December 28 / 13.15 Leopardstown

13.15

Yielding

Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £9137.17
  • 2m 5f 70y
  • 5 runners
RTE2
View Course
Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 122-2 C BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up behind A Dream To Share twice last season including in the Champion Bumper and solid chase debut when runner-up to American Mike in a beginners' at Navan last month (Spirit Of Legend fourth); should be involved if he finds any improvement for that run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:05 Punchestown

Fact To File

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

2024 Brown Advisory winner, 2025 Ryanair winner; won the 2024 John Durkan at this venue, had a hard race when narrowly beaten by Gaelic Warrior in this season's repeat bid; failed to do himself justice in the King George; back to best when readily beating Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup; fascinating rematch now after bypassing Ryanair.

5/4

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Fact To File

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Four Grade 1 wins, including the 2024 Brown Advisory, and last season's Ryanair; narrowly denied by Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan Memorial Chase; raced keenly and never looked like imposing his presence in the King George; three-time course winner, just lost second to Grangeclare West here 12 months ago; capable of matching that effort if on back on song.

8/1

100/30

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 35-124 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won at odds-on in three-runner hurdle contest at Punchestown on return and ran with credit when a length behind Bob Olinger in a Grade 2 but he wasn't as good at Fairyhouse last time; chase debut and he's opposable having not quite reached the level he was at last season when third behind Constitution Hill twice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Zanahiyr

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player.

5/2

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Zanahiyr

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.

2/1

3

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Zanahiyr

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition.

11/8

Form: 122/2- C BF

Last run: 397 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 winning hurdler here at 2022's Dublin Racing Festival and ran with credit in two subsequent Grade 1s that year; always gave the impression he would make a better chaser and he ran with credit when runner-up on chase debut at Gowran when last seen 397 days ago; out with injury since but the absence isn't a major concern for one from this yard and should be a big player on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Minella Cocooner

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Delivered late to win this race on good ground last year by a neck, 26 days after his third in a heavy-ground Irish National; he shaped as if back to his best in the Grand National three weeks ago, travelling well to dispute the lead two out but ending up seventh as the 4m2f took its toll; this trip is presumably the ideal fit and, although 4lb higher than last year, a big run should be forthcoming if Aintree has not taken it out of him.

7/1

9th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Minella Cocooner

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Delivered late to win this race on good ground last year by a neck, 26 days after his third in a heavy-ground Irish National; he shaped as if back to his best in the Grand National three weeks ago, travelling well to dispute the lead two out but ending up seventh as the 4m2f took its toll; this trip is presumably the ideal fit and, although 4lb higher than last year, a big run should be forthcoming if Aintree has not taken it out of him.

7/1

7th

8

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Minella Cocooner

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: W P Mullins

Third to Intense Raffles in the Irish National (3m5f, heavy) and delivered late to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good; 6lb higher today) later last April; Grade 1 rivals proved far too hot for him this season and he failed to trouble Nick Rockett and Intense Raffles at Fairyhouse on latest outing, but he looks a far more interesting prospect for today's assignment and this could be when he wins again.

12/1

Form: 2B60-4

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well held behind American Mike in a beginners' at Navan last month on chase debut; can build on that but has plenty to find with Fact To File and likely to need some of these to under-perform.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:12 Down Royal

Spirit Of Legend

11st 11lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

Hurdles winner is 0-7 chasing, having failed to complete on three of those; still not a fluent jumper although penultimate Fairyhouse effort was a solid one; hard to be confident in.

9/2

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

8th

1

11th Jan 2025

2m 5f 203y

14:51 Fairyhouse

Spirit Of Legend

12st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

held up in rear

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6P

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden in points and shown nothing in two beginners' races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:40 Kilbeggan

Finnfaraway

11st 12lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: Patrick J F Hassett

No impact in five starts under rules; pulled up in last three point-to-points; no reason to fancy.

50/1

18th

3

19th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

14:10 Limerick

Finnfaraway

11st 12lb

J: Mark McDonagh

T: Patrick J F Hassett

towards rear

66/1

13th

5

17th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 51y

19:15 Kilbeggan

Finnfaraway

11st 12lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Patrick J F Hassett

Poor pointer was well beaten in similar contests in the autumn; no chance in this company.

200/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.60
Straight Forecast €4.74
Trifecta €5.70

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Fact To File

SPOTLIGHT:

Minella Cocooner

POSTDATA:

Fact To File

The Irish Sun:

Fact To File

TOPSPEED:

Minella Cocooner