October 27 / 15.00 Sligo

15.00

Soft

John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5482.3
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 13 runners
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John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.20
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 33

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for 120,000GBP after finishing second in a Lingstown maiden last November; did not settle particularly well when third in a 15-runner Navan bumper last month; hooded for hurdling debut at Downpatrick three weeks ago, lost some momentum with a mistake two out, ending a soundly beaten third behind a Gordon Elliott-trained favourite.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

17th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 51y

19:15 Kilbeggan

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Second in sole point and maiden hurdle winner at Sligo in the autumn; tailed off both chase starts.

100/1

11th

4

7th May 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 31y

19:20 Ballinrobe

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

midfield, not fluent 2nd, weakened from 3 out

25/1

11th

4

7th May 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 31y

19:20 Ballinrobe

Charming Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

midfield, not fluent 2nd, weakened from 3 out

25/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.20

Form: -2632F

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice successful in points the season before last; placed in two bumpers at Downpatrick this season, including behind subsequent dual hurdles winner The Wallpark; beat all bar a well-backed winner in a maiden hurdle at the same venue in August; fell at the fifth on his latest Downpatrick visit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Kalanisi Flash

11st 6lb

J: Shane Fitzsimons

T: John C McConnell

Maiden winner over 2m6f almost two years ago; has run only twice since then; poor effort over hurdles at Cheltenham in November after a satisfactory chase run at Downpatrick.

50/1

10

24th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Cheltenham

Kalanisi Flash

11st 7lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: John C McConnell

Dual point winner who came good under rules with Downpatrick hurdle (2m6f, good) win in May 2024; returned from long absence with very encouraging third on chasing debut there (2m3f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in August; remains unexposed over fences and over staying trips; interesting.

8/1

OUR TIP

25/1

  • Place: £15.00

Form: 78P/6-

Last run: 531 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
French bumper AQPS winner in 2017; has passed through many Irish stables; ran respectably on the Flat at Listowel after a long absence; however, he is a well-exposed 80-rated handicap hurdler and very hard to fancy on that basis.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

13

29th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 53y

15:25 Roscommon

Derby De Thaix

10st 13lb

J: Miss H Heffernan

T: James Andrew Fahey

Extended record over hurdles to 0-42 at Naas when last seen in December; ran poorly on only previous visit to this track; hard to fancy.

20/1

14th

17

16th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 51y

15:00 Naas

Derby De Thaix

11st 3lb

J: Miss H Heffernan

T: James Andrew Fahey

0-41 hurdles record is highly off-putting; twice a runner-up over 3m this season; unreliable.

20/1

14th

17

16th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 51y

15:00 Naas

Derby De Thaix

11st 3lb

J: Miss H Heffernan

T: James Andrew Fahey

0-41 hurdles record is highly off-putting; twice a runner-up over 3m this season; unreliable.

20/1

Form: 212F-2 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner for the influential Ellmarie Holden 2021; runner-up in a bumper for Holden before joining Gordon Elliott; won a Thurles bumper by 17l in March; runner-up in a 24-runner maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in April; fell at second at Kilbeggan; just denied at Gowran last month, with 11l gap to the third; sets the standard; jockey rode first winner over hurdles yesterday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 3

12:22 Southwell

Zaidi

11st 8lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Point and bumper winner who also showed promise in maiden hurdles for Gordon Elliott; it's possible he'll be suited by the switch to fences on today's handicap and stable debut, but he's been absent since January and no chances have been taken with his mark; may be best watched.

20/1

7

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 3

12:22 Southwell

Zaidi

11st 8lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Point and bumper winner who also showed promise in maiden hurdles for Gordon Elliott; it's possible he'll be suited by the switch to fences on today's handicap and stable debut, but he's been absent since January and no chances have been taken with his mark; may be best watched.

20/1

6th

10

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

13:22 Cork

Zaidi

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Point and bumper winner; has gone close in a couple of maiden hurdles over 2m4f; sets the standard on form but he didn't seem to appreciate the step up to this sort of trip at Fairyhouse three weeks ago so has stamina to prove.

