April 07 / 17.30 Downpatrick

17.30

Heavy

Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase

  • Prize money: £5130.43
  • 2m 7f 150y
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Off the mark between the flags at seventh attempt when taking Durrow maiden last month on heavy; will need to step up here to make an immediate impact under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 150y

16:42 Listowel

Asphalt Cowboy

12st 3lb

J: Mr P A King

T: S G Carey

All three hunter chase wins have come at Downpatrick, including a repeat of last year's victory in 3m5f contest just 10 days ago; trainer admits he's a different horse at that track, which renders him opposable here.

8/1

1st

1

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 165y

20:00 Downpatrick

Asphalt Cowboy

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: S G Carey

Two point wins plus two hunter chase wins, notably this race last year; however, has been poor on his two recent starts and looks to be the yard's second string.

6/1

5th

1

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

15:40 Punchestown

Asphalt Cowboy

12st 7lb

J: Mr J W Hendrick

T: S G Carey

Winner of two hunter chases on good ground over longer distances at Downpatrick; placed in three points since last October; has struggled in hunter chases at Down Royal and Fairyhouse, and concerning that he was pulled up in this race last year when a 5-1 chance; blinkered.

9/1

Abandoned

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Last fence faller at Tyrella last month made amends a week later when making most to win at Kirkistown; headgear combination fitted for rules debut and from a respected source.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 184y

15:55 Thurles

Bold Fury

11st 7lb

J: Mr T C Kileff

T: W R Crawford

2-10 in point-to-points; finished in front of a below-par Big Interest when second at Down Royal last March; good effort when second in a maiden hurdle at Roscommon last summer; fifth in both outings in this sphere this term, not far off Willitgoahead at Down Royal.

12/1

2

5th Aug 2025

Yielding

1m 7f 110y

17:45 Roscommon

Bold Fury

11st 4lb

J: Mr T C Kileff

T: S R B Crawford

Dual point winner and has been competitive in hunter chases the last twice, posting useful RPRs; making hurdling debut over a trip that could be too sharp but needs respecting.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 69/342

Last run: 87 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Modest hurdle form in 2021; returned to win a maiden point last February and some solid runs this term in hunter-chases when placed at Fairyhouse and when just denied at Clonmel in January; should again be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:35 Cork

Dromleigh

12st 0lb

J: Mr D Doyle

T: Seamus Murnane

Has won his three starts in points since pulled up in a hunter chase at Clonmel in January; made the favourite Hearts And Spades work hard for his Dromahane win, and may again give his younger rival most to do.

4/1

7th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Dromleigh

11st 7lb

J: Miss L Costello

T: Seamus Murnane

midfield, mistake 5th

12/1

7th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Dromleigh

11st 7lb

J: Miss L Costello

T: Seamus Murnane

midfield, mistake 5th

12/1

Form: 564266

Last run: 212 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in 2m2f maiden hurdle here last summer easily the best of eight attempts hurdling; two point-to-point efforts this winter ordinary (fell latest) but still respected on hunter-chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Nov 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 100y

14:50 Tramore

Gino Drummer Boy

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear, raced in last and detached when pushed along after 8th, tailed off when pulled up after 10th

9/1

1

26th Nov 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 100y

14:50 Tramore

Gino Drummer Boy

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear, raced in last and detached when pushed along after 8th, tailed off when pulled up after 10th

9/1

4

11th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

17:05 Downpatrick

Gino Drummer Boy

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Maiden has been a regular participant in claimers over hurdles this year, placing twice; fair run in a Perth handicap last month but modest run at Clonmel last week; needs to find more on his chasing debut.

10/1

Form: 00606

Last run: 6 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Moderate maiden hurdler was tailed off in Cork hunters chase six days ago; best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Hardy Buck

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Back in better form for new yard, notably an account-opening win over hurdles at Exeter and second-place finish at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) returned to fences; hurdles mark is 7lb higher; fighting chance.

9/4

2nd

8

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Hardy Buck

10st 2lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Max Comley

Exeter hurdles winner (2m7f) on stable debut in November, before finding the follow-up bid coming too soon; still at the right end of the weights to improve on a chasing record of 649FP67, all for other yards.

