November 17 / 14.00 Wexford

14.00

Heavy

M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £13053.1
  • 2m 7f 0y
  • 4 runners
RTV
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M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase (Listed Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00

Form: 2132P-

Last run: 248 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Enjoyed a good novice hurdling season, highlighted by a second placing in a 2m6f Grade 1 event; 1-5 over fences last season beat the subsequent Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse last December; absent since pulled up in the National Hunt Chase.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Minella Crooner

10st 13lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Once very smart for Gordon Elliott but left that yard on a downer and has continued in similar vein for current team; too risky at the minute.

25/1

11

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Minella Crooner

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Very useful at his best for Gordon Elliott but was pulled up in this race last year and changed hands after a heavy defeat over regulation fences at Punchestown festival; struggled when dropped back to 2m4f for last month's stable debut; 6lb wrong here and has too much to prove.

100/1

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Minella Crooner

12st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sarah Humphrey

His last win was at the Punchestown festival (3m, soft) in May 2024; right out of form in his last three starts (same Punchestown race last time) and this is his first start since leaving Gordon Elliott for £10,000 last May; probably best watched this time.

20/1

Form: 0-1341 C

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner and twice successful over hurdles, including over 3m at this venue in May; won over an extended 2m3f here in September on his third chase start; probably needs better ground than this to show his best form and faces a tough task in any case, though his course experience is a plus-factor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Joyeux Machin

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Appreciated eased in grade at Bangor (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago, winning readily by 10l; contests deeper race here but probably still on workable mark after 5lb rise, and quicker ground also suits.

9/2

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Joyeux Machin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Exposed ex-Irish gelding who has yet to score for Dan Skelton (0-10); however, he has been contesting stronger races and was going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft; fine on good) in January; his subsequent Ascot run needs forgiving but that was a Class 1 race.

5/2

9th

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Joyeux Machin

10st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 0-9 for current yard but he ran well over hurdles on this card last year; still going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft) most recently; shortlisted.

7/2

Form: -54248

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Mare has done well to win in four categories, point/bumper/hurdle chase; however, well held by Joyeux Machin on running here in September; moderate run over hurdles on latest; tongue-tie fitted now in addition to usual hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

21st Jan 2024

Yielding

2m 5f 132y

14:10 Thurles

Time To Rocco

11st 7lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Colin Motherway

Latest win came in a 2m2f mares chase here in March; consistent since without winning, most recently behind R'Eveleyn Pleasure at Cork; should get closer but others preferred.

7/1

4th

2

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

15:07 Cork

Time To Rocco

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Colin Motherway

Won a 2m2f mares' event at Thurles last March; has done most of her racing in conditions races; soundly beaten in fourth behind the useful Brides Hill in a mares' handicap at Fairyhouse last month; probably vulnerable off this mark.

6/1

4th

6

3rd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

11:55 Fairyhouse

Time To Rocco

10st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Colin Motherway

towards rear, not fluent 1st

7/1

OUR TIP

11/10

Form: /2133-

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse at the main expense of Churchstonewarrior; novice chase form ties in with last Saturday by Down Royal winner Gerri Colombe who finished in front of him three times; best effort when third in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; made mistakes when soundly beaten in third at Aintree; gets 5lb from Churchstonewarrior.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

30th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 120y

16:05 Downpatrick

Bronn

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Thomas Gibney

Very useful for Willie Mullins, notably when placed in 3m1f Grade 1 novice events at Cheltenham and Aintree the season before last; lost form last season and yet to hit form in three runs for current yard, latest when faller in 3m1f Leinter National; 14lb off career-high but remains opposable and one of two runners for the owners.

12/1

2

9th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 174y

16:45 Naas

Bronn

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Thomas Gibney

Very useful for Willie Mullins, notably when placed in 3m1f Grade 1 novice event at Cheltenham and Aintree the season before last; lost form last season, pulled up final two outings; tailed off on stable/seasonal debut at Clonmel and pulled up in Grade 3 at Tramore; down 12lb from career-high mark.

20/1

5

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 170y

14:15 Tramore

Bronn

11st 0lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Thomas Gibney

in touch with leaders, dropped to rear 5 out, slow jump 3 out, soon detached, pulled up 2 out

33/1

Non-runners

Churchstonewarrior, Idas Boy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €15.70
Straight Forecast €16.76
Trifecta €29.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

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RP RATINGS (IRE):

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TOPSPEED:

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POSTDATA:

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The Irish Sun:

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