February 24 / 17.00 Fairyhouse

17.00

Heavy

Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race

  • Prize money: £5130.43
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race

Runners: 5 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.40
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 22

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up to an impressive winner at Down Royal over Christmas and stepped up on that when second to a highly-touted Elliott newcomer here last month; sets the form standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Sporting Glory

11st 2lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Eyecatching bumper form before finishing close up in a Grade 2 hurdle for previous yard; hasn't kicked on from an encouraging start for Gordon Elliott, his form tapering off last season after a first (2m) and second (2m6f) over hurdles; ran okay on chase debut at Sligo but no more than that and his jumping was a bit scruffy at times.

14/1

6

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 120y

14:25 Sligo

Sporting Glory

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Bumper and maiden hurdle winner (beating Addragoole) last year was also fourth in a Grade 2 novice; pulled-up in a Leopardstown Grade 1 novice last February and was poor behind Barry Lyndon next time; needs his best on return/chasing debut.

5/1

11th

6

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

14:15 Fairyhouse

Sporting Glory

11st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Heavy-ground bumper winner last term; won over hurdles on stable debut at Galway (form has been franked) before a close-up third in Thurles novice hurdle; out of his depth in Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival but could be thrown in off 130 on handicap bow.

13/2

5/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 9

Last run: 60 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Was 11-2 when down the field in a Leopardstown bumper at Christmas; debuts for Henry de Bromhead here and likely that more was expected that day; no surprise if he improved significantly here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

7th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 55y

13:22 Punchestown

Sky Lord

11st 0lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Rated 130 after five runs over fences without winning; beaten favourite at Cork on handicap chase debut (2m1f, good to yielding); 25l behind in a big-field Listed handicap chase here last time; needs to raise his game but could be best placed to take advantage if the top-rated disappoints.

11/4

7th

11

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 75y

16:50 Punchestown

Sky Lord

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Winning hurdler; yet to score over fences; beaten favourite at Cork in his first handicap chase; needs to raise his game in first-time tongue-tie.

12/1

3rd

3

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 45y

14:25 Cork

Sky Lord

11st 8lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won his maiden hurdle here and some useful novice chase form; heavily backed last time in a rated novice at Down Royal where he flattened out after travelling well, and yard in better form now.

5/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten a length in a point-to-point at Oldtown a year ago by Jingko Blue, a dual winner for Nicky Henderson since; one to take very seriously here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:05 Tramore

Jersey Des Brosses

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Expensive purchase has so far failed to live up to his price tag in bumpers and over hurdles; don't rule out improvement now sent chasing though.

15/2

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:05 Tramore

Jersey Des Brosses

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Expensive purchase has so far failed to live up to his price tag in bumpers and over hurdles; don't rule out improvement now sent chasing though.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: 6-7

Last run: 288 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown a modicum of ability in two starts but hard to fancy returning from nine months off; tongue-tie tried
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

4th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 180y

17:22 Naas

Comeonarchie

11st 6lb

J: Mr J R Martin

T: F G Hand

Made the breakthrough under this rider at the 15th attempt at Punchestown in December (3m, heavy) when making all in first-time cheekpieces; up 5lb and beaten 16l at Punchestown last time (2m7f, heavy); capable of more.

11/2

5th

6

26th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 0y

16:10 Punchestown

Comeonarchie

11st 8lb

J: Mr J R Martin

T: F G Hand

Made the breakthrough under this rider at the 15th attempt at Punchestown (3m, heavy) last time in first-time cheekpieces (retained), making all; up 5lb but decent chance of following up.

15/4

8th

6

10th Oct 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 180y

16:30 Downpatrick

Comeonarchie

11st 4lb

J: Mr J R Martin

T: F G Hand

Back-to-back runner-up finishes at Punchestown at the end of last year/new year were the best of his handicap efforts; three runs since then have been disappointing, finished 24l behind at Wexford last time; can get involved at his best but risky.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; dam unraced half-sister to 1m4f Flat winner/high-class 2m hurdler Shadow Leader; best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

10

16th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 49y

20:30 Clonmel

Nelson Eddie

12st 0lb

J: Mr T Walsh

T: R P Rath

prominent

100/1

10

16th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 49y

20:30 Clonmel

Nelson Eddie

12st 0lb

J: Mr T Walsh

T: R P Rath

Tailed-off on debut at Fairyhouse in heavy ground and not easy to fancy.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.70
Straight Forecast €13.82
Trifecta €15.80

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Sporting Glory

SPOTLIGHT:

Jersey Des Brosses

POSTDATA:

Sporting Glory

The Irish Sun:

Jersey Des Brosses