December 21 / 15.05 Thurles

15.05

Good

Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7695.65
  • 2m 7f 44y
  • 9 runners
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Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather:

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.10
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2-6313

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Point winner who landed a maiden hurdle at Clonmel and stayed on for third in a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last month, hinting that this trip could suit; ought to be in the mix if he improves again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Brave Fortune

11st 7lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Irish 7yo whose broadly progressive form switched to chasing this season features a comfortable win at Roscommon (sole attempt over 3m1f; good) in the summer and good second in Thurles handicap (2m5f, yielding) last time; still reasonably unexposed and looks interesting back up in distance.

6/1

2nd

2

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 198y

14:50 Thurles

Brave Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Winning pointer and twice successful over hurdles for Pat Doyle; took third behind subsequent Galway Plate winner Western Fold on chasing debut before comfortably justifying favouritism next time at Roscommon (3m1f, good); made stable debut back from a break in a five-runner novice event at Fairyhouse last time when a distant fourth (2m5f, soft); shaped as though he would come on for the run that day.

8/1

1

9th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 24y

19:08 Roscommon

Brave Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Jack Doyle

T: P M J Doyle

Winning pointer who won twice over hurdles, including a 3l defeat of Heroes Rise at Thurles in December; matched that RPR when third on recent chase debut; good chance.

3/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: -31648

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won a Listowel maiden hurdle in the summer but hasn't threatened in a trio of novice hurdles since; bounce back required; steps up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 124

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Point winner who made a winning start under rules when winning a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown before narrow defeat in a novice hurdle at Cork; respectable fourth of five at Cheltenham since but has to give weight away here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Millforce

11st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Signed off for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland with hard-fought win at Galway (2m6f, yielding) in the autumn but was pulled up when reappearing for new stable at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) ten days ago and needs to turn things around quickly.

16/1

6

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Millforce

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Henry Oliver

Absent since October when he signed off for Gavin Cromwell with a 2m6f win at Galway (yielding); stays 3m and should get this far, but would need to see some confidence behind him.

10/1

1st

2

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:35 Galway

Millforce

11st 1lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won two of his six starts over hurdles; latest second at Fairyhouse his most encouraging run yet over fences but only four ran and his jumping was a bit scruffy; will need to be sharper all round in his first handicap but the ability is there.

6/1

Form: 848041 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Career best to win a beginners' here last month, beating a nice prospect (Jigoro) from Gordon Elliott's yard; big player if replicating that form back over timber.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

17th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:07 Killarney

Drumgill

11st 2lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Seven career wins capped by 2m1f Listed handicap chase win at Fairyhouse last November; recent Kilbeggan runs over longer trips well below best, but yard has returned to form so could improve for this drop in trip, although yard have a more obvious contender in Gaelic Arc.

12/1

9

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 80y

18:32 Kilbeggan

Drumgill

11st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: John Patrick Ryan

Seven career wins but unable to make any impression behind Native Speaker at Ballinrobe or over 2m4f here last time; needs to up his game.

25/1

5th

4

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:12 Kilbeggan

Drumgill

11st 4lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: John Patrick Ryan

Very capable performer on his day over hurdles and fences; 3-19 in this sphere; soundly beaten in Mayo National latest but this shorter trip should be more his bag and is just 3lb above last win; not discounted but lots of rain would be a worry.

20/1

Form: 1-1121

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who won three bumpers in Britain; runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Aintree before winning at odds on at Sedgefield; much more required against these rivals though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

16:18 Perth

Takt De Touques

12st 0lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: Gerald Stephen Quinn

3-3 in bumpers last year (two wins here) and opened hurdling account in modest Sedgefield maiden (2m4f, soft) in December; not discredited when fifth over 2m7f at Thurles (good) later that month and has good claims on this handicap debut if ready to roll after 204-day absence.

5/2

5th

8

21st Dec 2024

Good

2m 7f 44y

15:05 Thurles

Takt De Touques

11st 4lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: Gerald Stephen Quinn

led narrowly or disputed lead, not fluent 2nd

8/1

Form: 269441 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Back to his best to land 23-runner handicap hurdle at Navan last month and that form has worked out with the runner-up and third running well since; unexposed at this trip and one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

8th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:48 Roscommon

Sequoiaspirit

11st 0lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Ray Hackett

Five-time Flat winner (including here) is 1-28 over hurdles; last two runs in this sphere poor but shaped well on the level at Killarney four weeks ago; just 1lb above sole hurdles win so place chance but hard to fancy for win purposes given his modest strike-rate.

