April 19 / 18.50 Limerick

18.50

Soft To Heavy

Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £14621.74
  • 3m 0f 120y
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.30
  • Place: £1.10

Form: -2154F C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 hurdle winner last season and achieved a higher chase rating after running away with 3m Grade 2 Punchestown novice in November; hasn't fulfilled that promise however since, most recently well held when a faller two out in Irish National; drops in grade here with major claims despite conceding weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

14

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Favori De Champdou

11st 1lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Experienced 11yo who's having a tremendous season; 66-1 winner of a top 3m handicap at Leopardstown (made most) over Christmas and took his form to another new level on the 3m5f Cheltenham cross-country course on last two outings, winning easily on first occasion and well clear of the third when he chased home Final Orders at last month's Festival; well handicapped and with the trip likely to suit, he's a leading contender.

40/1

2nd

2

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Favori De Champdou

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fell mid-race here on cross-country debut in December but quickly bounced back when causing 66-1 shock in valuable handicap over regulation fences at Leopardstown's Christmas festival (3m, yielding) before winning comfortably by just over 8l returned to this C&D (soft) in January; still unexposed in this discipline; strong contender.

5/2

1st

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Favori De Champdou

12st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fell mid-race here on last month's cross-country debut but quickly bounced back, causing 66-1 shock in valuable handicap over regulation fences at Leopardstown's Christmas festival (3m, yielding); well worth another go over this C&D and evidently in prime form.

8/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: /14/32

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
A horse with ability but fragile too as he has missed loads of time since winning a bumper in 2019; came back after another absence with two solid runs over fences last month but this represents a step up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 24y

19:38 Roscommon

Donacheady Gale

11st 6lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: John Patrick Ryan

Won a valuable handicap chase at Listowel (2m6f, soft to heavy; handles good) in September when 6lb lower and kept on well to finish third back over hurdles last time; not entirely dismissed, though he is an 11yo now and does lack recent match practice.

20/1

3rd

1

25th Oct 2024

Yielding

3m 1f 156y

16:50 Sligo

Donacheady Gale

12st 0lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: John Patrick Ryan

held up in rear, headway after 3 out, ridden into midfield towards near side after 2 out, ran on from last, switched right run-in, nearest finish

11/2

Form: 123005 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Productive mare with three hurdle wins and two over fences at up to 3m, including here last summer; ground against her of late and again unlikely to get her ground here but could sneak a placing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:55 Cork

Bella Bliss

11st 10lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

In decent form over hurdles and fences this year and only 1lb higher than for latest gallant second in a 2m5f handicap chase at Roscommon; stays this far.

9/2

2

30th Sep 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 147y

17:45 Roscommon

Bella Bliss

11st 7lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

In decent form over hurdles and fences this year; has been runner-up on her last three starts in this discipline including handicaps at Cartmel and Bangor; handles all ground but best on good.

9/2

2nd

6

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Bella Bliss

11st 3lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Good second at Cartmel (2m5f, good) on latest chase start in June and placed in big-field handicap hurdles on next two outings; below form when tried in cheekpieces (now removed) for latest hurdling start but has a significant role to play if all goes to plan here.

9/2

Form: 524576 D

Last run: 112 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ordinary handicapper has loads to find on ratings here and ground against him too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 6f 97y

17:52 Galway

Tullyhogue Fort

11st 0lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: John F O’Neill

Ran well when second at Kilbeggan in July but was still beaten 13l; outclassed on the Flat latest but this much more suitable and was a close second in a division of this race in 2023 off 5lb higher; place shout.

16/1

9

(6)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 180y

20:15 Killarney

Tullyhogue Fort

11st 4lb

J: Mr P J O’Neill

T: John F O’Neill

Capable jumper at an ordinary level; rated 42 on the Flat and should be outclassed.

200/1

10

5th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 5f 155y

19:30 Roscommon

Tullyhogue Fort

11st 3lb

J: Mr P J O’Neill

T: John F O’Neill

Winless run stretches back to July 2023; beaten 13l when second of 12 in a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle (18.5f, good) on latest; remains 4lb above his last win but has run well on both previous visits to this venue; place chance.

17/2

Form: 34122P D

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Talented 7yo won over fences at Wexford in the autumn and narrowly beaten by a smart sort at same venue afterwards; lost in Navan match since and no sort of run back hurdling latest; big player on best form but needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Joyeux Machin

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Appreciated eased in grade at Bangor (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago, winning readily by 10l; contests deeper race here but probably still on workable mark after 5lb rise, and quicker ground also suits.

9/2

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Joyeux Machin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Exposed ex-Irish gelding who has yet to score for Dan Skelton (0-10); however, he has been contesting stronger races and was going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft; fine on good) in January; his subsequent Ascot run needs forgiving but that was a Class 1 race.

5/2

9th

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Joyeux Machin

10st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 0-9 for current yard but he ran well over hurdles on this card last year; still going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft) most recently; shortlisted.

7/2

Non-runners

Gaelic Arc

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €7.20
Straight Forecast €6.88
Trifecta €15.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Favori De Champdou

TOPSPEED:

Joyeux Machin

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Favori De Champdou

POSTDATA:

Favori De Champdou

The Irish Sun:

Favori De Champdou