out.

100/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not a factor in bumpers and over hurdles; would appear to be of little account on current evidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(17)

29th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

18:30 Dundalk (AW)

Dugort Bay

9st 8lb

J: Conor Maxwell

T: Paul Stafford

No sign of ability in bumpers/hurdles; tailed off at the Curragh on her only Flat start.

200/1

14th

1

(8)

31st Oct 2023

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

14:32 Curragh

Dugort Bay

9st 9lb

J: James Ryan

T: Paul Stafford

slowly away, in rear

200/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced in a bumper here last year but nothing else to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(9)

31st May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

20:00 Down Royal

Wee Valerie

9st 4lb

J: James Ryan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Modest form under all codes including both Flat starts; can't be fancied.

100/1

10th

2

(4)

20th May 2024

Soft

1m 2f 58y

18:50 Roscommon

Wee Valerie

10st 2lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Modest bumper/hurdles form and no show in Thurles Flat maiden when last seen in October.

100/1

10th

2

(4)

20th May 2024

Soft

1m 2f 58y

18:50 Roscommon

Wee Valerie

10st 2lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Modest bumper/hurdles form and no show in Thurles Flat maiden when last seen in October.

100/1

Form: 42-553

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Consistent maiden; run out of it close home on his first try at this trip at Listowel last week; top-rated in the race and entitled to plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Harsh

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Capable of useful form over fences in Ireland for Gordon Elliott but he's still to score in this sphere and has offered little for his new yard, jumping sketchily when pulled up in 3m Doncaster handicap three weeks ago; plenty more is required despite a tumbling mark.

33/1

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:38 Doncaster

Harsh

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Ex-Irish 6yo; last of five finishers at Newbury (2m6f) on debut for new yard, taking chase record to 0-7; needs improvement to defy top weight.

25/1

Abandoned

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Abandoned

Form: 228

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Below-par effort at Punchestown earlier this month but fine efforts on his two previous runs in a Fairyhouse claimer and a Down Royal maiden; has to prove his effectiveness at this trip but a leading contender if he does stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Ayr

Nakassama

11st 11lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

Irish 6yo who justified market support at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) on last attempt over hurdles, opening his account; interesting back in this sphere, especially if again backed; tongue-tie fitted on return from layoff.

6/1

5

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 219y

17:25 Clonmel

Nakassama

11st 8lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Noel C Kelly

Off the mark over hurdles in a modest contest at Hexham in June; good effort in a 1m4f Flat maiden at the Galway festival; tailed off on his chase debut at Downpatrick; could be a different proposition in a handicap.

7/1

Abandoned

Form:

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in a Punchestown maiden and needs to improve dramatically to be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 210y

16:52 Fairyhouse

Proleek Prince

9st 6lb

J: Aleesha McArdle

T: M M Rice

Useful form in 2024, winning over a mile at Punchestown and Dundalk; failed to prosper last year and lots to find on two efforts this term; tries this longer trip again.

16/1

8th

10

(9)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

18:12 Leopardstown

Proleek Prince

9st 9lb

J: Aleesha McArdle

T: M M Rice

Useful form in 2024, winning over this trip at Punchestown and Dundalk; failed to prosper last year; not a bad 7f run here on seasonal debut and may improve over the extra furlong.

20/1

9th

14

(7)

15th Apr 2026

Yielding

0m 7f 0y

16:52 Leopardstown

Proleek Prince

9st 0lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: M M Rice

Punchestown handicap winner in September 2024 off this mark (1m, good) and added an AW win at Dundalk later that year; struggled on turf last season and not many positives in his 8l tenth at Dundalk when last seen in November.

20/1

Abandoned

Form: 643

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Seemed to stay well enough despite taking a keen tug at Cork last month; similar effort a few days later at Roscommon; more needed but unlikely to be too far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

27th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:08 Cartmel

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

C&D winner off 2lb lower last summer (soft) and some respectable runs in the meantime; the latest at Perth wasn't one of them but he's hard to rule out.

