August 26 / 15.05 Downpatrick

15.05

Good

Randox Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5130.43
  • 2m 5f 180y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Randox Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 03P2-4 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Course bumper winner in 2021 since when he's not had all that much racing; has ground to make up with Intense Approach on their recent encounter here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

Form: 1FP-F2 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The winner of two bumpers; yet to prove himself quite so clever over hurdles partly due to his jumping, but he did complete here last time and gave a consistent rival plenty to think about; could be the answer should Stormbreaker not come up trumps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

12

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 11lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Prevailed in a big field at Galway (2m6f, good) on chase debut but has failed to back up that form since and was particularly disappointing in October when bidding for a second win at the Cheltenham Showcase meeting; wears first-time headgear; less solid than others.

50/1

26

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 10lb

T: John C McConnell

Reserve; won four times (once on good here) as a novice hurdler last season before pulling up at 14-1 in the 3m Grade 1 novice event here; won chase debut at the Galway festival (2m6f) last August but chase career has gone badly the wrong way since, latest start 11 days ago; returns to hurdling in first-time cheekpieces; next to no exposure in handicaps but low on the list.

50/1

5th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:35 Navan

Intense Approach

11st 1lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

Four-time hurdles winner with a liking for a sound surface and staying trips; had the going in his favour when making a winning chase debut over 2m6f at the Galway festival last August; disappointing when well fancied for a 3m1f contest at Cheltenham in October; unseated at the first at Musselburgh early this month.

33/1

Form: 9/9/54 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won his bumper here in early 2022; hasn't got close to that RPR since sent over hurdles but Wexford last time was a step in the right direction, finishing fourth of 14; however, he was beaten 16l and this 8yo looks to have limitations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:05 Downpatrick

Sir Jimmy Mac

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Paul W Flynn

Won his bumper here in early 2022; hasn't got close to that RPR since sent over hurdles but Wexford last time was a step in the right direction, finishing fourth of 14; however, he was beaten 16l and this 8yo looks to have limitations.

14/1

4th

3

9th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 160y

16:55 Wexford

Sir Jimmy Mac

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Paul W Flynn

Impressive Downpatrick bumper winner in March 2022; hasn't built on that since in three starts since; beaten 28l into fifth at Ballinrobe 27 days ago after 15 months off; entitled to come on for that but will need to.

14/1

5th

7

23rd Jul 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 64y

17:20 Ballinrobe

Sir Jimmy Mac

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Paul W Flynn

Downpatrick bumper winner in March 2022; hasn't built on that, though was only 7-2 for a maiden hurdle last time and he reportedly finished lame.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m4f/2m winner for James Fanshawe (nine starts) and joined Willie Mullins for 70,000gns; down the field in a 2m Flat handicap at the recent Galway festival but should come on for that after an absence of 661 days; makes obvious appeal for top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

17:05 Fairyhouse

Stormbreaker

10st 8lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: W P Mullins

always behind, not fluent 1st

20/1

Form: 40/

Last run: 939 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Achieved little in two bumpers and a similar a similar tale in his four points; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:05 Downpatrick

Castlenagree

11st 4lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: D M Christie

Achieved little in two bumpers and a similar a similar tale in his four points; hard to recommend.

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hard to take too many positives out of his five runs in points; hood added for rules debut; readily opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:05 Downpatrick

Jackady

11st 4lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Hard to take too many positives out of his five runs in points; hood added for rules debut; readily opposed.

66/1

Form: 7-P324

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Things are picking up after going down by about 4l in his last two maidens (at 2m4f) but, while he tackles smaller numbers this time, he may still have more on his plate; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

26th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 100y

16:18 Listowel

Jeu De Pic

10st 13lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Thomas Cooper

Maiden is 0-3 over fences but has run well twice in defeat; runner up at Killarney in July (2m7f, yld-sft) and fourth at Roscommon latest (3m1f, yielding); this trip may be on the sharp side.

16/1

4th

1

5th Aug 2025

Yielding

3m 1f 10y

20:00 Roscommon

Jeu De Pic

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Thomas Cooper

Took a big step in the right direction when a 4l second of 11 at Killarney (2m7f, yld-sft) last time; should stay this far and go well again off 2lb higher.

9/2

2nd

4

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

16:50 Killarney

Jeu De Pic

11st 9lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: Thomas Cooper

Went close over timber but struggled on chase debut last month and may need more time in this sphere.

20/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Intense Approach

TOPSPEED:

Jeu De Pic

The Irish Sun:

Stormbreaker

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Intense Approach

POSTDATA:

Intense Approach