September 30 / 14.15 Gowran Park

14.15

Heavy

www.gowranpark.ie 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6265.49
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 11 runners
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www.gowranpark.ie 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £18.10
  • Place: £4.00

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big run on debut on the Flat (1m2f) and ran to a similar level over 1m5f; form dipped when dropped back to 1m2f last time; sire has had a few winners over jumps; wears first-time blinkers for hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

(5)

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 141y

18:24 Down Royal

Open To Question

9st 8lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Noel Meade

Useful juvenile hurdle winner in 2023, scored again early last year; 0-4 on the Flat but shaped well on opening two runs on good ground; handicap debut and new headgear combination tried on first Flat run in over a year; yard has excellent recent record in this race so has to be respected, despite more obvious claims of stablemate Billie Frechette.

10/1

2

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:30 Killarney

Open To Question

11st 7lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Is 2-8 over timber but yet to prove he's as effective at this sort of trip and arrives on the back of six-month absence; doesn't look well treated on what he's achieved in the last 12 months.

25/1

100/30

  • Place: £1.90

Form: U42

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unseated early on hurdle bow and was only a distant fourth at Killarney on his second try but left that behind when runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe 15 days ago (Expelliarmus third); handled heavy ground on the level and he sets the standard here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

14:10 Market Rasen

Pigeon House

11st 1lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Changed hands in March after winning a claimer; only four ran when a half-length runner-up here a month ago; opposable at this level.

40/1

2nd

1

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

20:01 Market Rasen

Pigeon House

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Made all, winning unchallenged in a Catterick claimer (2m, good) in March, changing hands for £12,000; failed to beat a rival on the Flat at Southwell (1m3f) on first start for this trainer the following month, and pulled up on chase debut next time; returning to hurdles is a sensible move.

8/1

1

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Pigeon House

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Can do too much in front but no alarms when making all in a Catterick claiming hurdle for Jennie Candlish in March (1m7f, good); out of a half-sister to a minor chase winner, but not bred for this job otherwise.

8/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2332 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
In the first three on each of her four hurdle starts so far; turned over when odds-on at Perth earlier this month; will need a step forward to land this but solid place claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

19

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:37 Cork

Doctor Nightingale

10st 9lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won Limerick maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last season (heavy) but remains unconvincing in handicaps; others preferred.

25/1

7th

2

21st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 33y

13:40 Down Royal

Doctor Nightingale

11st 12lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last April; not beaten far on her stable debut in a Navan handicap hurdle last month; suspected to be in season after being beaten out of sight at Tramore since; others preferred.

16/1

7th

2

21st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 33y

13:40 Down Royal

Doctor Nightingale

11st 12lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Patrick Joseph Hayes

Won a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott last April; not beaten far on her stable debut in a Navan handicap hurdle last month; suspected to be in season after being beaten out of sight at Tramore since; others preferred.

16/1

Form: 4

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promising Flat form over 1m and creditable hurdle debut when fourth of eight at Down Royal earlier this month; entitled to build on that and one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

16:00 Cartmel

Emotivo

11st 6lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a juvenile fillies' handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f, good) in April; no joy back on the Flat since but she's still unexposed over hurdles and could resume her progress back in this sphere; respected with Rachael Blackmore booked.

3/1

6th

11

(2)

24th Jun 2024

Yielding

1m 5f 0y

20:20 Ballinrobe

Emotivo

9st 2lb

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

Handicap hurdle winner at Cheltenham in April; Flat credentials are not very convincing, mid-division behind the progressive Glor Tire at Gowran three weeks ago.

12/1

7th

7

(13)

3rd Jun 2024

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 100y

16:35 Gowran Park

Emotivo

9st 8lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Henry De Bromhead

Improved for drier ground when winning a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Cheltenham's April meeting when last seen; placed in two of her four Flat races on turf and she's handicapped on slow-ground form; interesting under these conditions now switched to a handicap.

13/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some useful form on the Flat but yet to go further than 1m and not bred for this; market may be informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Sep 2024

Yielding To Soft

1m 7f 135y

13:40 Roscommon

Biggerthanbigtime

11st 7lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Dual-purpose maiden; rated 110 after five runs over hurdles; best effort in a maiden at Galway in October 2023 when a 6.25l third of 10; out of form in last two runs on the Flat and difficult to know what to expect from him here; others are preferred.

