September 02 / 17.15 Roscommon

17.15

Soft To Heavy

RoscommonRacecourse.ie Handicap

  • Prize money: £7952.17
  • 0m 7f 94y
  • 12 runners
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RoscommonRacecourse.ie Handicap

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.60
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 1-1280 BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Dual Curragh winner over 6f and 7f on heavy ground; placed off 72 at Leopardstown in April then 6l behind Mercurial at the Curragh; back with Joanna Morgan for last run, a below par effort on good over 5f; this trip and ground will suit better and could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(10)

19th Apr 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Merisi Diamond

9st 3lb

J: W J Lee

T: Thomas Coyle

Four-time winner whose best form has on soft and heavy at around 7f; got those optimum conditions over C&D last time when third, finishing 1.75l behind Mickey The Steel and 6.5l behind Red Charlie; cheekpieces added to the tongue tie now, but may struggle to reverse form.

11/1

3rd

3

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

0m 7f 0y

17:25 Curragh

Merisi Diamond

9st 13lb

J: W J Lee

T: Thomas Coyle

Four-time winner whose best form has been on soft and heavy at around 7f; has run respectably in recent outings here and at Naas; needs to find extra.

10/1

7th

11

(3)

22nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

0m 7f 0y

15:12 Naas

Merisi Diamond

8st 11lb

J: James Ryan

T: Thomas Coyle

Four-time winner whose best form has been on soft and heavy at around 7f; should be a bit sharper now as a result of last Sunday's 6f run at the Curragh.

16/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 262-91

Last run: 135 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Emphatic winner off 69 at the Curragh when last seen in April (6f, heavy); up 5lb for that; should get his optimum ground conditions again today but has never won over this far; off for 135 days and has needed the run on his last two starts after breaks; cheekpieces worn for Curragh win are removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

0m 6f 60y

15:15 Listowel

Mercurial

9st 4lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: John J Nallen

Over two years since latest of only two wins; second over 6f at the Curragh in October and ran well over 7.5f on return, but poor strike-rate overall; prefers it soft but handles good.

10/1

4th

1

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 94y

17:50 Roscommon

Mercurial

10st 2lb

J: Darragh O’Sullivan

T: John J Nallen

Only two wins from 40 starts, but placed 16 times; last won at the Curragh (6f, heavy) in April 2024 off 3lb lower; generally below best last year apart from Listowel fourth and Currgah second in the autumn; has a preference for soft/heavy

12/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.20

Form: /68153 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
First of three runners for yard; 4-24 on the Flat; good effort over this C&D last time for Colin Keane when third on heavy ground behind Sea Eagle, denied a clear run; also ran well here on previous start; last won off 76 at the Curragh (7f, soft) in May; handles testing ground and looks capable of running a big race with Keane up again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(10)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 50y

16:25 Limerick

Orandi

10st 3lb

J: N G McCullagh

T: A J Martin

Last year's Irish Lincolnshire winner has lost way since a Galway premier handicap third last August; beaten 21l in both starts this season and remains 5lb above last winning mark; revival needed.

18/1

21th

15

(20)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:32 Doncaster

Orandi

9st 2lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: A J Martin

Won the Irish Lincolnshire (1m, soft) last March before finishing third in this (good to soft) and at the Galway festival (8.5f, yielding); a market check is advised but he's now been below par on each of his last four runs, having finished down the field in the Irish Lincolnshire on his reappearance.

25/1

15th

6

(13)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:20 Curragh

Orandi

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A J Martin

Last year's winner, went very close in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster only 13 days later; also ran well in the first of two Galway festival starts; mid-division in the Balmoral Handicap before a poor run here at the end of the season; Ryan Moore booked; could repeat 2025 wins; only 6lb higher.

