September 20 / 14.45 Downpatrick

14.45

Good

MB McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5643.48
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 11 runners
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MB McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.70
  • Place: £2.90

Form: -02360

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
1-22 over hurdles; bumped into the well-handicapped Petrol Head here in June; another sound effort when third at Ballinrobe; jumped poorly at Cork last time and down the field at Galway last time in company with The Vegas Raider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 165y

15:21 Downpatrick

Only One Plan

11st 13lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: M Flannery

Added his third hurdles win at Ballinrobe in July (2m1f, good) off 96; not at the same level in two runs following that off 4lb higher; dropped 1lb now, but his form is erratic.

11/1

8th

11

5th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:32 Kilbeggan

Only One Plan

10st 4lb

J: Benjamin P Kennedy

T: M Flannery

Is 3-30 over hurdles with his most recent win coming at Ballinrobe in July off a mark of 96 (2m1f, good); beaten a long way off a 4lb higher mark back at that track last time (2m, good); could bounce back here.

12/1

9th

2

11th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 169y

18:55 Ballinrobe

Only One Plan

12st 0lb

J: Conor Owens

T: M Flannery

3-28 over hurdles, two wins with Philip Rothwell and placed twice at this venue for that stable; has found his form again; built on Kilbeggan second when scoring for his locally-based trainer here last month; only 4lb higher, same 7lb claimer aboard

11/2

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 7-9P41

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Seemed to appreciate quick ground when making all for Stratford win last month, profiting from a reduced mark; hard to be sure how she will measure up here but potentially interesting; stable had a winner at Laytown on Monday,
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Mary

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Both wins over hurdles came when making all; yet to convince as a chaser, falling in two of her three starts in this sphere; a clear round would be a priority.

7/2

2nd

4

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Mary

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Returned to form with front-running win at Warwick (2m3f, good) in September and caught the eye at Stratford (2m, good) last month, after a break, making good headway from a long way off the pace before fading into fifth on the run-in; back up in trip here and it will be interesting to see whether she reverts to much more positive tactics.

5/1

5th

6

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:08 Stratford

Mary

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Ian Williams

Returned to form with front-running win at Warwick (2m3f, good) in September but absent since tame finishing effort in November (breathing issue reported) and remains on fairly tough mark.

12/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 53-222

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
0-17 on Flat, 0-12 over hurdles but has to be taken seriously following three successive seconds, all at Wexford; no disgrace in her failure to cope with the odds-on Chutzpal three weeks ago; winner was completing a mixed hat-trick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

30th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:30 Thurles

Bayou Belle

10st 0lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Longstanding maiden has been placed plenty of times; pulled-up in first-time cheekpieces at Listowel last time and not easy to fancy from 1lb out of the handicap.

25/1

10th

12

30th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:30 Thurles

Bayou Belle

10st 0lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Longstanding maiden has been placed plenty of times; pulled-up in first-time cheekpieces at Listowel last time and not easy to fancy from 1lb out of the handicap.

25/1

8

26th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 0y

15:43 Listowel

Bayou Belle

11st 8lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Long standing maiden has run plenty of good races in defeat, including a 2.25l third of 14 off this mark at Ballinrobe (22.5f, good) latest; place chance again in new headgear combination.

11/1

Form: 0-6506

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
20-1 when in rear at Cork in her first handicap; 50-1, no significant improvement over C&D last month in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

30th Sep 2024

Yielding To Soft

1m 7f 135y

14:15 Roscommon

Thunder Rose

10st 13lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Peter Fahey

0-9 over hurdles; best effort to date on latest when beaten 8.5l into fourth of 11 at Downpatrick (2m2f, good); dropping back in trip a plus on the evidence of that run but different ground to deal with here; not fully discounted if she handles the conditions.

14/1

4th

11

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:45 Downpatrick

Thunder Rose

10st 6lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Peter Fahey

prominent, raced in second when pushed along after 2 out, weakened from last

20/1

6th

6

26th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:30 Downpatrick

Thunder Rose

11st 9lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Peter Fahey

20-1 when in rear at Cork three weeks ago in her first handicap; major improvement needed; first time with cheekpieces.

16/1

Form: -22114 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won consecutive races over 2m4f at Sligo and C&D in July; appeared not to stay 2m6f here last month; has since run creditably to finish third in a 16-runner Flat handicap at Tipperary.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

24

(10)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

17:40 Curragh

Steps In The Sand

8st 9lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: Ciaran Murphy

Notched a three-timer last summer with wins at Bellewstown (1m7f, good), Ballinrobe (1m5f, good to yielding) and Galway (1m6f, yielding); made a moderate return at Ballinrobe last time and regular rider Patrick McGettigan is not aboard.

40/1

9th

10

(14)

8th May 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 183y

20:22 Ballinrobe

Steps In The Sand

9st 6lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Ciaran Murphy

Won three in a row last summer (1m5f/1m6f, good-yielding) and narrowly beaten over today's trip in big field at Galway; absent since October so may just need this (regular rider switches to Granville Street).

14/1

9

(10)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Goodwood

Steps In The Sand

8st 13lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Ciaran Murphy

Won three in a row on the Flat in the summer under Patrick McGettigan (1m5f/1m6f, good-yielding) and reverted to this code with narrow second in a big field at Galway (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; clearly thriving and has a big shout with the step back up in trip a likely plus.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 255-69 C

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Two hurdle wins, including over 2m6f at this venue in 2021; long losing sequence since Cartmel win the same year; twice second here last year, including in this race off the same mark as now; yet to find his best form this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

16th Nov 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 50y

12:15 Navan

Gladiatorial

11st 1lb

J: Jody McGarvey

T: Noel C Kelly

Looked booked for second when presented with victory by the faller of the leader at the last in a handicap chase at Sligo last month; well beaten in a handicap hurdle at the same venue last time; a long time since he won over hurdles.

