January 23 / 14.55 Down Royal

14.55

Yielding To Soft

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase

  • Prize money: £9491.3
  • 2m 0f 115y
  • 8 runners
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Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 134302 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Hurdle/chase winner for Gordon Elliott; made a positive start for Cian Collins when second in a similar race at Limerick; favourite Henn See (who had previously beaten Ask Anything) failed to produce his best form then; capable of being in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Irish Blaze

10st 13lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Winning hurdler/chaser when trained in Ireland; beaten 29l and 34l on both hurdle starts for current yard; best watched.

16/1

8th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

15:37 Musselburgh

Irish Blaze

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Useful at his peak in Ireland but soundly beaten on debut for this stable at Haydock just before Christmas; quickly dropped 6lb but needs a big leap forward.

12/1

5

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 180y

12:30 Tramore

Irish Blaze

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

prominent

16/1

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 053813 D BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdle winner; was having only his third run over fences when coming clear from the well-exposed Kilashee in a 2m2f novice handicap at Clonmel early last month; possibly outstayed when third over an extended 2m3f in the Tim Duggan at Limerick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

21st Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 150y

16:58 Listowel

Captains Nephew

11st 1lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Still 7lb above the mark at which he gained his last chase win in March 2024, tough task on his first outing since the Punchestown festival; behind Dutch Scultz (fourth) but on the positive side, he was in front of Gaelic Art and Jasko Des Dames in that race.

12/1

7th

8

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Captains Nephew

10st 10lb

J: G B Noonan

T: P J Rothwell

sweating

25/1

7th

8

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

15:05 Punchestown

Captains Nephew

10st 10lb

J: G B Noonan

T: P J Rothwell

sweating

25/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 02-922

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up over hurdles on three occasions, including at this venue four weeks ago; comes into the reckoning here on the strength of his only previous chase run when second to the useful Aslukwoodhavit at Punchestown in November; third-placed Willywampus franked the form with a handicap win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Bleu Denfer

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor (2m4f, good) and it was a strong race in which he struggled at Haydock; he's no forlorn hope on that penultimate effort.

25/1

9th

11

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Bleu Denfer

10st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor two weeks ago (2m4f, good); it could be a similar story here and winning this would demand a career best from him.

16/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Bleu Denfer

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Out of the handicap when a respectable fourth in a Class 2 at Musselburgh on his penultimate start (2m4f, good to soft) and has had wind surgery since finishing tailed off at Kelso; hard to dismiss.

12/1

Form: 9-1221 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner in 2022; ran in three strong bumpers last season; was found a good opportunity at Limerick on his hurdling debut; ran up against the highly progressive Harvard Guy at Navan in his first handicap; switched to chasing then; second to a Willie Mullins-trained favourite at Clonmel; built on that with course 2m4f win.
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: F/65F6

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner in 2020 for Noel Meade; returned from a three-year absence in October; well beaten in his first chase, fell mid-race in the second, tailed off at Limerick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

7th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 65y

14:00 Fairyhouse

Deployed

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner in 2020 for Noel Meade; returned from a three-year absence in October; well beaten in his first chase, fell mid-race in the second, tailed off at Limerick, and only limited encouragement from Down Royal run

14/1

5th

6

23rd Jan 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 115y

14:55 Down Royal

Deployed

11st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner in 2020 for Noel Meade; returned from a three-year absence in October; well beaten in his first chase, fell mid-race in the second, tailed off at Limerick.

16/1

6th

4

26th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 1f 160y

14:40 Limerick

Deployed

11st 5lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner in 2020 for Noel Meade; only recently returned from a three-year absence and after finishing well beaten in his first chase he fell mid-race in the second; has questions to answer right now.

20/1

Form: 6/06F- D

Last run: 318 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Failed to progress over hurdles after winning a Naas maiden three years ago; not disgraced on chasing debut at Gowran last February; fell at the sixth at the same venue the following month; off for 10 months
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

5th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

12:55 Naas

Hurricane Cliff

11st 2lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a novice handicap chase at Limerick in March; pulled up when last seen in a Listed novice handicap at Fairyhouse over Easter; best watched.

10/1

5th

6

5th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

12:55 Naas

Hurricane Cliff

11st 2lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a novice handicap chase at Limerick in March; pulled up when last seen in a Listed novice handicap at Fairyhouse over Easter; best watched.

10/1

7

31st Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 150y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Hurricane Cliff

10st 13lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

midfield, mistake 8th

7/2

Form: 44/440

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
French import; raced a bit keenly in two maiden hurdle starts for Gavin Cromwell but showed some ability; in rear in a handicap hurdle on first start for this yard; ran once over fences in France, but hard to make a case for him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 120y

15:15 Down Royal

Ivar The Boneless

11st 0lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: R K Watson

Fifteen race maiden and rated just 82 over fences; out of his depth in this company.

150/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 120y

15:15 Down Royal

Ivar The Boneless

11st 0lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: R K Watson

Fifteen race maiden and rated just 82 over fences; out of his depth in this company.

150/1

12th

8

5th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 165y

15:55 Fairyhouse

Ivar The Boneless

10st 7lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: R K Watson

Soundly beaten in handicap chases of late; blinkers replace cheekpieces but hard to fancy back hurdling.

20/1

Form: 31/F9P

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a Downpatrick maiden hurdle on good ground in 2021; missed more than two years; has shown nothing over fences yet, though admittedly set very tough tasks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

23rd Jan 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 115y

14:55 Down Royal

Rumoroso

11st 3lb

J: A P Heskin

T: C A McBratney

Won a Downpatrick maiden hurdle on good ground in 2021; missed more than two years; has shown nothing over fences yet, though admittedly set very tough tasks.

50/1

0

6

16th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 110y

12:00 Fairyhouse

Rumoroso

11st 12lb

J: A P Heskin

T: C A McBratney

midfield, jockey lost iron briefly 2nd

50/1

9th

10

24th Nov 2023

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 110y

12:55 Fairyhouse

Rumoroso

11st 12lb

J: A P Heskin

T: C A McBratney

Placed over hurdles in 2018 on his only French start; won a 2m3f maiden hurdle win on good ground at Downpatrick in July 2021 when trained by Willie Mullins; fell at second on chase/stable debut at Navan following a long absence.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €12.90
Straight Forecast €14.31
Trifecta €46.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ask Anything

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Irish Blaze

POSTDATA:

Bleu D'enfer

The Irish Sun:

Ask Anything

TOPSPEED:

Irish Blaze