September 09 / 16.30 Galway

16.30

Soft

Deacy Gilligan Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8978.26
  • 2m 5f 129y
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Deacy Gilligan Hurdle

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84

Form: 30-911 CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Has won his last two starts, a 19.5f handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan off 129 in July and a 22.5f Listed handicap hurdle at this track in August off his revised rating of 137; clearly in top-form, is race fit and likes it here; could be the one to benefit if Fakir d'Oudairies needs the run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

5

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

The Wallpark

11st 4lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class staying hurdler, rated 155; 0-5 so far chasing this term but much more encouraging run on latest when second to the classy Oscars Brother in Grade 2 Ten Up Novices' at Navan last month; jumping still requires attention but is 13lb lower than hurdles here in first handicap chase.

9/1

2nd

4

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Navan

The Wallpark

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class staying hurdler, rated 155; now has serious questions to answer after his first four chase starts; remote seventh in Leopardstown event won by Koktail Divin (previously beaten by Oscars Brother at Punchestown); needs to jump a lot better than in 2m4f Gowran event; longer trip should be a help at least.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 924-03 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Locally trained; 1-8 over hurdles, that win coming in a maiden at Thurles in February; highly tried at times since and was a good fourth at the Punchestown Festival; midfield in the Galway Hurdle here in August and beaten 10l at Killarney latest; has a fair bit to find with a couple of these on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Kings Hill

11st 10lb

J: Miss J Townend

T: Paul John Gilligan

Thurles maiden hurdle winner in 2024 (2m, soft to heavy); took on strong opposition in a pair of 3m beginners' chases; beaten 33l when fifth of nine finishers on handicap chase debut at Navan (3m, heavy); came good over 2m2f at Limerick; top amateur rider won this in 2022.

7/1

1st

1

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 185y

14:54 Limerick

Kings Hill

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Thurles maiden hurdle winner in 2024 (2m, soft to heavy); took on strong opposition in two attempts beginners' chases; beaten 33l when fifth of nine finishers on handicap chase debut last time at Navan (3m, heavy); big drop in distance now.

14/1

Form: 2617-3 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Admirable dual-purpose veteran; mixing hurdling and the Flat recently and running respectably in both codes; fine fourth in a Flat handicap here in July then third over hurdles in The Tribes handicap hurdle a couple of days later; probably up against it on these terms but should run a solid race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Lord Erskine

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: H Rogers

Admirable dual-purpose veteran is a winner of 14 races; 6-34 over hurdles but time may be catching up with him based on the evidence of his last two runs and was well beaten in this in 2024 off 2lb lower.

40/1

10th

7

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Lord Erskine

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: H Rogers

Fine dual-purpose performer won this last year (beating Helvic Dream) off 9lb lower; won twice on Flat afterwards, back from a break when well held back over hurdles at DRF in February; 13yo probably needs a career-best over hurdles to follow up here.

16/1

11th

6

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:52 Leopardstown

Lord Erskine

11st 1lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: H Rogers

Fine dual-purpose performer is a credit to himself and his stable; won this two years ago but disappointing last year; however, was in good form over the summer and has a chance again.

14/1

Form: 32/50- D

Last run: 218 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The class act in this race; a multiple Grade 1 winner over fences and is rated 157 in that sphere; gets weight from the top two and hard to beat if at his best; however, he has needed the run on his last couple of returns from similar breaks, he hasn't run over hurdles since 2019 and he wears a tongue tie for the first time; it might be worth taking him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Fakir Doudairies

10st 13lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 winner back in the day, but not the same force nowadays; has been running in cross-country chases lately, sixth at Cheltenham and second over 3m at Punchestown; trainer is a wizard with these types, but unlikely to feature all the same.

12/1

2nd

14

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Fakir Doudairies

11st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit this term, most recently poor effort back over conventional fences at Wexford last month; hard to assess right now.

12/1

14th

1

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Fakir Doudairies

11st 12lb

J: Charlie O’Dwyer

T: E Bolger

Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit of late, at Punchestown and when not looking to stay 3m6f at Cheltenham last month; back over the conventional fences here and hard to assess (trip/ground to suit) but handicapper giving him every chance.

15/2

Non-runners

Fakir dOudairies, French Dynamite

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.20
Straight Forecast €3.01
Trifecta €4.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Wallpark

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Fakir d'Oudairies

TOPSPEED:

The Wallpark

POSTDATA:

The Wallpark

The Irish Sun:

Fakir d'Oudairies