8/1

Form: 60-603

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Is 2-10, the last win coming off 82 at the Curragh in May last year (1m, good); back to form on latest run, beaten 0.5L at Gowran off 81 (7f, good to firm) and she's 2lb lower now; has won on yielding to soft but the vast majority of her best form is on good ground so testing conditions would be a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(8)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

13:15 Ascot

Bellaphina

9st 2lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Irish mare who landed a Curragh handicap in June; has reached the frame in Listed races at Naas (6f, yielding) and Newbury (7f, good to soft) since but needs more to win in this grade.

40/1

7

(5)

19th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Newbury

Bellaphina

8st 13lb

J: Sean Levey

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Irish mare who landed a Curragh handicap in June; seemed to run well in Listed grade on penultimate start but failed to back up that form latest; balance of form leaves her with difficult task.

16/1

1

(5)

24th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 205y

15:25 Naas

Bellaphina

9st 7lb

J: James Ryan

T: John Andrew Kinsella

Progressive mare won over 7f at Fairyhouse last term and over the same trip at the Curragh on third start this season; not a bad run when fifth in a 7f Group 3 at Leopardstown; had to wait for a gap before staying on for third behind Sky Majesty and Carla Ridge in a C&D Listed race a month ago; winner may again have the upper hand.

14/1

Form: 1340-0

Last run: 64 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won a couple of races in France for former yard and was placed in a Listed heat at San Siro; low key start for Joseph O'Brien in first time tongue tie (retained) at the Curragh in June when last of 16; down 4lb for that but hard to fancy for now after that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(1)

20th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Vasda

9st 4lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

in touch with leaders, headway against far rail 2f out, disputing second from 1f out, kept on

20/1

6th

7

(3)

13th Oct 2024

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:50 Naas

Vasda

9st 5lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Two wins in France; little appeal in this company based on Irish handicap form.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: -90000

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Is 2-22 on the Flat; both those wins were in 2022 on the AW when trained by James Tate; failed to fire in five starts for current yard; last of 13, beaten 14l last time at Navan four days ago (6f, good); tumbling down the weights but is hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

(12)

4th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:30 Dundalk (AW)

New Definition

9st 11lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Richard John O’Brien

towards rear throughout

14/1

12th

7

(12)

4th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:30 Dundalk (AW)

New Definition

9st 11lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Richard John O’Brien

Two wins in 2022 on AW in Britain; out of form for this yard this year though recent run here in first-time blinkers a bit more encouraging; more needed but remains unproven at this trip.

14/1

5th

5

(14)

27th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

14:18 Dundalk (AW)

New Definition

10st 1lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Richard John O’Brien

Two wins in 2022 on AW in Britain; out of form for this yard this year; has slumped in the ratings, needs first-time blinkers to work in order to bring a revival.

20/1

20/1

Form: /023-0

Last run: 135 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Third runner for yard; dual-purpose sort is 1-9 on the Flat, that win coming for former yard in France on good ground; went close here in May 2023 over 10.5f on good to yielding, beaten a neck off 80; would probably prefer better ground than he is likely to encounter here on return from 135 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

2nd Nov 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:10 Cork

Pralognan

10st 6lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: A J Martin

Dual-purpose; won off 5lb lower at Downpatrick in June (2m2f, yld-sft) and followed up on the Flat at Newcastle 13 days later; below par in three runs on the level since; career best needed off current mark on return to this sphere.

7/2

3rd

10

2nd Nov 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:10 Cork

Pralognan

10st 6lb

J: Kevin Sexton

T: A J Martin

Dual-purpose; won off 5lb lower at Downpatrick in June (2m2f, yld-sft) and followed up on the Flat at Newcastle 13 days later; below par in three runs on the level since; career best needed off current mark on return to this sphere.

7/2

Form: /3-380

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Is 4-24 but without a win since scoring at Fairyhouse in July 2022; all of his wins have come on good or quicker; well-beaten last two runs on soft ground and difficult to fancy unless the track dries out; cheekpieces added to tongue tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(7)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

0m 7f 24y

17:10 Leopardstown

Lexington Dash

9st 6lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Smart performer in his prime but his last win was in July 2022; generally poor in starts last year and has resumed in similar form in two runs this year; hard to recommend.