12/1

3rd

7

(1)

12th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 182y

19:40 Killarney

Sequoiaspirit

11st 7lb

J: Mr L Hackett

T: Ray Hackett

Strong stayer with the form to feature off this mark but he has been very quiet in two runs over hurdles this year.

10/1

14

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Sequoiaspirit

10st 10lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: Ray Hackett

Is just 1-27 over hurdles and was well beaten here last time after a break; can improve on that but plenty others preferred.

40/1

Form: 522-21 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Improving with every run and gained compensation for two narrow defeats when landing a maiden hurdle over C&D last month against her own sex; that form is already working out and her course form is a plus; this is tougher but respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 160y

19:08 Limerick

Grooveykindoflove

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Gained compensation for two narrow defeats when landing Thurles maiden hurdle in November (2m7f, good) against her own sex; that form has worked out well; below best in novice there when last seen but strikes as the type who will flourish over fences now.

6/1

8

22nd May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 160y

19:08 Limerick

Grooveykindoflove

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Gained compensation for two narrow defeats when landing Thurles maiden hurdle in November (2m7f, good) against her own sex; that form has worked out well; below best in novice there when last seen but strikes as the type who will flourish over fences now.

6/1

7th

6

21st Dec 2024

Good

2m 7f 44y

15:05 Thurles

Grooveykindoflove

11st 4lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

disputed lead early, prominent when bumped just after 1st

6/1

Form: 7/17

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who got off the mark under rules at the first attempt in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel; tailed off in Fairyhouse novice hurdle since; tailed off in Fairyhouse novice hurdle since but could be a player over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

15

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 40y

18:18 Bellewstown

Stuntman Steve

11st 5lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has suffered mishaps over fences lately, equipment failure at Tramore, hampered and unseated at Punchestown; second in this race in 2025; could be interesting in first-time blinkers; however, Fiver Friday appeals as the stable's main hope.

16/1

9

6th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 50y

13:50 Punchestown

Stuntman Steve

10st 10lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

2-12 over hurdles and rated 8lb higher in that sphere; hasn't looked like exploiting lower chase mark in recent starts; valid excuse at Tramore latest (mistake at third, pulled up after stirrup broke); capable of better than that and can't discount, especially if the rain misses.

14/1

3

29th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 110y

17:55 Tramore

Stuntman Steve

11st 8lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Two-time hurdles winner is 0-5 in chases; out of form in 2026 but has yet to get his favoured good ground; could go well in first-time cheekpieces with conditions to suit.

7/1

Form: 41567

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a three-runner beginners' on chase debut but well held at Fairyhouse and similar story back over fences since; up against here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

17:40 Fairyhouse

Well Del

10st 5lb

J: Daniel King

T: David K Walsh

Won a handicap hurdle on first start for this yard at Punchestown in February; won a beginners' chase for Liam O'Brien in October 2024; has run well here before but well beaten last twice over timber and this looks too demanding; cheekpieces go on.

14/1

6th

5

19th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 45y

16:30 Cork

Well Del

11st 3lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: David K Walsh

Won Limerick beginners' chase for Liam O'Brien last season; two fair runs over fences for Declan Queally this term before breakthrough hurdles win on yard debut at Punchestown; Naas run four days later may have come too soon.

7/1

5th

8

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 7f 20y

15:30 Naas

Well Del

10st 10lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: David K Walsh

Won Limerick beginners' chase for Liam O'Brien last season; two good runs for Declan Queally this term before breakthrough hurdles win on yard debut at Punchestown on Wednesday, getting the better of the front-running second (pair 17l clear of third-placed Ontheropes) late on over 3m1f (soft); quick return under mandatory 7lb penalty and bold follow-up bid expected.

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €44.20
Straight Forecast €37.71
Trifecta €223.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Grooveykindoflove

SPOTLIGHT:

Drumgill

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Sequoiaspirit

POSTDATA:

Grooveykindoflove

The Irish Sun:

Grooveykindoflove