12/1

9

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

15:40 Stratford

Hardy Buck

10st 9lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Overall record of 0-25 and he's finished tailed off over fences and hurdles in his last two starts (2m5f/2m7f, good); passed over.

33/1

Form: 85FP-4

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Maiden on the track for Noel Meade; broke his duck in points at the seventh attempt at Tyrella last month but remote last of four (Neo King second) finishers in 2m4f Down Royal hunters' chase 15 days later; looks to have it to do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

17th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 140y

16:37 Down Royal

Hymie Weiss

11st 7lb

T: Liam Lennon

in touch with leaders, headway and pressed leaders before 3 out, weakened before 2 out

33/1

Form: 3-F

Last run: 102 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Decent sort in point-to-points was recording third win when beating a useful sort in Oldtown winners' contest in February; equally good form when second in Kirkistown open last month; faller on the track at Limerick over Christmas but has to be considered here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of nine points but 0-12 under rules and tailed off over hurdles (2m3f maiden) and fences (2m5f handicap) here in both runs for current yard; untried at this trip and has lots to prove.

12/1

4th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of nine points but 0-12 under rules and tailed off over hurdles (2m3f maiden) and fences (2m5f handicap) here in both runs for current yard; untried at this trip and has lots to prove.

12/1

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:15 Fontwell

John The Spark

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Karen Jewell

Ex-Irish 8yo; won three of his nine points but he's 0-11 under rules and was tailed off in maiden hurdle here (2m3f, good) on recent stable debut; now returns to a handicap but he's failed to complete in two of his four starts over regulation fences and has plenty to prove back in this sphere.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Moira maiden point-to-point winner last autumn returned from a break to finish fourth in Farmacaffley winners' contest in February; tongue tied for rules debut and looks the yard second-string behind Neo King.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Millford Hill

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

Still unexposed under rules but struggled in his first two handicaps (hurdle/chase; both 3m); swaps cheekpieces (worn once) for first-time visor and drops back in trip for this hurdle return; 5lb out of the weights.

33/1

11

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Millford Hill

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Point winner; well beaten in four runs over hurdles, including on handicap debut at Perth last time; now goes chasing with cheekpieces tried.

20/1

7th

11

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Millford Hill

10st 2lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won Irish point in October 2023 (3m, soft/heavy; runner-up has won since); hasn't shown much in maiden/novice hurdles over 2m/2m4f but marked improvement expected now up in trip for handicap debut.

25/1

Form: 2

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Portrush point-to-point winner last season was returning from year's absence when chasing home an impressive winner in 2m4f Down Royal hunters chase last month on soft (Hymie Weiss fourth); nothing of that calibre of rival here so likely major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Neo King

10st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Mrs C Williams

Lightly raced chaser for whom the cheekpieces are making a difference as he won going away at Windsor (soft) and came from the clouds to be third in Haydock's Grand National Trial (again 3m4f; good to soft; 1lb lower) when ahead of Deafening Silence, Git Maker and Grand Albert; unlikely to be anywhere near the front at the start here but he could be in the finish; stays 4m and he'll surely get this far.

9/1

3rd

11

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Neo King

10st 2lb

J: James Turner

T: Evan Williams

Built upon previous chasing promise to get off the mark at the seventh attempt over fences in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor last month (extended 3m4f, soft; from Holokea); from out of the handicap he's 9lb higher today but is unexposed in the headgear and further improvement is possible.

16/1

1st

13

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 162y

Class 3

15:35 Windsor

Neo King

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

0-9 under rules (0-6 over fences) but runner-up three times in a row (3m3f-3m6f, various ground) before beaten about 10l when sixth of 11 in the Borders National at Kelso (4m, soft), where his jumping help him back; it's possible he'll find greater fluency today in first-time cheekpieces; chance.

14/1

Verdict

Second to a potentially smart sort at Down Royal on his return from a long break NEO KING could now be the one to beat. Dromleigh sets the standard on hunter chase form but looks vulnerable to an improver, while Bold Fury and John The Spark are respected. [Alan Hewison]