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

3rd

6

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 180y

20:17 Kilbeggan

The Little Yank

11st 6lb

J: John Aherne

T: John Patrick Ryan

Lost form drastically after a Clonmel win in January on the 101st outing of his career; pulled up on last four starts; Love Like This is yard's main hope.

25/1

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

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

7th

7

12th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 121y

16:35 Sligo

Sphagnum

11st 2lb

J: Mr J P Sampson

T: J P Broderick

Lost his form badly after winning the Cork National in 2024, but bounced back over 3m2f here (good) last time in first-time blinkers when runner-up after idling when leading (1.75l ahead of Je Suis); form of that race is questionable, but he has a notably low hurdles mark if he can repeat that effort.

7/1

2nd

8

9th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

19:30 Sligo

Sphagnum

11st 11lb

J: Mr J P Sampson

T: J P Broderick

Lost his form badly after winning the Cork National in 2024 and is hard to fancy on recent poor hurdle runs; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

33/1

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

+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