March 24 / 14.55 Limerick

14.55

Heavy

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5643.48
  • 2m 0f 50y
  • 12 runners
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Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 503261 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Four-time Flat winner, including twice on AW; was having his ninth start over hurdles when winning a 2m maiden at Leopardstown three weeks ago; fair placed form in handicaps but 5lb rise makes this more difficult for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

13:25 Galway

Zeeband

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Winner of eight races (four Flat) and four over hurdles between March and June last year; rated a very respectable 136 over hurdles; pulled up before the last on his recent chase debut at Sligo, having made a bad mistake four out; beat watched for the moment.

20/1

9

1st Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 120y

14:25 Sligo

Zeeband

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Dual Flat winner has won four over hurdles, with the last of those coming at Killarney in 2024; well beaten in a Grade 2 novice when last seen; needs to be at his best on chasing debut after a long absence.

16/1

8th

8

1st Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

13:35 Fairyhouse

Zeeband

11st 4lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

soon prominent

20/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: -87483

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden; best form this season has been at this venue; fourth in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Christmas, third over an extended 2m6f last time; hard to be sure if this shorter trip will be ideal
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:00 Downpatrick

Grace Faraday

11st 5lb

J: James Smith

T: Anthony McCann

Stays well; gave a stout hurdles performance when scoring over 3m at Galway in October; beaten in excess of 20l in her most recent three races; 90-rated hurdler may struggle over this trip on chase debut.

25/1

6th

5

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 0y

14:25 Limerick

Grace Faraday

11st 6lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Anthony McCann

Stays well, winner and twice placed at this track; gave a stout performance when scoring over 3m at Galway three starts ago; beaten in excess of 20l in her most recent races here and at Cork.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 3556

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
One of the lesser lights of the stable; half-brother to 11-time winner Minella Triumph; may find his level in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

23rd May 2024

Good

3m 1f 110y

20:30 Limerick

Surf Club

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, prominent 6th

4/1

7

23rd May 2024

Good

3m 1f 110y

20:30 Limerick

Surf Club

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Lightly-raced 8yo came good on chase debut in 2m6f Tramore beginners' chase last month (good), jumping well; beaten favourite back hurdling four days later at Downpatrick but race may have come too soon; ground remains in his favour but stamina concerns on handicap debut.

4/1

5th

5

26th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 7f 55y

17:50 Downpatrick

Surf Club

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

prominent behind clear leader, smooth headway and went second 2 out, weakened from last

7/4

Form: 076

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Has made little impression in three maiden hurdle outings; open to improvement but hard to make a strong case for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

19th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

16:55 Limerick

Spavango

11st 11lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

midfield

22/1

9th

5

27th Sep 2024

Soft

2m 6f 0y

15:50 Listowel

Spavango

11st 12lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Best effort when fourth on handicap debut at Limerick (2m, heavy) in March, nearest at the finish; ran too freely when last seen there but the step up in trip should help.

20/1

Form: /55370 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won this race in 2021; has run only five times since winning at Listowel in September 2021; off for more than two years but showed he retains ability in three runs over hurdles at this venue between October and December; not as good over fences on his last two starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

14:55 Limerick

Cosmic Rock

11st 9lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Has won here over 2m on heavy; no win since September 2021; not much promise on two recent starts but he has run well here a few times in the past and he won't mind if the rain comes; can't be fully discounted.

22/1

11th

11

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

14:55 Limerick

Cosmic Rock

11st 9lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Has won here over 2m on heavy; no win since September 2021; not much promise on two recent starts but he has run well here a few times in the past and he won't mind if the rain comes; can't be fully discounted.

22/1

9th

14

20th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 92y

14:40 Limerick

Cosmic Rock

11st 3lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

2-16 over hurdles; one of those wins came in a handicap hurdle here over 2m on heavy back in 2021; last won at Listowel in September 2021; ran well over C&D on heavy in April, beaten 3l off 97; may have needed his last run at Listowel and could go well if there is rain.

14/1

Form: P53014 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Made all to decisively land a heavy-ground 2m handicap hurdle at Gowran in January; 11lb rise proved too much at Naas but he faces less demanding opposition here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

15th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 90y

19:40 Kilbeggan

Champagne Mahler

11st 9lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Sole win over fences came in valuable Gowran Park handicap in March 2025 (2m, soft); good second at Naas in January in similar conditions; tailed-off fourth 39 days ago at Cork; up in trip, probably needs softer ground.

16/1

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 45y

14:25 Cork

Champagne Mahler

11st 3lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won valauble Gowran handicap last year and good second at Naas in January; poor effort last time.

7/1

8

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:18 Gowran Park

Champagne Mahler

10st 13lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won this race by 8l last year; well beaten in three starts following that; beaten 30l in seventh behind Drumgil in a Fairyhouse Listed handicap (2m1f, yielding to soft) in November; more like it when second at Naas last time; 11lb higher than for his 2025 success.