8/1

5th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Rioja Alta

12st 0lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Winner off 3lb lower at Cartmel last summer (2m6f, soft); two good runs this year, latest when third in a stronger race at Wetherby (3m, good to soft); chance down in grade.

9/2

3rd

11

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) last July and he's worked his way back to form, finishing third of eight at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in January; faces tougher opposition today, however, and needs another step forward.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 79

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has beaten two rivals in two maidens and makes little appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

11

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

18:00 Ballinrobe

Sunny Dude

11st 4lb

J: Benjamin P Kennedy

T: D Buckley

Flat maiden 0-15 in that sphere and rated 36; hard to make a case for on hurdles debut.

80/1

11

(1)

15th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 2f 150y

17:45 Dundalk (AW)

Sunny Dude

8st 12lb

J: Rory Cleary

T: D Buckley

Maiden was fourth at Navan over 1m5f, weakening late; had no chance from out of the weights at the Curragh last time; still needs more off his true mark.

16/1

12th

16

(15)

27th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:00 Curragh

Sunny Dude

8st 7lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: D Buckley

Maiden has run respectably on last two starts at Navan but is rated only 40 and a long way out of the handicap.

100/1

Abandoned

Form: 242

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Well bred filly has run well all three maiden starts over a similar trip to this; best effort when just denied here last time; the fifth and sixth home that day have won since; this softer ground poses a question but can go close if handling it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(13)

31st Oct 2023

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

14:32 Curragh

Alalcance

9st 3lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Mrs John Harrington

midfield, headway and in touch with leaders 5f out, challenging 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, clear over 1f out, kept on well

7/2

Form: 06

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Much better effort on her second start in a 1m maiden at Navan earlier this month; big step up in trip here but appears to be going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

(7)

12th Oct 2023

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Antique Store

9st 3lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

towards rear

8/1

6th

3

(8)

2nd Sep 2023

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

16:00 Navan

Antique Store

9st 3lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Half-sister to winners Acolyte (6f inc 2yo/AW; RPR 102), Amplify (5f-6f; 95), Moonshiner (5f; 62) and Arcara (5f AW; 57); dam unraced; reported clinically abnormal when eased down on Killarney debut in July; that run best ignored and Foley's pick.

13/2

Abandoned

Form: 000

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in three maidens and can't be fancied; cheekpieces tried here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form:

Last run: 257 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far in a 1m maiden at Dundalk in January but best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(8)

19th Jun 2025

Yielding

1m 1f 0y

19:00 Leopardstown

Dont Look Now

9st 6lb

J: Hugh Horgan

T: Shane Crawley

Fair placed form over on AW; put a blot on her record when refusing to race last time when 20-1 chance for Fairyhouse race in which Kartayaz was fourth.

20/1

7

(8)

6th Jun 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

19:35 Fairyhouse

Dont Look Now

9st 5lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Shane Crawley

Seven race maiden is 0-1 on turf but went close a couple of times on AW for former yard; lacks a run and best watched on stable debut unless the market speaks.

20/1

12th

7

(16)

8th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Dont Look Now

9st 6lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Luke Comer

Unexposed sort who has been beaten less than a length in her three handicap starts, all over C&D; has a wide draw this time but open to more progress than most.

6/1

Abandoned

Form: 45932 BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Getting closer to winning; unlucky when just touched off over this trip at Listowel last week (Harsh third); blinkers tried here and looks sure to go close once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Sep 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:45 Kilbeggan

Hey Whatever

12st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Was in the process of running a big race when coming down late at Cork on her return and gained compensation in 2m2f Downpatrick maiden in July, battling well after making much of running; missed two engagements since due to softer ground so won't want too much rain.

7/2

Non-runners

David's Lad, Collaborative, Fulltime

Verdict

Plenty of dead wood in this contest and not many count. This could be the chance for HEY WHATEVER(nap) after her unlucky defeat at Listowel last week and she can confirm placings with third-placed Harsh. Nakassama can contend on his earlier form while the ground is a question for Alalcance. [Justin O’Hanlon]

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Alalcance

SPOTLIGHT:

Hey Whatever

POSTDATA:

Alalcance

The Irish Sun:

Alalcance