14/1

15th

13

(5)

5th Aug 2024

Good

1m 2f 84y

17:20 Naas

Biggerthanbigtime

9st 3lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Padraig Roche

midfield

14/1

14th

9

(17)

28th Jun 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

19:50 Curragh

Biggerthanbigtime

9st 9lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Padraig Roche

12-race maiden who was out of form over hurdles when last seen; new trip in this sphere may help but has been off since January.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hasn't shown much in two starts up to 1m4f on the Flat so far; not guaranteed to see this out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

9th Sep 2024

Soft

2m 6f 97y

17:05 Galway

Tom Red

11st 6lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Better for the blinkers when third over 2m4f at Sligo in June; that was on good ground and he goes further this time, but hard to rule out.

8/1

3rd

14

11th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 162y

19:15 Sligo

Tom Red

10st 10lb

T: Mark Michael McNiff

in touch with leaders

13th

11

26th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 2f 185y

17:20 Downpatrick

Tom Red

11st 4lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Shown nothing in four runs over hurdles including handicap debut last month; best watched.

20/1

Form: 3 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two lengths behind re-opposing Pigeon House when third at Ballinrobe 15 days ago, sticking to her task well on hurdle debut; not sure to be suited by softer ground this time though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Expelliarmus

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Ex-Irish maiden who is yet to race beyond an extended 2m1f; however, she ran okay when 14l third here (good to soft) in January and continues to drop down the weights; stable in fine form on the Flat; not ruled out.

8/1

3rd

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:40 Sedgefield

Expelliarmus

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Ex-Irish maiden; has failed to improve this term for new stable but is being given a chance by the assessor, having dropped a total of a stone in the weights; may step up on her Newcastle effort behind Kazar Forez.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown some ability on the Flat up to 1m2f including on heavy; half-brother to a hurdle winner and stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

14th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 216y

18:12 Clonmel

No Big Deal

11st 11lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Charles O’Brien

Deserved his C&D win in an amateur handicap last October after several solid displays; doubts raised by subsequent form but still merits respect in a race of this standard.

9/2

9th

2

19th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 20y

15:00 Cork

No Big Deal

12st 0lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: Charles O’Brien

Deserved win in Clonmel amateur handicap in October (yielding) off 93; solid Thurles effort off revised mark; mistake costly at Clonmel next time; remains of interest if avoiding serious error.

11/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shown nothing in two starts on the Flat up to 1m4f; related to winners over hurdles but has more to prove than some.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

30th Sep 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:15 Gowran Park

Rushour Rains

11st 0lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: Paul Nolan

Shown nothing in two starts on the Flat up to 1m4f; related to winners over hurdles but has more to prove than some.

20/1

11th

7

(9)

19th Aug 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Rushour Rains

9st 8lb

J: W J Lee

T: Paul Nolan

towards rear

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promising Flat form and her best effort came on heavy; related to a point winner and one of the more interesting hurdle debutantes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

15:15 Wexford

La Tulipe Noire

10st 12lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Aengus King

Unplaced in seven hurdle runs to date, (four of them handicaps); running moderately on Flat at the moment.

14/1

7th

9

(9)

8th May 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 133y

18:52 Ballinrobe

La Tulipe Noire

8st 11lb

J: Jessica O’Gorman

T: Aengus King

Won back-to-back 1m handicaps at Cork and Roscommon last autumn (yielding/soft), yet to hit that level this term in four attempts; returns to a longer trip.

14/1

8th

10

(10)

4th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

La Tulipe Noire

9st 7lb

J: Jessica O’Gorman

T: Aengus King

AW maiden winner; her only turf wins came back-to-back at Cork and Roscommon last autumn; a bit high in the ratings since then.

16/1

Form: 3

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over 1m5f on the Flat at Down Royal this summer; distant third on last month's hurdle bow when not jumping with fluency; may do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

St Faz

10st 7lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Hurdle/chase winner who has won four times on the Flat since moving to current yard earlier this year; lacks recent match practice over jumps and that could count against him in this competitive a race.

16/1

9th

14

(9)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

St Faz

9st 2lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Usually races prominently; 4-7 for new yard this year, including two wins on Southwell Tapeta (unraced here); fifth to Shrimp Shady in Chester Plate and ran well again when second at Thirsk last time; each-way chance.

12/1

2nd

11

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

St Faz

9st 0lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Usually races prominently; won four of his six starts for new yard this year, including when returned to turf for eight-runner race at Musselburgh (2m, good) in April; has excuses for the two defeats, on latest occasion fifth of 17 in the 2m2f Chester Plate despite the work he had to do to front-run from wide draw; one to note.

7/1

Non-runners

Moondharrig, Rio Doce

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €154.60
Straight Forecast €99.59
Trifecta €992.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pigeon House

TOPSPEED:

Doctor Nightingale

The Irish Sun:

Open To Question

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Pigeon House

POSTDATA:

Pigeon House