December 26 / 13.23 Down Royal

13.23

Yielding To Soft

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £7309.73
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 13 runners
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Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 49-122 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/maiden hurdle winner; costly peck at the back of the second last at Clonmel recently over a trip probably short of his best; finished it out well after the error and now upped in trip here, and more experienced, he should be difficult to contain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 120y

16:05 Downpatrick

Ask Anything

11st 1lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Gavin Cromwell

Useful staying novice chaser last season, notably looking home and hosed until worn down late by Jumping Jet in this race off 128 (good); out of form over fences so far this season, never competitive at Punchestown last time; return to better ground should suit.

7/1

9th

5

20th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 3f 0y

14:25 Punchestown

Ask Anything

10st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Useful staying novice chaser last season; went close against Bushmans Pass in valuable Navan handicap and also second in Ulster National; jumping let him down on his first two starts of the winter before switching to hurdles for his last two hurdle starts; could go well for in-form trainer and talented 5lb claimer.

8/1

Form: U8-306

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
No world beater over hurdles (0-10); could find this more to his liking but likely to come more into his own in a handicap down the road.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

7

25th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 2f 0y

13:03 Fairyhouse

Atacanter

11st 8lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Maiden handles testing ground well; finished second at Limerick (24.5f, heavy) last March and was again placed at Wexford (3m1f, soft) in May; pulled up twice last month; feasibly treated but more needed.

14/1

13th

7

25th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 2f 0y

13:03 Fairyhouse

Atacanter

11st 8lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Maiden handles testing ground well; finished second at Limerick (24.5f, heavy) last March and was again placed at Wexford (3m1f, soft) in May; pulled up twice last month; feasibly treated but more needed.

14/1

1

29th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 6f 120y

12:32 Limerick

Atacanter

12st 0lb

J: Mr L P Shanahan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Maiden handles testing ground well; second over 3m1f here in March and again placed over that trip at Wexford in May; marathon trip seemed too far when blinkered last time.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 146-30 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Ran a sound race on debut over fences at Fairyhouse, failed to back it up at Cork and looks vulnerable now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

5

11th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:55 Cork

Carrig Rock

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Peter Croke

Sligo maiden winner at this trip and returned from spell chasing when well held over hurdles at Tramore recently; tongue-tie now tried but of limited appeal.

33/1

14th

5

11th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:55 Cork

Carrig Rock

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Peter Croke

Sligo maiden winner at this trip and returned from spell chasing when well held over hurdles at Tramore recently; tongue-tie now tried but of limited appeal.

33/1

Form: 0658-

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Just the odd flash of ability over hurdles; will be well drilled for the task on hand but chasing needs to see him in a better light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Dec 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

13:23 Down Royal

Dontlettheoldmanin

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: A J Martin

Just the odd flash of ability over hurdles; will be well drilled for the task on hand but chasing needs to see him in a better light.

25/1

8th

6

1st Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:25 Fairyhouse

Dontlettheoldmanin

11st 5lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: A J Martin

in touch with leaders, not fluent 3 out

2/1

Form: 258/02 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
40-1 shot at Cork lately but bounced right back to form with a good run in second spot; has played quite a few cards and far from guaranteed to back that up, but not ignored either.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

16:40 Clonmel

Joshua Webb

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

disputed lead early, prominent after 2nd, pressed winner 4th, joined winner 9th

2/1

3rd

3

23rd Jan 2024

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

16:00 Down Royal

Joshua Webb

11st 11lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Noel Meade

Winning hurdler, 0-10 over fences but worth considering after two seconds in beginners' chases; beaten 5 1/2l by the subsequent Paddy Power winner Meetingofthewaters at Cork; good effort against the in-form Ask Anything over 2m4f at this venue.

7/2

Form: 07-09F

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
150-1 at Fairyhouse where jumping came unstuck in the latter stages; needs to turn the screw another few notches but not without an outside squeak with a good round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

15:18 Cartmel

Justicialism

11st 7lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

Fell and tailed off in his two previous chases in late 2023; lightly raced in the meantime but returns to this discipline after three solid runs over hurdles, all handicaps from 2m1f to 2m4f; likely to go well again if he still fancies fences.

100/30

2nd

2

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 20y

15:26 Kilbeggan

Justicialism

11st 9lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

Over four years since he won back-to-back handicap hurdles for Brian Hamilton; lightly raced in recent seasons; bounced back to form on second start for Noel Kelly when second to Kalsman over 2m4f at Down Royal last month; notched another second behind the improving Bella Union over 2m1f at Down Royal on latest; may go one better now.