11/2

Form: 1P5P03 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Versatile sort, six wins, four on Flat; won a chase at Clonmel last June; mostly campaigned over hurdles and on the Flat since then; worth considering now in the light of a fair third at Naas last month; form boosted by the winner with a good win over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(8)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 40y

16:50 Listowel

Desert Friend

9st 4lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: P J F Murphy

Veteran has done a bit of everything and recorded his ninth win when easily scoring over 1m6f at Sligo last time (yielding to soft), benefitting from a truly-run race; up 8lb but in the mix.

9/2

1st

8

(12)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Desert Friend

9st 8lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: P J F Murphy

Veteran has done a bit of everything and recorded his eighth win when scoring over 2m on AW in March; poor run at Bellewstown last time but that was only a day after being placed at Dundalk; goes well at Ballinrobe and this track isn't dissimilar.

10/1

Form: 007P0

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Modest form in maiden hurdles; big price for his first two handicap hurdle starts; not an obvious contender but would become a different proposition if the market signals any confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Diamond Dollar

10st 13lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Twice beaten favourite in handicap hurdles in December before rectifying matters in a 2m3f contest at Limerick's Christmas meeting; sent straight into handicap company over fences at Punchestown nine days ago; recovered from a bad mistake at the 11th and had the race in safe keeping between the last two; bolted up, big chance despite a 15lb rise.

13/8

Form: 728051 CD

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a C&D maiden in October; well beaten on next three starts, including a 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle here at Christmas; took advantage of a good opportunity in a weak mares' maiden hurdle over C&D in January.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

13:15 Limerick

Mag Dillane

11st 7lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

didn't jump well, prominent early, lost ground 1st

13/2

9th

5

19th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

13:15 Limerick

Mag Dillane

11st 7lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

didn't jump well, prominent early, lost ground 1st

13/2

11th

9

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:50 Cork

Mag Dillane

11st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: E McNamara

Heavy ground Limerick maiden winner in January; ran a cracker in a handicap there last time after being well beaten on chasing debut; can be a player up in trip.

9/1

Form: 5446/6

Last run: 309 days

W: 10st 0lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Some promise in four maiden hurdle starts for Jimmy Mangan in 2021; won two points in 2021/22; not a bad effort in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Wexford on only start last season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

15

29th Aug 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

19:23 Down Royal

Oscar Tonic

10st 1lb

J: Danny Power

T: Sean Aherne

Dual soft ground point-to-point winner is 0-15 over hurdles and yet to trouble the judge; not a bad effort at Roscommon when fifth but unseated following that in a Wexford chase and pulled up back there over hurdles last time.

14/1

13

8th Aug 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

18:03 Wexford

Oscar Tonic

10st 5lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Sean Aherne

Dual soft ground point-to-point winner is 0-14 over hurdles and yet to trouble the judge; not a bad effort at Roscommon on penultimate but unseated in a chase here on latest; others preferred.

12/1

15

23rd Jul 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 1f 110y

17:20 Wexford

Oscar Tonic

10st 2lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Sean Aherne

Dual point-to-point winner but 0-14 hurdling, respectable comeback run at Roscommon recently; surprising if she made an immediate impact chasing though.

25/1

Form: 510-8P D

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won Cork 4yo maiden hurdle on heavy ground a year ago; below-par in a couple of handicap hurdle runs last summer, no encouragement from last month's Dundalk run
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:11 Worcester

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won a similar handicap at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in March and made another bold bid when runner-up at Ludlow (2m5f, good) 12 days ago; only just caught in that race and he's 4lb well in off the same mark here; strongly respected.

5/2

2nd

1

10th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:10 Ludlow

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: James Owen

He only beat two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) and the 6lb rise appeared to find him out when behind Midnight View at Warwick; he's back down 2lb but they did claim 3lb off his back last time.

4/1

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Snapius

11st 11lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Best effort for a while when beating two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) last month; back up 6lb in a race that will take more winning but that recent success could have had a reviving effect.

11/2

Form: 9-P186 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
A shock winner of a 2m Naas handicap in December off 6lb lower; unplaced but not disgraced in two subsequent outings at the same venue
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

24th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 50y

14:55 Limerick

Cristiano Marealdo

10st 4lb

J: Conor Owens

T: P J Rothwell

held up in rear

12/1

6th

13

10th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 116y

14:17 Naas

Cristiano Marealdo

11st 1lb

J: Conor Owens

T: P J Rothwell

A shock winner of a C&D handicap in December off 6lb lower but was below that form back here since; has a chance if bouncing back.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €16.20
Straight Forecast €19.07
Tricast €96.31
Trifecta €111.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Champagne Mahler

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Zeeband

SPOTLIGHT:

Desert Friend

The Irish Sun:

Champagne Mahler