October 03 / 16.45 Galway

16.45

Soft To Heavy

Guinness Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £11486.73
  • 2m 2f 110y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Guinness Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.20
  • Place: £1.70

Form: -25143

Last run: 58 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Only 1-9 as a chaser but often thereabouts and this looks a bit easier than of late; trip/ground fine and he's a strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Pats Choice

10st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

C&D winner in October; latest win came at Naas in January over 2m; holding his form reasonably well since and didn't run badly lto when beaten 11.5l into sixth by Galway Plate winner Pinkerton; likes soft ground.

11/1

6th

17

2nd May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 55y

16:15 Punchestown

Pats Choice

10st 1lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.

16/1

6th

17

2nd May 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 55y

16:15 Punchestown

Pats Choice

10st 1lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Has enjoyed a good season in handicaps at around this trip, winning at Wexford, Galway and Naas; has found things too demanding since Naas success in January, but now back on a mark that gives him a fair chance.

16/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 026362 D BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Having his 61st career start but only his 12th over fences; beaten by the right horse in a non-handicap at Sligo the last time (2m5f, soft) and he's on a perfectly fair mark; can cope with the mud but these conditions wouldn't be preferable.
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: 2PP548

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Capable chaser on his day but hasn't been great of late and he'd prefer drier ground in an ideal world.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:00 Kilbeggan

The Dara Man

10st 6lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Modest strike-rate of 3-39 over fences with last win coming over C&D in August 2024; jumped badly when pulled up on final two starts in 2025; possibly needed the run at Limerick ten days ago.

20/1

8th

5

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 176y

18:18 Limerick

The Dara Man

11st 4lb

J: J J Slevin

T: John Patrick Ryan

Modest strike-rate of 3-38 over fences with last win coming at Kilbeggan in August last year; jumping awry when pulled up in his two most recent starts in December; suited by better ground but others preferred.

22/1

6th

10

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 100y

15:12 Down Royal

The Dara Man

11st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Modest strike-rate of 3-35 over fences; is 9lb below his last win and was still going okay when unseating three out at Cork (16.5f, good) on penultimate; 2m5f may have stretched him on latest at Clonmel; good ground key.

14/1

Form: U-P516

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Had one of his good days when winning over 2m4f at Wexford in July (good to yielding) where he jumped well out in front and held on gamely; can be inconsistent though and it was a struggle at Listowel only ten days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

20

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Take All

12st 0lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Good efforts in defeat behind Java Point (3m, good to soft) and Unexposed Party (2m6f, good to soft) this year and ran well for a long way before fading at last month's Cheltenham Festival (3m2f); could have an each-way shout at big odds now back down in trip; reapplied cheekpieces replace hood.

40/1

8th

19

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Take All

12st 0lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

125-1 for this last year but was still travelling within himself when falling three out; returns on the back of a positive performance at Haydock when just ahead of Shearer; hood returns; he's no forlorn hope by any means.

50/1

2nd

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Take All

12st 1lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Ran well when fifth in this race a year ago (good to soft) and has some notable form since, including fourth of 16 in amateur riders' handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, heavy) in November and third in recent Ludlow hunter chase (3m, good to soft); can make his presence felt.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 06-020 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Ran a cracker to finish sixth in the Grand National at Aintree; has struggled in a couple of deep handicaps since then but did run well behind the smart Saint Sam in a conditions event over 2m6f here in August; this probably represents his best opportunity for a while and, although a strong stayer, he can cope with this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 193y

13:00 Punchestown

Born By The Sea

11st 4lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Talented on his day but hasn't produced his best for some time; pulled up in his last two starts in point-to-points; can only be watched on his Cross Country debut.

16/1

11th

9

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 193y

13:00 Punchestown

Born By The Sea

11st 4lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Talented on his day but hasn't produced his best for some time; pulled up in his last two starts in point-to-points; can only be watched on his Cross Country debut.

16/1

10th

6

2nd Aug 2024

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Born By The Sea

11st 4lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

midfield

12/1

Form: 12-541

Last run: 105 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Benefited from a strong pace up front when accounting for a solid yardstick at Wexford (3m1f, good to yielding), after which his jockey reported that he seems better going left handed; given that, and with him 6lb higher, he might be worth taking on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 150y

20:18 Limerick

Battle Of Mirbat

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Michael J McDonagh

Gained third chase win off 5lb lower at Down Royal in November; some decent runs in defeat since including when a 12.5l fourth of 13 at Leopardstown on latest (28.5f, yld-sft); this trip more suitable; place shout but may need more help from the handicapper to get his head back in front.

17/2

4th

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 4f 61y

16:55 Leopardstown

Battle Of Mirbat

11st 11lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Michael J McDonagh

Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest in January after the leader unseated; weakened into a 12.5l fifth at Thurles last time (2m5f, yielding); tries this trip for the first time but probably not crying out for it.

10/1

5th

8

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 198y

14:50 Thurles

Battle Of Mirbat

10st 11lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Michael J McDonagh

Added third chase win at Down Royal in November (3m, good to yielding); struggled off 8lb higher mark in following two runs; took the runner-up spot in a weak Cork contest last time after the leader unseated; needs more to score again.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €14.40
Straight Forecast €15.38
Trifecta €70.50

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

The Little Yank

SPOTLIGHT:

Born By The Sea

TOPSPEED:

The Little Yank

POSTDATA:

The Little Yank

The Irish Sun:

The Little Yank