28/1

5th

3

(1)

18th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 5

18:45 Ayr

Lexington Dash

9st 6lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: John C McConnell

Smart performer in his prime but last win was in July 2022 and he's been out of sorts in last five starts; may have needed his comeback run at Galway last month but this looks tough against Jannas Journey and he's best watched.

10/1

14th

7

(11)

29th Jul 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 123y

20:20 Galway

Lexington Dash

9st 12lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Former smart sort but hasn't won since 2022; his form went off last year; a squeak if back on song making his return.

25/1

100/30

Form: 000231

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Grand old servant has won seven races, latest coming at Fairyhouse (7f, good) last time out off 84 in June; only 1lb higher now but while he handles testing ground, he is probably more effective on a sounder surface these days; ran well on only previous visit to Roscommon (7.5f, good) and a good run wouldn't be the biggest surprise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(13)

28th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 25y

15:47 Fairyhouse

Verhoyen

10st 1lb

J: N G McCullagh

T: M C Grassick

Likeable veteran whose last four wins have come over 7f; not a bad run at Gowran latest and on dangerous mark but probably vulnerable to younger legs at this trip.

10/1

4th

1

(15)

5th May 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

20:08 Gowran Park

Verhoyen

10st 2lb

J: W J Lee

T: M C Grassick

Grand veteran probably best at 6f/7f and quiet so far this term.

25/1

12/1

Form: 1449

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won a Gowran maiden on debut back in April (7f, soft); better form in a conditions race at the same track in June (1m1f, good) when running to an RPR of 97; poor the last twice, beaten 17l at Killarney then 29l on handicap debut at Galway (8.5f, yielding); down 4lb but hard to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

23

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Buttermere Ridge

12st 0lb

T: Oliver McKiernan

First reserve; 1-8 on the Flat and rated 71, off since poor run in Oct', oppose.

5

(3)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 73y

13:05 Galway

Buttermere Ridge

9st 9lb

J: Keithen Kennedy

T: Oliver McKiernan

Form has nosedived since debut win and no encouragement from recent efforts despite handicapper relenting.

25/1

33/1

Form: 1368-9

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Second runner for yard; maiden winner on debut on heavy for Andre Fabre; tongue tied for Irish debut at Galway (80-1) and was never better than midfield; return to testing ground should suit and he is worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

8

(13)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

14:00 Dundalk (AW)

Munroh

9st 3lb

J: James Ryan

T: A J Martin

Won in France but not that competitive in eight runs since arriving in Ireland; best watched for now.

33/1

14th

8

(13)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

14:00 Dundalk (AW)

Munroh

9st 3lb

J: James Ryan

T: A J Martin

Won in France but not that competitive in eight runs since arriving in Ireland; best watched for now.

33/1

10th

2

(4)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Munroh

9st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: A J Martin

French winner who has yet to show much in seven Irish starts; not easily warmed to at the minute.

20/1

20/1

Form: 0-1260

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won off 76 in April at Leopardstown (7f, heavy); good second off revised mark of 83 at Naas subsequently but disappointing the last twice, including over this C&D on testing ground; hard to fancy on the back of that run but can't be fully discounted in first time tongue tie and cheekpieces combination.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

12

24th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 110y

16:50 Kilbeggan

Desert Haven

11st 4lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Two respectable Flat runs last month; 0-11 over hurdles; comes into the reckoning following an improved display that saw him finish fifth of 21 in a stronger race than this at Fairyhouse.

7/2

5th

19

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:05 Fairyhouse

Desert Haven

10st 8lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Noel Meade

Two respectable Flat runs last month but 0-10 over hurdles and has come up shy in less competitive races than this.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €37.10
Straight Forecast €44.79
Tricast €127.98
Trifecta €81.20

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Verhoyen

The Irish Sun:

Merisi Diamond

SPOTLIGHT:

Orandi

TOPSPEED:

Lexington Dash

POSTDATA:

Verhoyen