25/1

Form: 176556 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
100-1 course bumper winner in May on good ground; balance of form is unconvincing; first handicap now after remote sixth in maiden at Kilbeggan early in the month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

5

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 200y

17:55 Kilbeggan

Pepperpots

10st 13lb

J: Mr B J Walsh

T: Barry John Walsh

Won a bumper but hasn't been offering a lot since beaten 10l in a maiden here last August; risky.

16/1

3

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

18:00 Wexford

Pepperpots

11st 4lb

J: Mr B J Walsh

T: Barry John Walsh

Bumper winner but has lost her way since a maiden hurdle fifth at Kilbeggan last August; has failed to complete her last two starts; first-time cheekpieces now

25/1

3

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

18:00 Wexford

Pepperpots

11st 4lb

J: Mr B J Walsh

T: Barry John Walsh

Bumper winner but has lost her way since a maiden hurdle fifth at Kilbeggan last August; has failed to complete her last two starts; first-time cheekpieces now

25/1

12/1

Form: 468-96

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Heavily-raced gelding has won six of his 81 starts; 3-23 over hurdles but rarely at his best since two seasons ago when his form featured a Galway festival win; Dundalk winner in March; hurdle runs have been ordinary.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:37 Downpatrick

Darkened

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

9yo who has had a lot of racing and steered clear of fences since finishing fourth of seven at Clonmel two years ago; however, was running well before finishing second in a claiming hurdle last time and he's now with John McConnell.

4/1

3rd

3

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:37 Downpatrick

Darkened

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

9yo who has had a lot of racing and steered clear of fences since finishing fourth of seven at Clonmel two years ago; however, was running well before finishing second in a claiming hurdle last time and he's now with John McConnell.

4/1

2nd

5

14th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 160y

16:25 Tramore

Darkened

10st 10lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Noel C Kelly

Second runner for yard; dual-purpose; 3-26 over hurdles and rated 98; in good form on the AW in recent weeks and ran well on his only previous visit to this track; goes on any ground, notable jockey booking and not without a chance.

5/1

Form: -32160

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Three-time Flat winner; opened his hurdles account on the 12th attempt at Ballinrobe last month having previously finished second to Steps In The Sand over C&D; down the field at Galway 11 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Cork

The Vegas Raider

12st 0lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: K A Heffernan

Dual-purpose sort is 1-16 over hurdles, the win coming on yielding to soft ground off 94 at Ballinrobe (2m1f); fine run back there over 21.5f (good) on return from a break latest; up 3llb and different trip/ground here; not discounted.

15/2

11th

2

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Cork

The Vegas Raider

12st 0lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: K A Heffernan

Dual-purpose sort is 1-16 over hurdles, the win coming on yielding to soft ground off 94 at Ballinrobe (2m1f); fine run back there over 21.5f (good) on return from a break latest; up 3llb and different trip/ground here; not discounted.

15/2

2nd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

18:47 Ballinrobe

The Vegas Raider

11st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: K A Heffernan

Won over 2m1f here last summer but not as good off higher marks since; needs best on return off 3lb higher than that winning rating.

11/1

Form: 4-3746

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Useful on the Flat at best, 1m2f winner on good; respectable efforts in maiden hurdles here in April/May; hard to fancy on subsequent form; very poor run in first-time blinkers at Cartmel on latest, heavy ground may have been an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:45 Downpatrick

Point Gellibrand

12st 0lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Gerard O’Leary

Useful on the Flat at best, 1m2f winner on good; respectable efforts in maiden hurdles here in April/May; hard to fancy on subsequent form; very poor run in first-time blinkers at Cartmel on latest, heavy ground may have been an issue.

10/1

6th

1

26th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

16:02 Cartmel

Point Gellibrand

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Gerard O’Leary

prominent, weakened after 2 out, pulled up after last

7/1

4th

2

8th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 185y

17:05 Sligo

Point Gellibrand

12st 0lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: Gerard O’Leary

Decent Flat performer at his best but became regressive; not bad efforts in two Downpatrick maiden hurdles but was poor at Bellewstown since and a tough task at these weights

10/1

Form: 78-615 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Made all to win at Sligo on handicap debut, despite making a couple of errors; indifferent round of jumping when fifth off his revised mark at the same venue a month ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Oct 2024

Good

2m 2f 110y

14:50 Fairyhouse

Kilbride Hill

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: John Patrick Ryan

led, not fluent 3rd, fell 6th

6/1

9

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:45 Downpatrick

Kilbride Hill

10st 13lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: John Patrick Ryan

Made all to win at Sligo on handicap debut, despite making a couple of errors; indifferent round of jumping when fifth off his revised mark at the same venue a month ago.

10/1

5th

7

21st Aug 2024

Yielding

2m 1f 93y

17:38 Sligo

Kilbride Hill

11st 6lb

J: John Aherne

T: John Patrick Ryan

Made all to get off the mark over C&D last time on handicap debut; a 7lb rise demands more but is lightly-raced and has to be respected.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €47.30
Straight Forecast €31.61
Tricast €95.20
Trifecta €329.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Steps In The Sand

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Point Gellibrand

TOPSPEED:

Steps In The Sand

The Irish Sun:

Steps In The Sand

POSTDATA:

Point Gellibrand