7/2

Form: 3651-6 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tramore maiden winner probably needed it when sixth on intro to chasing at Cork 30 days ago; housed at the right address to improve further and well worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Macdermott

11st 6lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

All his form is on soft or heavy ground, including two handicap wins last April and the second of those was this race by a nose from Surrey Quest (always prominent); 5lb higher today but the chief worry is that he's been so horrendously out of form this season.

11/1

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Macdermott

11st 6lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

All his form is on soft or heavy ground, including two handicap wins last April and the second of those was this race by a nose from Surrey Quest (always prominent); 5lb higher today but the chief worry is that he's been so horrendously out of form this season.

11/1

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 3f 0y

14:25 Punchestown

Macdermott

11st 6lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Two wins last April including the Scottish National; totally out of form in first two starts this term; jinked and unseated rider at start of the Thyestes.

16/1

Form: 75-359

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Picked up two wins in 'Points' but failed to set the track alight over hurdles and looks to have his work cut out here; first-time hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:10 Down Royal

Marronstown

10st 8lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: D M Christie

Sole success came off 2lb higher at Punchestown in June 2024; has lost way since a fine second over C&D (gd-yld) in January; return to this venue needs to spark a revival.

25/1

14

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

14:10 Down Royal

Marronstown

10st 8lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: D M Christie

Sole success came off 2lb higher at Punchestown in June 2024; has lost way since a fine second over C&D (gd-yld) in January; return to this venue needs to spark a revival.

25/1

10th

1

10th Oct 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 180y

16:30 Downpatrick

Marronstown

12st 0lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: D M Christie

0-7 over hurdles but has one win from 14 starts chasing and he has been concentrating his efforts in that department since 2023; best of his efforts this year was a 0.5l second at Down Royal in January (3m, good to yielding); runs since have been underwhelming.

14/1

Form: 5780PP

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nothing to offer as yet in the way of form and will be one of the rank outsiders here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

23rd Jan 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 100y

15:30 Down Royal

One Of Us Is Lying

11st 5lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Neill McCluskey

An 88-rated hurdler; failed to complete his first two starts over fences; completely out of his depth in a strong novice chase at Naas 11 days ago.

25/1

5th

5

12th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

12:42 Naas

One Of Us Is Lying

11st 2lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Neill McCluskey

88-rated hurdler has failed to complete on both starts over fences; completely out of his depth.

200/1

Form: P70-8P C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a novice hurdle here and capable of upping his game, but at what point he will be ready to do that is a guessing game for now; speculative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

7th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 55y

14:32 Punchestown

The Gradual Slope

10st 5lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: Sean O O’Brien

Recorded first win since 2024 when taking a Fairyhouse handicap over 2m5f last time despite jumping right late on; raised 5lb for that so will have to raise his game again, but has won off 4lb higher in the past.

10/1

Form: /8-045 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two poor runs over fences so far leaves her with a mountain to climb and she does not look ready to scale it here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 1f 0y

17:08 Navan

De Lady In Red

11st 7lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Barry Connell

raced wide, prominent, led 3 out, faced challenges but going easily when fell 2 out

8/1

4th

2

24th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 50y

13:00 Fairyhouse

De Lady In Red

11st 10lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Barry Connell

Soundly beaten over shorter trips on her first two runs over fences; made a couple of minor errors at Down Royal when stepped up to 2m4f but seems to be getting the gang of things gradually.

7/1

Form: 12-443 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest third on her recent debut over fences behind her stable companion; jumping left a bit to be desired on that occasion but if she has tidied up that side of the house, she should hold her own here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Jumping Jet

12st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

No threat to front pair when third in recent Ulster National (a race she won last year) at Downpatrick (3m4f, good) but that was still a pretty good effort and she remains on a workable mark; considered each-way.

7/1

Form: 19-86U

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Progressive earlier in the year over hurdles but yet to show much as a chaser and stable have a much stronger card to play with Ask Anything.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Soldaro

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

towards rear early, midfield when not fluent 6th

9/1

2nd

8

25th Apr 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 100y

18:22 Wexford

Soldaro

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

towards rear

9/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ask Anything

POSTDATA:

Soldaro

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Joshua Webb

The Irish Sun:

Ask Anything