October 04 / 20.15 Dundalk (AW)

20.15

Standard

William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap

  • Prize money: £11286.96
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • 8 runners
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William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 553401 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Group-placed as a juvenile; failed to find his best form last year; has run well in defeat on turf this year, though had an off-day at the Galway festival; travelled well throughout when running away with a conditions race over this trip at Laytown; has got away with a 5lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(2)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

20:15 Dundalk (AW)

Tough Talk

9st 4lb

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

made all, ridden up the centre from over 1f out, faced challenge inside final furlong, kept on well

3/1

1st

5

(5)

16th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:05 Laytown

Tough Talk

12st 0lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: G M Lyons

travelled strongly, pressed leader, led narrowly after 2f, went clear going easily from 2f out, nudged along from over 1f out, ridden briefly and ran on well inside final 110yds, easily

7/4

17th

12

(21)

1st Aug 2024

Yielding

1m 0f 98y

15:20 Galway

Tough Talk

9st 11lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: G M Lyons

Smart 2yo form but struggled in handicaps last season; back down to a competitive mark of late, finishing well into third after meeting trouble in running at the Curragh; tame effort since at Fairyhouse however and steps up in trip.

14/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 155620 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Eight-time winner including two Group events during a spell in Australia; landed a 7f four-runner conditions event at Gowran in May; ran twice in Group races before reverting to handicaps; fair sixth in the Ahonoora at Galway and beaten only short head at Gowran in August; around 2l behind Daamberdiplomat at Leopardstown last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:25 Curragh

I Am Superman

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Eight-time winner but none since winning over this trip on soft at Gowran in May 2024; steadily regressing this year although some glimpses of form; vulnerable.

9/2

3rd

2

(5)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:25 Curragh

I Am Superman

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Eight-time winner but none since winning over this trip on soft at Gowran in May 2024; steadily regressing this year although some glimpses of form; vulnerable.

9/2

3rd

2

(5)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:25 Curragh

I Am Superman

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Eight-time winner but none since winning over this trip on soft at Gowran in May 2024; steadily regressing this year although some glimpses of form; vulnerable.

9/2

14/1

  • Place: £5.20

Form: 978907 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Seven-time winner including two on AW; out of form since C&D win March; last of 12 in Gowran event won by Pier Pressure; moderate run at Laytown last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(3)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Hightimeyouwon

9st 9lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

11-wins include five here, including in March claimer; most recent run at the Curragh in August was a solid one and has to be respected given his record here.

9/2

2

(3)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

17:40 Curragh

Hightimeyouwon

9st 10lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

11-wins winner, 6-38 on turf; winner of four of his seven 2025 starts, best on AW, though won at Cork on penultimate start; 0-15 record at this venue is a possible negative, placed four times.

8/1

9th

9

(11)

13th Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:25 Cork

Hightimeyouwon

9st 4lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

An 11-time winner, 6-37 on turf, including three over C&D; winning favourite in a six-runner contest last month, supplementing three Dundalk wins gained in the opening months of the year; 5lb higher than last time, but still 5lb below AW mark.

10/1

4th
1 (6)
Malex

4/1

Form: 0/85-1 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Highly tried by Michael O'Callaghan in 2022; no show in two runs in the US early last year; returned from a 582-day absence to win a four-runner conditions event at Tipperary early last month; had plenty to spare and was handed an 8lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(6)

4th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

20:15 Dundalk (AW)

Malex

10st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

in touch with leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ran on and went fourth towards finish, not reach leaders

4/1

1st

2

(3)

1st Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 110y

15:00 Tipperary

Malex

9st 9lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

raced in third, pushed along and switched right under 2f out, ridden and ran on well to lead final 110yds, comfortably

20/1

Form: 150800 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 8st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
7f specialist who had Tough Talk back in fourth when winning at Fairyhouse in June, the eighth win of a 57-race career; not in the same form since and, unusually for this stable, has rarely competed at this track, placed twice from three visits.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

