September 26 / 16.05 Listowel

16.05

Good

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6926.09
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 11 runners
TG4
View Course
Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

12/1 (Won)

Form: 769-

Last run: 347 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
1-12 on the Flat; that win came at Tipperary in July on good to firm; not a bad effort when fourth over 1m4f at Tramore last time; showed little in three maiden hurdle outings last season; potential for improvement; trainer's runners command respect here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

25th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:00 Listowel

Ifitwasme

11st 9lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Won this last year by 12l off a mark of 95, beating Targa Flavio and also scored on the Flat here in June; poor Flat run since but likely to be ripe for his double bid and a big player even off 12lb higher.

5/1

4

(10)

16th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 80y

20:20 Killarney

Ifitwasme

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: E McNamara

Won on the Flat over 1m4f at Tipperary last year and over hurdles at Listowel; raised 10lb for winning well on the Flat over 2m at the latter track last time; this trip is fine and a player.

4/1

15

(13)

1st Jun 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 40y

16:40 Listowel

Ifitwasme

8st 12lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: E McNamara

Wide-margin handicap hurdle winner here last September, tailed off on Flat on next start; trainer also runs Say It So.

20/1

Form: 007-41

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Quirky character but won off 6lb lower at Cork and has since underlined his current form with a solid Flat run; trainer likes to target this festival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 80y

15:05 Killarney

Say It So

10st 10lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Three-time winner over hurdles with two of those coming over 2m1f at this track; bounced back from some underwhelming Flat runs to win here last time (yielding to soft); on a career high mark now but he has only run ten times over hurdles so there is likely still improvement to come and he clearly likes the course.

11/2

5

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

19:10 Killarney

Say It So

11st 7lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

C&D winner in October; well held favourite in a novice hurdle at Limerick in December on most recent hurdle outing and arrives on the back of two low-key Flat runs last month; doesn't look well treated on anything he's done so far.

20/1

9th

3

(8)

11th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

20:20 Limerick

Say It So

10st 0lb

J: W J Lee

T: E McNamara

Enjoyed a fine spell of form between August and November last year, winning twice hurdle and Flat handicaps at Navan and Dundalk; left with lots to do on recent Listowel comeback run (behind a stablemate) so expected to come on for that with Billy Lee taking over for local yard.

11/2

Form: 21105-

Last run: 168 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Went up a total of 16lb for winning handicaps at Clonmel and Gowran in February/March; those races were over further and he struggled over 2m at Limerick in April, his chance harmed by a series of errors.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 176y

18:18 Limerick

Carlas Big Jim

10st 0lb

J: G B Noonan

T: L J Archdeacon

Two hurdle wins arrived in 2024 on heavy ground; beaten 27l over fences at Clonmel (2m7f, soft) in April, but he was only 2l down when falling at the second last hurdle here (2m4f, soft to heavy) later that month; 3lb wrong.

10/1

16

16th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 60y

15:55 Limerick

Carlas Big Jim

10st 11lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: L J Archdeacon

Dual-winning hurdler has largely struggled this term and was pushed along vigorously over fences on latest at Clonmel; Jack Kennedy has been booked though, so he's worth a market check.

14/1

Form: /3605-

Last run: 207 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Lacks a recent run and has not been the most consistent sort; could be given a chance on last season's best form, namely a long-priced third over 2m at Cork in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

7

16th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:00 Naas

Poets Cottage

11st 9lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

Eighteen race maiden under Rules is 0-2 over fences; beaten a combined distance of 116l in two beginners chases at Downpatrick and Gowran on his last two starts; needs more on handicap chase debut.

18/1

14th

7

16th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:00 Naas

Poets Cottage

11st 9lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

Eighteen race maiden under Rules is 0-2 over fences; beaten a combined distance of 116l in two beginners chases at Downpatrick and Gowran on his last two starts; needs more on handicap chase debut.

18/1

10th

11

9th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

12:27 Gowran Park

Poets Cottage

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Placed twice over hurdles; struggled on chasing debut at Downpatrick; well held by Hardy Diamond; trainer appears to have a strong chance with Tell Nobody Nothin.

33/1

Form: -P0347 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Fairyhouse win last October came off 81 and just denied at Sligo afterwards; twice in the frame on better ground this term; needs to improve on most recent showing at Kilbeggan.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 100y

15:12 Down Royal

Sayitfirst

10st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Darren Collins

Won a novice handicap chase at Sligo (17.5f, gd-yld) early this month from 5lb out of the handicap; narrowly denied in follow up bid at Tramore (15.5f, yielding) off 3lb higher; up another 2lb and this is a deeper race but she's in form and this trip suits; go well again.