2/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to point/hurdle winner Cregane Ned; dam point winner out of half-sister to useful bumper and hurdle/chase winner Gonebeyondrecall; in rear at Curraghmore in April on only start for leading producer Donnchadh Doyle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

19th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 140y

16:28 Tramore

Midweek Voices

11st 1lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Eoin Doyle

Has lost way since back to back wins in early 2025; pulled up and beaten 76l in last two chase starts; hard to fancy on recent showings.

25/1

5

22nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 150y

16:37 Limerick

Midweek Voices

11st 2lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Eoin Doyle

Better chaser than hurdler with 2m4f handicap wins last season at Punchestown and Gowran (soft); below best this term over both hurdles and fences, mildly more encouraging run in first-time cheekpieces at Gowran last time; headgear retained for return to fences but others preferred at this trip.

9/1

5th

5

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

15:43 Gowran Park

Midweek Voices

11st 1lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Eoin Doyle

Better chaser than hurdler with two wins from eight chase starts; well beaten in four runs since handicap chase win here in February 2025; well-backed when well beaten on last hurdle start at Clonmel in January; cheekpieces.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal out of the versatile Broxbourne, a Flat winner (eight races) for Mark Johnston and a hurdles scorer (three races) for Nicky Henderson, with career-high ratings of 97 and 139 in the respective spheres.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 10y

15:30 Naas

The Nagger Reidy

11st 3lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: S G Carey

Dual-winning hurdler has been super consistent generally; runner-up twice this season, at Galway (2m, good to yielding) and in a Listed event here (2m4f, soft to heavy); rewarded with a win at Leopardstown over Christmas off 115 (2m5f, good to yielding); had a rare blip off his revised mark at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) last time when beaten 16l; place chance if bouncing back

14/1

6th

9

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 40y

13:20 Navan

The Nagger Reidy

11st 2lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Stephen Gerard Carey

Got his first hurdles win at Listowel in September 2024 (2m2f, soft) and has been remarkably consistent in his runs since, placing in five of his seven subsequent starts before gaining another deserved success at Leopardstown last time by a nose to Hgranca De Thaix (2m4f, good to yielding); up 6lb but he always acquits himself well.

6/1

2nd

3

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 11y

16:13 Galway

The Nagger Reidy

11st 6lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Stephen Gerard Carey

2m4f Listowel festival winner last year on handicap debut last year; not far off his best form when placed in races at Limerick (2m) and Naas (2m3f) on his final two starts before a summer break; could make his presence felt if fit and ready now.

5/1

Form: 7

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Rated 66 after five Flat runs between May and September, shaped quite well when fifth of 18 in a 1m4f Galway festival handicap; remote seventh on hurdling debut at Gowran, will need more experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

12th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 172y

19:58 Sligo

Evans Secret

11st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Locally trained; won over C&D (good) off 6lb lower when last seen in July 2025; absence since is concerning and record fresh indicates he will come on for this run.

11/2

12

13th Jul 2025

Good

3m 1f 146y

16:45 Sligo

Evans Secret

10st 8lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Mark Michael McNiff

15-race maiden but one of his better recent efforts when third of 15 over 2m4f here on his penultimate outing; lesser effort at Ballinrobe last time but ran well on his sole previous effort at this sort of distance.

18/1

10th

11

27th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 63y

20:00 Ballinrobe

Evans Secret

10st 9lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Mark Michael McNiff

Dual-purpose maiden; 0-9 over hurdles; didn't get the clearest of runs when a 7.25l third of 15 at Sligo last time out; ran well over this C&D a year ago when a 1l second of 16 off 5lb lower; rain would be a worry, chance if it misses.

10/1

Form: 00

Last run: 154 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only five finishers in the maiden point in which she was fourth; struggled in maiden hurdle outings at Punchestown and Limerick in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

17

31st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 30y

13:32 Down Royal

Ar Aghaidh

10st 9lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Point-to-point winner is 0-12 hurdling, 3m Wexford maiden second to Jetaway Nana her standout run; two handicap efforts since leave her with plenty to find; tongue-tied added to cheekpieces here.