10th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

17:00 Dundalk (AW)

Current Option

10st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Sullivan

T: Adrian McGuinness

took keen hold, prominent, joined leader over 4f out, led under 3f out, headed over 1f out, lost second when lost action inside final 110yds, eased towards finish, looked to go wrong

3/1

4th

3

(6)

10th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

17:00 Dundalk (AW)

Current Option

10st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Sullivan

T: Adrian McGuinness

took keen hold, prominent, joined leader over 4f out, led under 3f out, headed over 1f out, lost second when lost action inside final 110yds, eased towards finish, looked to go wrong

3/1

2nd

9

(9)

18th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

17:25 Dundalk (AW)

Current Option

8st 8lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: Adrian McGuinness

Once very useful sort with eight turf wins but is yet to win on AW; fine effort from the front over inadequate 6f (rider dropped whip) here last Friday and one to consider back at his optimum trip and rider's valuable claim.

13/2

Form: 345068 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Curragh winner at two; useful AW form last winter, including a course 6f win; has not enjoyed the best of fortune in several of his races; lost ground at the start in a Gowran race contested by several of these; down in class now after a mid-field run in a premier handicap at Leopardstown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:45 Dundalk (AW)

Daamberdiplomat

9st 7lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

All wins have been at 6f on AW or a sound turf surface but encouraging attempt at today's trip in premier Leopardstown handicap last month, not quite getting home after racing keenly when under 4l off stablemate Rahmi; could go close here if settling better.

7/2

10

(4)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

14:50 Leopardstown

Daamberdiplomat

8st 13lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: J P Murtagh

All wins have been at 6f on AW or a sound turf surface; obvious stamina concerns back to 7f on soft ground.

20/1

7th

2

(7)

15th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 6f 0y

14:20 Dundalk (AW)

Daamberdiplomat

9st 6lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Three-time C&D winner was recording second turf win when scoring in first-time cheekpieces at the Curragh in late June; ran no sort of race there last month in Scurry Handicap however; still respected.

9/2

Form: 734146 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Has hit a good patch of form during the summer, winning a 1m handicap at Gowran in August; almost unseated coming out of the stalls at the same venue in a race in which I Am Superman and Bellaphina were placed; fair run over 1m1f at Leopardstown last time, this trip probably more suitable; good 7lb claimer up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

5

(8)

30th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

16:45 Cork

Pier Pressure

9st 8lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: G M Lyons

Gained his second career win and second win at Gowran off 4lb lower on penultimate (1m, good); ran on well for fifth off revised mark in the Sovereign Path (7f, good) latest; down 1lb and the return to 1m is a plus; considered.

11/2

14

(15)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

14:50 Leopardstown

Pier Pressure

8st 9lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: G M Lyons

Both turf wins have come at Gowran, most recently last month over 1m off 80, having previously gone close here over same trip under regular rider; 4lb rise okay but draw is a negative and soft ground a concern.

12/1

1st

1

(4)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:58 Gowran Park

Pier Pressure

10st 0lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: G M Lyons

Most recent win came in this race last year from a 1lb higher mark (1m, good); has worn a hood on his last two starts, which has resulted in a pair of seconds at 7f/1m; chance returned to the scene of his win wearing the hood.

3/1

Form: -60341 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Good form in the early part of last season, winning twice; decent effort when close in third at Gowran in August, only a neck behind today's rival I Am Superman; soundly beaten in fourth on soft at Roscommon on next start; tongue-tie and better ground helped when winning a fillies' handicap at Fairyhouse 11 days ago; raised 6lb; no AW experience
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €14.20
Straight Forecast €13.02
Tricast €241.65
Trifecta €120.70

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Tough Talk

SPOTLIGHT:

Daamberdiplomat

TOPSPEED:

Daamberdiplomat

POSTDATA:

Tough Talk

The Irish Sun:

Tough Talk