9/2

2nd

12

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 100y

15:12 Down Royal

Sayitfirst

10st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Darren Collins

Won a novice handicap chase at Sligo (17.5f, gd-yld) early this month from 5lb out of the handicap; narrowly denied in follow up bid at Tramore (15.5f, yielding) off 3lb higher; up another 2lb and this is a deeper race but she's in form and this trip suits; go well again.

9/2

Form: F345/0 D

Last run: 132 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick in handicap hurdles in 2020; finished second in two outings over fences at this meeting two years ago; ran only three times last year, failing to recapture form; no encouragement from his return to action at Kilbeggan in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 50y

14:30 Killarney

Matties Mountain

11st 5lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Thomas P O’Connor

Hasn't added to his three-timer in 2020; fourth at Tipperary in May but was poor over 2m1f here last month; blinkers tried.

11/1

14

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

19:10 Killarney

Matties Mountain

10st 10lb

J: Mr Andrew Burke-Ott

T: Thomas P O’Connor

Won three over timber in 2020 but no wins since; hasn't shown enough in three runs for his new yard.

25/1

Form: 5P5-00 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Five-time winner is much better known as a chaser and is getting on in years; down the field in two handicap hurdle runs in the summer; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

2nd

7

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 0y

15:20 Cork

Big Debates

11st 0lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Robert Tyner

Veteran was pulled up in a chase at Punchestown on his final start last term; returned to form when winning readily over hurdles for this rider at Navan in September; retains plenty of ability; fitted with a tongue-tie now.

12/1

Form: 541424 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner whose best form has been wins on sharpish tracks; three solid runs since Roscommon victory in June, notably when second at Wexford; would have gone closer but for a bad mistake two out when fourth at Kilbeggan; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

15

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:20 Punchestown

Baltinglass Hill

10st 12lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Spent most of last season over fences; mid-division over hurdles at Clonmel on latest after being pulled up in consecutive chases; almost two years since the most recent of his three wins.

25/1

7th

9

14th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 216y

18:12 Clonmel

Baltinglass Hill

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: P J Rothwell

Pulled up in a chase at Wexford last Friday; much more effective as a hurdler, though he he has added only one win to his tally since 2021.

14/1

13

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:08 Wexford

Baltinglass Hill

10st 3lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three-time winning hurdler is 0-13 chasing, pulled up after some indifferent jumping last time; back from a break, handicapper has given him every chance and better ground in his favour.

14/1

Form: 976-79

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Low-grade handicapper on the Flat; closely matched with Targa Flavio on running in mid-division at Galway in his first handicap hurdle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

31st May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 7f 150y

16:00 Kilbeggan

Benzine

10st 10lb

J: Niall Moore

T: J Morrison

Ordinary form over hurdles; returned from a break with an excellent first run over fences at Limerick, finished second despite making a few slight errors; strong chance if that improvement is maintained on his return to hurdling.

4/1

2nd

10

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 157y

16:43 Limerick

Benzine

10st 10lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: J Morrison

Winless in five Flat starts and 13 over timber; hasn't looked as though the breakthrough is close, 30l behind at Thurles in October; chase debut.

33/1

Form: 500-50

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Ordinary form in maidens; not beaten far in midfield on handicap debut at Galway; probably capable of improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

13

3rd Mar 2024

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:15 Leopardstown

Targa Flavio

11st 12lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Ocovango gelding; dam point/2m4f hurdle winner, out of half-sister to useful 2m4f-3m hurdle/chase winner Limerick Leader and 2m3f-2m7f hurdle/chase winner Karratha; bred for further.

33/1

Form: 8/0-09

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
No show in three maiden hurdles; beaten 22l in ninth at 150-1 on handicap debut at Sligo; hard to make a case for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

26th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

16:05 Listowel

Eddierocket

10st 5lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: Norman Lee

No show in three maiden hurdles; beaten 22l in ninth at 150-1 on handicap debut at Sligo; hard to make a case for him.

50/1

9th

12

21st Aug 2024

Yielding

2m 1f 93y

17:38 Sligo

Eddierocket

11st 0lb

J: Robbie Geoghegan

T: Norman Lee

A glimpse of ability on hurdling debut last year but poor twice since; can do better in this grade but isn't jumping off the page.

25/1

Non-runners

Ah Remy Martin, Pahlavi, Pidoyne, Pro Bono, Ganderstown, Trenchtown Rock

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €81.66
Tricast €281.23

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Say It So

TOPSPEED:

Pro Bono

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Say It So

POSTDATA:

Say It So

The Irish Sun:

Say It So