September 27 / 17.05 Sligo

17.05

Yielding

Lough Gill Chase

  • Prize money: £6526.55
  • 2m 5f 47y
  • 5 runners
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Lough Gill Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.20
  • Place: £1.60

Form: PP-304 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Fair to say he's been disappointing since beating decent mare at Tramore on third chase start; favourite to beat the likes of Fury Road and Vanillier in Grade 2 early last season but bombed out and nothing over fences since including twice last month; highest-rated and goes on heavy but opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Fighter Allen

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

took keen hold, prominent

25/1

1

18th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Fighter Allen

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

took keen hold, prominent

25/1

13/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 702636 CD

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Heavily-raced gelding is course winner over hurdles and fences; has fallen a few times over the larger obstacles but decent chance on the pick of his form, including second in Listed handicap at Killarney in July; pair of solid runs hurdling at Listowel last week; ran well on soft in valuable Naas handicap last season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

16th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 60y

16:30 Limerick

The Little Yank

11st 8lb

J: John Aherne

T: John Patrick Ryan

Veteran improved his hurdles strike-rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory on the 101st outing of his career in January off 93; generally unpredictable; pulled up on his three most recent attempts.

66/1

3

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 170y

13:34 Limerick

The Little Yank

11st 10lb

J: John Aherne

T: John Patrick Ryan

Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up on his two most recent attempts.

20/1

15

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 0y

14:25 Limerick

The Little Yank

11st 12lb

J: John Aherne

T: John Patrick Ryan

Improved his hurdling strike rate to 5-60 with Clonmel victory over Coffeys Forge on the 101st outing of his career; generally unpredictable in recent seasons; pulled up at Thurles last Thursday; first reserve.

Form: 0-12U2

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Couldn't win a hurdle but fair start over fences this summer; after winning at Clonmel, had Sphagnum well behind when second in Tipperary novice and likewise The Little Yank was well in arrears when he was second in 2m5f Killarney handicap; handled yielding/soft last time, trainer says he ideally wants it good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 6f 111y

18:52 Galway

Mr Saxobeat

11st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Thomas Gibney

Sole win from 20 attempts over fences came in a Clonmel beginners' chase in 2023; second on seasonal return at Wexford in July; pulled up in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen; suffered the same fate at Killarney last time.

20/1

15

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 180y

16:50 Killarney

Mr Saxobeat

10st 4lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Thomas Gibney

Sole win from 20 attempts over fences came in a Clonmel beginners' chase in 2023; however, he has been running well in defeat, with several placed finishes including on seasonal return at Wexford in July (2m3f, good); pulled up at Market Rasen when last seen.

18/1

12

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

15:12 Market Rasen

Mr Saxobeat

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Thomas Gibney

Irish challenger; 3lb out of the weights and over two years since he last won (overall strike-rate of 2-33); however, good second at Wexford on his return from a break and he's one who won't mind what the weather does.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: P-5417

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Progressive summer novice over hurdles last year; form of win in three-runner contest at Roscommon on second chase start is far from solid and ran no race in Grade 3 at Galway festival; doesn't want testing ground
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 120y

14:18 Tipperary

Lieutenant Highway

11st 1lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Four-time hurdle winner also won a novice chase in 2023 for this yard; subsequently lost his form and back with this yard after a spell with Moses McCabe; seems best watched.

25/1

5

12th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:35 Kilbeggan

Lieutenant Highway

11st 3lb

J: James O’Sullivan

T: Moses McCabe

Five wins for Gordon Elliott; ran like he needed it on stable bow at Wexford; probably best watched at present.

25/1

Form: 9-F140 C

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won pair of ordinary handicaps over hurdles, one of them here; won modest Downpatrick beginners' (2m7f) on third start over fences but long way off Mr Saxobeat when fourth in Tipperary novice; handles summer soft but doesn't want it worse that that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

15:35 Down Royal

Sphagnum

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

Much better chaser, winning 3m4f Cork National last season (good); holds a whopping 30lb lower hurdles mark but unable to capitalise on it in three runs over timber this season; must be kept in mind considering his mark.

20/1

2

20th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 118y

19:38 Sligo

Sphagnum

11st 7lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

Much better chaser, winning 3m4f Cork National last season (good); unable to capitalise on 25lb lower hurdles mark on return earlier this month at Ballinrobe but entitled to come on for that so has to be respected (previous winner here).

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €8.20
Straight Forecast €9.16
Trifecta €25.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Little Yank

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Lieutenant Highway

TOPSPEED:

Mr Saxobeat

The Irish Sun:

Fighter Allen

POSTDATA:

The Little Yank