February 22 / 13.53 Thurles

13.53

Soft

www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £8208.7
  • 2m 0f 158y
  • 8 runners
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www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.70
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2U1323 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won on chase debut a couple of years ago; however, jumping has let him down since and shorter trip unlikely to help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Dancing Jeremy

11st 11lb

J: Miss H Heffernan

T: James Andrew Fahey

Four chase wins include the valuable 2m4f Tim Duggan Memorial at Limerick at Christmas 2024; has run only four times since then; fortunate to win a 2m2f Thurles handicap chase in February, after the leader fell at the last; well beaten off revised mark at Limerick.

10/1

4th

1

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 170y

15:34 Limerick

Dancing Jeremy

11st 12lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: James Andrew Fahey

Four chase wins include 2m4f Tim Duggan here at Christmas 2024 and first success since came last month in 2m2f Thurles handicap, fortunate after likely winner fell last; back up to a career-high mark now so has it to do.

11/2

13

26th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 72y

18:30 Ballinrobe

Dancing Jeremy

11st 2lb

J: John Shinnick

T: James Andrew Fahey

3-8 over fences; won last chase start in the Listed Tim Duggan handicap at Limerick (19.5f, soft) by 6l off 119 when 1lb wrong and 9lb higher now; was beaten when falling over hurdles at Fairyhouse when last seen in February; best form is on soft ground; needs rain.

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 551314 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won a novice here at Tramore before a third here last month; has won over timber since and ran okay when fourth at Clonmel last week back over fences; others possibly on better marks though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 140y

16:28 Tramore

Mount Frisco

11st 4lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Course winner at 15.5f; seems best on heavy ground and scored twice in those conditions earlier this year, over hurdles at Clonmel (16.5f) and over fences at Gowran (19.5f); capable off this mark and rain would boost his claims.

10/1

3rd

4

2nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:30 Clonmel

Mount Frisco

11st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Won over fences at Gowran and hurdles here in February but was below form over fences at Limerick since; has a lot to find against some of these rivals; due to run in the 6.42 at Limerick on Tuesday.

25/1

3rd

4

31st Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 200y

18:42 Limerick

Mount Frisco

11st 4lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Won over hurdles at Clonmel and fences at Gowran last month but disappointed here over fences last time so has to rebound; claims if he does.

5/2

11/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: /13-35

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Useful performer over hurdles and made a bright start to his chase career when third in a beginners' at Fairyhouse; didn't jump as well in a novice chase at Punchestown when last seen finishing last of five; freshened up since and more to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 110y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Hgranca De Thaix

10st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Rated 9lb higher over fences but has so far failed to exploit his lower hurdles mark this season; went very close to doing so at Leopardstown (20.5f, gd-yld) in December and Navan (2m4f, sft-hvy) in January but below that level at Naas on latest; could rebound.

14/1

6th

4

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 10y

15:30 Naas

Hgranca De Thaix

11st 9lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Dual-winning chaser has been attempting to take advantage of his lower hurdles mark this season; beaten just a nose by The Nagger Reidy at Leopardstown in December (2m5f, good to yielding); 1l behind Zanoosh last time at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) and that rival bolted up in Listed company next time; creeping up the weights for not winning all the same.

15/2

2nd

6

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 4f 40y

13:20 Navan

Hgranca De Thaix

11st 5lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Smart chaser went very close to taking advantage of lower hurdles mark when beaten a nose by The Nagger Reidy at Leopardstown last time (2m4f, good to yielding) in a 23-runner field; had been out of form prior to that run, but if he is back to his best a 4lb higher mark may not stop him.

8/1

Form: 63-PP8

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Fairyhouse winner a year ago but shown nothing in three runs this term; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Sunnyvilla

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Veteran of the field but he won over 2m with plenty of give underfoot on first and fifth races for this yard, latterly at Uttoxeter in January on penultimate start; 2m4f a plausible excuse last time and he needs consideration.

9/2

4th

6

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Sunnyvilla

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Ex-Irish 11yo, a zestful front-runner in recent campaigns who has won over 2m in the mud on the first and latest of his five races for current yard; the latter was a five-runner race at Uttoxeter four weeks ago, since which he's gone up another 4lb but it's this trip (despite 2m4f and 2m5f wins much earlier in career) which provides the most glaring question.

11/2

1st

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

13:57 Uttoxeter

Sunnyvilla

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Ex-Irish 11yo who made all at Haydock (2m, heavy) on stable debut in December 2024 and lost out only narrowly in this season's edition of that race five weeks ago (soft); has to take recent 4lb rise on the chin but can still make his presence felt here.

9/4

Form: -11722 C BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won a beginners' here on chase debut in November and ran well when runner-up behind Willywampus here on his penultimate outing; beaten favourite when runner-up at Fairyhouse since and up another 2lb but still going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

16:05 Leopardstown

Battle Of Ridgeway

10st 6lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Martin Hassett

Has improved since finishing third at the Listowel festival, splitting Jasko De Dames and Drumgill; recorded his third chase win at Navan in December; up in grade here following a 9lb rise in the ratings; handles testing conditions.

10/1

6

26th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 130y

13:05 Wexford

Battle Of Ridgeway

10st 12lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Martin Hassett

Got his second chasing win when taking a C&D handicap in August by a short head (good), probably value for more (idled and rider misjudged finish line); raised to current mark for run at Listowel and not disgraced when a keeping on third (17.5f, yielding to soft); one of the likelier contenders.

4/1

Form: 941113 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Has made a very bright start to his chase career, winning his first two starts before a 3l defeat to First Flow up in class at Lingfield last time; that was a solid effort from 2lb out of the handicap and there's more to come from him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

The King Of Prs

11st 6lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won the Dan & Joan Moore at Fairyhouse (2m1f, soft) early last year; well held by Western Diego on running in the same race this year; uneven form over the last 15 months; fell three out in the Topham when 50-1 chance.

25/1

27

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

The King Of Prs

10st 2lb

J: Daniel King

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won a quality handicap at Fairyhouse (2m1f, soft) last January and he ran okay when eighth in this last year, beaten nearly 19l; however, he's only 4lb lower this time around and has struggled this season.

33/1

4th

9

14th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 1f 30y

14:15 Fairyhouse

The King Of Prs

10st 8lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Beat stablemates Path D'Oroux and Midnight It Is in this race last year; hard to fancy on this season's form; down the field at Leopardstown since remote fifth behind Drumgill over C&D.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 538132 D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Winner at Clonmel in December and two good runs in defeat since, only finding Irish Blaze (ran well in defeat at the weekend) too good in a novice at Down Royal last month; mark looks workable back in a handicap and warrants respect.
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

Form: 275479 CD

Last run: 153 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner but struggling when last seen, tailed off in each of his last three starts; bounce back required and off 153 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

22nd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 158y

13:53 Thurles

Espion Du Chenet

10st 5lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: Louise G Lyons

Six-time chase winner but struggling when last seen, tailed off in each of his last three starts; bounce back required and off 153 days.

25/1

9th

11

22nd Sep 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 0y

16:25 Listowel

Espion Du Chenet

10st 5lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: Louise G Lyons

Has done a lot of racing since his last win, two most recent runs provide no encouragement; tailed off in Kilbeggan race in which Irish Blaze was third two week ago.

25/1

Non-runners

Willywampus

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €21.50
Straight Forecast €30.98
Tricast €163.41
Trifecta €159.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The King Of Prs

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Captains Nephew

TOPSPEED:

Espion Du Chenet

POSTDATA:

The King Of Prs

The Irish Sun:

The King Of Prs