14.05
HeavyCounty Wexford Vintners Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £6265.49
- 2m 0f 100y
- 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: O7-41 D
Last run: 35 days
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 13 |
26th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 2f 150y |
11st 0lb |
Won a Roscommon maiden and touched off by a progressive sort in a Cork handicap in the second half of 2023; down the field at Punchestown in November on first run for ten months; hard to fancy; first time with cheekpieces. |
20/1 |
|
8th 13 |
26th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 2f 150y |
11st 0lb |
prominent, not fluent 4th |
20/1 |
|
15th 13 |
23rd Nov 2024 Yielding 2m 3f 87y |
11st 1lb |
Flat maiden showed improved form in this discipline, winning a Roscommon maiden and touched off by a progressive sort in a Cork handicap, before disappointing at Cheltenham and Leopardstown; off the track 333 days; hard to fancy on return. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 731F23 CD
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 1 |
30th Aug 2024 Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
11st 12lb |
Has been in fine form lately, winning over hurdles and Listowel and a handicap chase over C&D; 6lb higher now but that brings him to parity with hurdles mark; major player. |
100/30 |
Abandoned
Form: 46-741 D
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17th 15 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 8lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics had transformative effect when seeing him score back-to-back wide-margin wins at Clonmel and Fairyhouse on heavy ground at start of the year; pulled up at Clonmel in February but bounced back when third at Clonmel last month (2m, soft); better ground is a concern. |
20/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
2nd Apr 2026 Soft 1m 7f 200y |
12st 3lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics have had a transformative effect; 23l all the way win off 91 here (2m1f, heavy) followed by another dominant win at Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) off 12lb higher; handicapper possibly caught up when pulled up at Fairyhouse (2m4f) but drop in trip should help. |
12/1 |
|
6 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 50y |
10st 8lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics have had a transformative effect; 23l all the way win off 91 at Clonmel (2m1f, heavy) followed by another dominant win here over 2m (heavy) off 12lb higher; raised another 13lb and steps up in trip and grade; clearly in fine fettle but may not get an easy lead here. |
15/8 |
Abandoned
Form: 245-78 D
Last run: 19 days
W: 11st 7lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 116y |
10st 8lb |
Won for the second time over hurdles when taking a Down Royal handicap last year; not bad efforts over hurdles and on the Flat lately but needs a fair bit more. |
18/1 |
|
4th 9 (1) |
3rd May 2026 Good 1m 5f 190y |
9st 7lb |
Second runner for James Nash; dual-purpose mare has won twice over hurdles; maiden in this sphere but her fourth to You Make Me Smile in last year's renewal was one of her best Flat runs and she has a nice pull at the weights; place chance. |
10/1 |
|
5th 2 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 170y |
11st 2lb |
Won her second hurdle race when winning this race a year ago off 2lb lower; has only run four times between the Flat and hurdles since; should run well with a repeat of best; ground-versatile. |
11/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 1/81/5 D
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 7lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 99
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 11 |
19th Nov 2024 Good 2m 5f 0y |
11st 9lb |
Has won here over 2m on heavy; no win since September 2021; not much promise on two recent starts but he has run well here a few times in the past and he won't mind if the rain comes; can't be fully discounted. |
22/1 |
|
11th 11 |
19th Nov 2024 Good 2m 5f 0y |
11st 9lb |
Has won here over 2m on heavy; no win since September 2021; not much promise on two recent starts but he has run well here a few times in the past and he won't mind if the rain comes; can't be fully discounted. |
22/1 |
|
9th 14 |
20th Oct 2024 Good 2m 3f 92y |
11st 3lb |
2-16 over hurdles; one of those wins came in a handicap hurdle here over 2m on heavy back in 2021; last won at Listowel in September 2021; ran well over C&D on heavy in April, beaten 3l off 97; may have needed his last run at Listowel and could go well if there is rain. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 00-0
Last run: 42 days
W: 10st 8lb
5 yo Mare
OR: 86
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 |
18th Nov 2025 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
10st 0lb |
Runner-up at Tramore and this venue this time last year, both races over 2m on yielding ground; a long way below her best in outings in August/September, including at Listowel where several stablemates excelled; returned to form when going close against a well-backed favourite at Clonmel; leading chance with a reproduction. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 11 |
23rd Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 205y |
11st 4lb |
Runner-up at Tramore and Limerick this time last year, both races over 2m on yielding ground; needs to step up considerably on this season's form; ran poorly at Listowel, where several of her stablemates excelled. |
10/1 |
|
11th 12 |
27th Sep 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 0y |
10st 13lb |
Runner up twice at the end of last year at Tramore and Limerick, both over 2m on yielding ground; below best both starts this year and stamina to prove for this trip. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 482524 BF
Last run: 27 days
W: 10st 6lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
25th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 2f 25y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
2-42 when trained in Ireland; respectable fourth under Ben Smith at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in February was easily the best of her four races for new yard; 7lb lower today but she probably can't be relied upon. |
10/1 |
|
6 |
25th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 2f 25y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
2-42 when trained in Ireland; respectable fourth under Ben Smith at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in February was easily the best of her four races for new yard; 7lb lower today but she probably can't be relied upon. |
10/1 |
|
7th 9 |
23rd Mar 2025 Good 2m 1f 0y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
held up in last |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 600/05 CD
Last run: 11 days
W: 10st 2lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18 |
19th Oct 2024 Good 2m 5f 0y |
11st 1lb |
in rear |
66/1 |
|
8th 14 |
6th Oct 2024 Good 2m 1f 0y |
10st 6lb |
Wexford winner in 2018 and 2019; inconsistent since those days, although placed over C&D in 2021; not disgraced at Wexford in August when his chance was harmed by an early mistake; hard to fancy after more recent Bellewstown run. |
33/1 |
Verdict
A case can be made for several but COSMIC ROCK, who ran well after two years off at Limerick and handles heavy ground, is the selection. [Mark Nunan]