May 18 / 16.35 Wexford

16.35

Soft

Poolcourt Novice Chase

  • Prize money: £6926.09
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Poolcourt Novice Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 35616- D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 hurdle winner; had faced some stiff tasks over fences before winning at Down Royal (2m4f, yielding) and was again asked a big question at Punchestown two weeks ago; clear claims back in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Dreal Deal

11st 10lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Bled in this last year; good form in first two starts for this yard at Killarney in the summer and creditable third of 17 in valuable 2m4f veterans' contest at Haydock last month; chance on that form.

10/1

7th

12

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:25 Punchestown

Dreal Deal

10st 4lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: P J Rothwell

Last win came at Killarney last summer but retains level of ability judged on recent Haydock veterans' handicap third (good), best run for some time; whether or not he can back that up against more progressive types is debatable.

14/1

3rd

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Dreal Deal

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: P J Rothwell

Irish challenger who could be in the picture judged on his good form at Killarney last summer, and he's one to watch in the betting; however, he's been soundly beaten on his last three starts and has to get back on track.

25/1

Form: 140P-1 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
A 143-rated hurdler who made a successful start over fences at Down Royal (2m3f, good); was entitled to win that easier than he did but there's no knocking a winning start; won't mind this softer ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 5f 70y

13:35 Punchestown

Magic Tricks

11st 9lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gordon Elliott

143-rated hurdler made a winning chase debut at Down Royal in May; mostly disappointing since but has ground and maybe trip on his side here; well handicapped on his hurdles form and might make that count here.

9/2

4

23rd Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 5f 70y

13:35 Punchestown

Magic Tricks

11st 9lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gordon Elliott

didn't jump well, jumped left on occasions, prominent early, reminder 3rd, lost position when slow jump and reminder 7th, dropped to midfield 9th, towards rear when pushed along after 10th, detached when pulled up after 4 out

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 62U14- D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler who made it fourth-time lucky over fences with a comfortable success at Cork (2m, soft to heavy) but was then only fourth at Tipperary; on that winning form he's a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

3rd Oct 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 206y

15:20 Clonmel

Summer Tide

10st 12lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Chase winner in March and couple of good runs in that sphere since but his recent hurdling efforts have been moderate and was well held in similar contest at Sligo in June.

9/1

7th

13

19th Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 180y

15:05 Killarney

Summer Tide

10st 1lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: C Byrnes

Hurdle and chase winner; fair third over fences last time and stays this far; 12lb lower over hurdles but been a while since he's shown worthwhile form in this discipline.

10/1

Form: 30/8F- D

Last run: 139 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in valuable handicap hurdles in 2021 but lightly raced in the meantime and has looked cold since returning from an absence; chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

10th Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 38y

19:30 Kilbeggan

Bua Boy

11st 2lb

J: Daniel King

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Three time hurdling winner remains a maiden after three chase starts; beaten a head in a Tipperary novice chase last time (2m3f, good to yielding); not obviously well treated off 120 for handicap chase debut but at least comes into the race in good form; trainer does well here (22-194).

9/4

Form: 1210-U D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Four-time winner over hurdles and had a peak RPR of 124 (gained in August); could have a part to play, though he unseated early on chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:00 Kilbeggan

Charlie Luciano

11st 6lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

Four-time hurdles winner achieved a peak rating of 129 in that sphere; 0-8 over fences and rated 114; pulled up at Fairyhouse on final 2025 start, and badly out of form over hurdles before that.

20/1

3

4th Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 82y

12:15 Fairyhouse

Charlie Luciano

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Four-time hurdles winner achieved a peak rating of 129 in that sphere; 0-8 over fences and rated 119; pulled up on last start over fences and badly out of form over timber the last twice; others appeal more.

10/1

3

4th Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 82y

12:15 Fairyhouse

Charlie Luciano

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Four-time hurdles winner achieved a peak rating of 129 in that sphere; 0-8 over fences and rated 119; pulled up on last start over fences and badly out of form over timber the last twice; others appeal more.

10/1

Form: 6800U-

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; 150-1 when unseating on chase debut last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

18th May 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

16:35 Wexford

Man River

11st 6lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: P F O’Donnell

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; 150-1 when unseating on chase debut last time.

100/1

6

18th May 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

16:35 Wexford

Man River

11st 6lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: P F O’Donnell

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; 150-1 when unseating on chase debut last time.

100/1

9

23rd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 110y

15:35 Tipperary

Man River

11st 12lb

J: Mr P W Gleeson

T: P F O’Donnell

Modest on the Flat and over hurdles; big outsider on chase debut.

100/1

Form: 15343- C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Capable hurdler but inferior to some of these in that scene and he was beaten 22l on chase debut in March.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:38 Cartmel

Starman

11st 9lb

J: Mr Felix Foster

T: Joanne Foster

Close second over fences at Catterick in January (1m7f, good) but mainly poor efforts since, the latest in a selling hurdle.

40/1

4th

5

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:40 Hexham

Starman

11st 1lb

J: Mr Felix Foster

T: Joanne Foster

Three hurdle wins in Ireland during 2023 but a close second over fences at Catterick (about 1m7f, good) in January came from out of the blue and hasn't been repeated since; returns to hurdles with a cloud hanging over him.

14/1

7th

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Starman

12st 0lb

J: Mr Felix Foster

T: Joanne Foster

Seemingly back in good form when close second to short-odds favourite at Catterick (1m7f, good) on New Year's Day, his third start for Joanne Foster, but pulled up there twice since and now has it all to prove again; tongue-tie (worn on penultimate start) refitted.

16/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Magic Tricks

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dreal Deal

The Irish Sun:

Magic Tricks

POSTDATA:

Dreal Deal