16/1

13th

17

31st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 30y

13:32 Down Royal

Ar Aghaidh

10st 9lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Point-to-point winner is 0-12 hurdling, 3m Wexford maiden second to Jetaway Nana her standout run; two handicap efforts since leave her with plenty to find; tongue-tied added to cheekpieces here.

16/1

11th

10

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 154y

17:00 Thurles

Ar Aghaidh

10st 11lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Hugh Paul Finegan

Point-to-point winner is 0-11 hurdling, penultimate 3m Wexford maiden second her standout run; never travelled on soft in Listowel handicap latest.

16/1

Form:

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lost any chance of being competitive with a bad mistake at the sixth on debut at Listowel.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

16

5th Aug 2024

Good

2m 2f 100y

15:05 Cork

Four Shares

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Michael Hourigan

Well beaten on all three starts to date; best effort came when beaten 21L into ninth on second start in a 2m4f Sligo maiden hurdle; poor effort at the same venue in a 2m2f bumper last month; up against it.

33/1

20/1

Form: 470

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran in two bumpers; big odds when fair fourth of 17 over 2m2f at Cork; again showed ability when seventh at Navan; 66-1 when down the field in 2m4f maiden hurdle at Punchestown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

16

5th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

11:50 Cork

Menrva

11st 0lb

J: Niall Prendergast

T: Maike Magnussen

Showed some ability in two bumpers but has been well beaten in two maiden hurdles and loads of improvement needed.

66/1

10th

14

27th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:00 Sligo

Menrva

10st 9lb

J: Mr C J Shine

T: Maike Magnussen

Ran in two bumpers; big odds when fair fourth of 17 over 2m2f at Cork; again showed ability when seventh at Navan; 66-1 when down the field in 2m4f maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quest For Peace gelding comes from a family principally associated with sprint winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

7th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 14y

13:12 Clonmel

Grizzley Adams

11st 4lb

J: Mr L Burke-Ott

T: Alexander Ott

Shown nothing in two starts at huge odds so far.

200/1

0

3

17th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

12:50 Wexford

Grizzley Adams

10st 13lb

J: Mr A Burke-Ott

T: Alexander Ott

towards rear, weakened 10th, tailed off when fell 2 out

100/1

11th

8

27th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:00 Sligo

Grizzley Adams

11st 2lb

J: Mr A Burke-Ott

T: Alexander Ott

Quest For Peace gelding comes from a family principally associated with sprint winners.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Allbetsoff; dam well beaten in bumper/points.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

27th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:00 Sligo

Moig Raven

11st 2lb

J: Mr D E Phelan

T: Declan Queally

Fifth foal; half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Allbetsoff; dam well beaten in bumper/points.

20/1

Form: 0-0

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice finished third in points, but the form does not amount to much; soundly beaten in a Punchestown bumper; jumping was ragged on hurdling debut at Fairyhouse.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Perfect Pupil

11st 5lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Won handicap hurdle at Down Royal last March but inconsistent and has not made a serious impact with cheekpieces enlisted for his two runs for new yard; balance of form suggests he has work to do.

16/1

6

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Perfect Pupil

11st 5lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Won handicap hurdle at Down Royal last March but inconsistent and has not made a serious impact with cheekpieces enlisted for his two runs for new yard; balance of form suggests he has work to do.

16/1

4th

2

26th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:42 Hereford

Perfect Pupil

12st 0lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

Won handicap hurdle at Down Royal last March but inconsistent and beaten 20l when fourth of five finishers on this month's stable debut at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft); that made it 0-5 over fences; others preferred.

10/1

Non-runners

D'jo Dela Barriere

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €27.10
Straight Forecast €21.49
Trifecta €810.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Zaidi

TOPSPEED:

Charming Fortune

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Zaidi

POSTDATA:

Zaidi

The Irish Sun:

Zaidi