October 11 / 14.15 Downpatrick

14.15

Good To Yielding

Toals Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5130.43
  • 2m 1f 65y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Toals Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 270/2

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose maiden; last seen finishing 2.5l second in 2m2f Listowel handicap hurdle on soft on debut for this yard; will find this company easier and must be respected; handles any ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

30th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

14:20 Wexford

Impero

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Cian Collins

Smart five-time winner over hurdles and ran well in two useful handicaps in May; 3-1, jumped well out in front before tiring on chase debut over 2m4f at Kilbeggan; could be hard to beat over this trip.

5/2

5th

6

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:40 Kilbeggan

Impero

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Cian Collins

Very useful five-time winning hurdler who has put in two promising runs this year when second in competitive Killarney handicap (2m1f, gd) in May off 136 before running to a similar level when beaten 7l into third at Kelso 22 days ago; steps up in trip on chase debut and could be good enough to make a winning start.

5/2

3rd

1

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:03 Kelso

Impero

12st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Took this in good style 12 months ago; lightly raced since but advanced his form after nine months off when second of ten in 2m1f handicap at Killarney 15 days ago; up 4lb here but this Irish challenger rates a player.

3/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 4

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat recruit; 0-6 in that sphere but is a half-sister to a 2m hurdle winner and she caught the eye on her hurdling debut when fourth of 18 at Gowran (2m, good) last week, closing all the way to the line; big player with further improvement likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 170y

13:55 Down Royal

Whispering Hopes

10st 13lb

J: Mr E P Powell

T: Liam Lennon

Dual-purpose maiden had been placed over hurdles for Gordon Elliott but has been poor in two starts for this yard (both here) and needs improvement on her best form anyway.

20/1

8th

19

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 1f 105y

13:18 Down Royal

Whispering Hopes

10st 11lb

J: Mr E P Powell

T: Liam Lennon

Placed three times in nine attempts hurdling for Gordon Elliott, all on decent ground; down the field over C&D on stable debut eight weeks ago.

66/1

14th

20

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 33y

12:50 Down Royal

Whispering Hopes

10st 11lb

J: Mr E P Powell

T: Liam Lennon

Placed three times in nine attempts hurdling for Gordon Elliott, all on better ground; surprise to see her featuring on yard debut.

14/1

Form: 232223 BF

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose maiden; 0-11 and rated 109 over hurdles; has finished second or third in his last eight starts; beaten favourite five times; looks sure to run his race again but he's risky for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:50 Wexford

In The Trenches

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Long-standing maiden finally got it done when winning readily over hurdles last month; second in three of 13 chase starts, and some fair runs over fences without being placed in April/May; these types can kick on once they get their heads in front, and Donoghue prefers him to Sophia Rose.

5/1

1st

6

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 185y

14:20 Downpatrick

In The Trenches

11st 12lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Maiden has finished second 14 times and third six times across all codes; reverted from chasing to be second in Clonmel maiden hurdle last week.

5/1

2nd

6

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 113y

18:45 Clonmel

In The Trenches

11st 4lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Maiden under all codes in 33 races including 14 over hurdles but placed lots of times; some good chase runs lately (not last time) and should go well if back to best hurdles form.

7/2

Form: 9

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair run in a 1m2f claimer last year on sole start for Ger Lyons; struggled here on his hurdling debut in August; well beaten back on the Flat at Navan last month; readily passed over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(10)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Ravelli

9st 8lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

towards rear, some headway inside final furlong, never near to challenge

10/1

3

(10)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Ravelli

9st 8lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Modest hurdles form but some improvement when making some late headway in a 1m2f maiden here last week; could get into the frame.

10/1

6th

1

(1)

10th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 2f 150y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Ravelli

9st 10lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

Beaten roughly 3l in a claimer on debut for Ger Lyons but shown little on the Flat or over timber since and this is a tough assignment.

25/1

Form: U

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Record of 0-11 on the Flat; has shown little on the level in six starts for McConnell and no better when unseating his rider at the first on his hurdling debut at Gowran last week; best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(3)

2nd Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 77y

17:20 Bellewstown

Hangry

9st 7lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

25-race maiden; one of his better efforts when fourth of 14 at Down Royal last month; needs to prove himself on slower ground.

6/1

7

(15)

5th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 194y

19:24 Down Royal

Hangry

9st 9lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: John C McConnell

24-race maiden (0-13 on Flat) whose recent Navan run leaves him with lots to find.

20/1

Form: 5

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made little impact when trained by Ger Lyons and despite running well in third at Down Royal on the Flat latest is now 0-15 in that sphere; made little impact on sole hurdling start here last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(4)

9th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 39y

Class 6

15:10 Carlisle

Hijo De La Luna

9st 4lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: Simon West

Finally gained a first win in 9.5f classified event at Wolverhampton in February; not proved easy to catch right since and beat one in 1m6f Redcar handicap last time; others are preferred.

9/1

6th

7

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 218y

Class 6

14:47 Redcar

Hijo De La Luna

8st 9lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: Simon West

Won a classified race at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in February in a first-time visor; creditable fourth of ten in 1m2f Beverley handicap (good) on Tuesday, staying on again after getting outpaced; that suggests a return to further could suit but this is a big jump in trip.

6/1

4th

6

(3)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

21:00 Beverley

Hijo De La Luna

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Simon West

Won a classified race at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in February in a first-time visor; from the front, he was just behind Dandy's Angel at Hamilton last time; must have some chance.

15/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten out of sight in three runs on the Flat, including a maiden claimer at Bellewstown this month; impossible to recommend on his hurdling debut on what he's shown to date.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

11th Oct 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 65y

14:15 Downpatrick

Purrrfect Timing

11st 11lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Chris Timmons

Beaten out of sight in three runs on the Flat, including a maiden claimer at Bellewstown this month; impossible to recommend on his hurdling debut on what he's shown to date.

40/1

7th

6

(9)

2nd Oct 2024

Soft

0m 7f 205y

13:30 Bellewstown

Purrrfect Timing

9st 4lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Chris Timmons

towards rear, some headway 1f out, soon no extra

100/1

12th

1

(2)

29th Jun 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:40 Curragh

Purrrfect Timing

10st 4lb

J: Rory Cleary

T: Chris Timmons

Outpaced early and never involved on debut in 5f Navan maiden in May; visored now instead of cheekpieces; impossible to fancy.

100/1

Non-runners

Boston Beach, Kingston Narcissus, Walk The Plank

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €6.80
Straight Forecast €5.83
Trifecta €8.90

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

In The Trenches

SPOTLIGHT:

Whispering Hopes

The Irish Sun:

Whispering Hopes

TOPSPEED:

In The Trenches

POSTDATA:

In The Trenches