December 26 / 12.13 Down Royal

12.13

Good To Yielding

Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10260.87
  • 2m 1f 53y
  • 11 runners
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Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to winners Hollow Games (useful bumper and 2m1f-2m6f hurdle/chase) and Moyode Gold (2m4f/2m5f hurdle); dam unplaced 2m hurdles, half-sister to smart 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Tumbling Dice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:02 Cork

Battleoftheboyne

11st 12lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: David Kenneth Budds

didn't always jump with fluency, soon pushed along in rear, reminders after 3rd, struggling with one circuit to go

22/1

Form: 9/22

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner made a bright start for the stable when narrowly losing out in a Galway maiden; modest second behind a lively 'Supreme' outsider at Tramore; unlucky if he encounters such a talent here; should take high rank.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Downmexicoway

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Irish point winner; has won two of his four chase starts (at 2m/2m1f on good to yielding and heavy) and had no realistic chance in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month, but he could have made a better impression with some of his jumping; this is a new test for him under rules but he should have the scope to do better back in a handicap; yard runs three.

8/1

3rd

1

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:55 Leopardstown

Downmexicoway

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Maiden hurdle winner last season but then lost his form; has done well in three starts over fences; won a Killarney beginners' last August, 8l second in a Tipperary Grade 3 in October; handled heavy ground when beating subsequent winner Drumgill in a handicap at Gowran in November; useful sort but hardly in the same league as his two rivals.

20/1

Form: 300

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point form not much to write home about; signs of better on rules debut when third in a bumper here but has failed to progress in a pair of maidens in the interim; a work in progress type.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

17:55 Bellewstown

Knockraha Eagle

11st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Has made the frame on his last three starts; holds an outstanding chance based on Wexford second, since the winner Mephisto has completed a hat-trick with victories at Ballinrobe and Tramore; new headgear combination.

11/4

12

8th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 100y

19:13 Wexford

Knockraha Eagle

10st 13lb

J: James Smith

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Starting to find his level in handicaps and posted his best effort yet when a 5l fourth of 8 off this mark over 2m4f here just over two weeks ago; should go well again.

5/1

9

24th Jul 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

17:45 Wexford

Knockraha Eagle

10st 9lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Generally modest form over hurdles but shaped like this trip might suit when staying on for a remote third at Kilbeggan (18.5f, good) 13 days ago; not dismissed off 1lb lower.

6/1

Form: 57-

Last run: 291 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise on debut at Leopardstown (2023) but has only had one start since then when poor at Limerick; must be difficult to keep sound but no surprise if patience pays off at some point, although doubtful if that's today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

11

5th Jul 2025

Good

3m 0f 116y

20:00 Bellewstown

Our Soldier

11st 2lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: E J O’Grady

Got off the mark at Wexford last time over this trip on good ground; faces a tougher task off 8lb higher in this stronger race but improving sort can run well again.

5/1

1st

9

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:10 Wexford

Our Soldier

10st 12lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: E J O’Grady

Placed on three of four attempts hurdling, notably handicap debut last month at Bellewstown when upped to today's trip, finishing a clear second to a warm favourite (good); up 4lb but definite contender with likely more to offer.

13/2

1st

9

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:10 Wexford

Our Soldier

10st 12lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: E J O’Grady

Placed on three of four attempts hurdling, notably handicap debut last month at Bellewstown when upped to today's trip, finishing a clear second to a warm favourite (good); up 4lb but definite contender with likely more to offer.

13/2

Form: 7

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
25s on debut at Navan but far from disgraced with a slightly better than midfield effort; entitled to take a step forward from that and no big surprise if he finds himself on the premises here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

25th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 54y

18:05 Ballinrobe

Scalpnagoon

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

2-7 over hurdles and rated 122 in that sphere; promise in two of three chase starts and rated 120 over fences; beaten 7l over 19.5f (good) at Down Royal latest when a mistake two out proved costly; ground fine here and shorter trip a plus; big player.

15/8

2nd

6

4th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Scalpnagoon

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Gordon Elliott

Second runner for yard; a 122-rated hurdler won twice over hurdles last year before losing his form badly; ran well enough behind a subsequent Punchestown winner at Cork on second chase start; can go well.

6/1

3rd

5

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 45y

16:45 Cork

Scalpnagoon

11st 12lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual hurdle winner but lost his form badly in that sphere last few runs; was poor on chasing debut at Thurles in February; not easy to fancy and a tongue-tie added.

20/1

Form: 960

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has failed to make much of an impact in a pair of bumpers and on recent hurdling debut at Navan; takes a big leap of faith to make a case for her today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Worcester

Dollymount

10st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

0-5 for Cormac Farrell but at least signed off with her best form effort at Thurles in March (2m4f, good to yielding); very interesting considering the dam enjoyed a galloping 2m4f-plus, and her new yard continues in fine form; hood added.

6/4

7th

10

6th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:30 Thurles

Dollymount

11st 5lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: C W J Farrell

towards rear

50/1

7th

9

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 0y

12:35 Clonmel

Dollymount

10st 13lb

J: Philip Donovan

T: C W J Farrell

Well held in two bumpers and Navan maiden hurdle in December; may need more time.

100/1

Form: 8800-

Last run: 271 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Trading at big odds (100s plus) and beaten wide margins in all four starts so far; not high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

24th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

13:30 Fairyhouse

Bruno From Mars

11st 4lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Sarah Dawson

took keen hold, midfield, rapid headway and led after 1st

50/1

Form: 3

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Cost 1,500Euros as 3yo and looks a good purchase on the back of a fine effort in a close third on debut at Thurles when the only one to come from off the pace to try and run down the leaders; connections entitled to have more confidence in him now; sporting chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:15 Newton Abbot

Busy Being Busy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Made excellent progress towards end of last season, winning three consecutive 2m4f handicaps (good/good to soft); not seen to quite the same effect when reappearing over 2m last month but may kick on again now he's back up in trip and with that run behind him.

11/2

8th

6

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Busy Being Busy

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Made excellent progress towards end of last season, winning three consecutive 2m4f handicaps (good/good to soft); may still have significant further improvement to come but has fitness to prove after 160-day absence and is not sure to be suited by this drop back to 2m.

8/1

1st

7

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Busy Being Busy

10st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Stuart Edmunds

Lightly raced and fast-improving 5yo who comes here after two emphatic wins at Fakenham (both 2m4f, good to soft); contests a deeper race today but latest 4lb rise does not look excessive; must be considered.

3/1

Form: 358-29

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed a decent level of promise in the best of his four starts in bumpers and again when a 13l runner-up in a Gowran maiden on debut in this sphere, pulling well clear of the third; stamina seemed to cave at Clonmel (2m3.5f) latest; could sneak a place.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

17th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:47 Wexford

Harrys Dream

11st 2lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: P J Rothwell

Won on good ground at Thurles in November and has run well in defeat three times since including on heavy; said to have made a respiratory noise last time; can go well but is vulnerable off this mark.

7/1

2nd

4

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 150y

16:25 Limerick

Harrys Dream

11st 6lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: P J Rothwell

Won off 7lb lower at Thurles in November (2m, gd-yld); has come up short twice since off revised mark, including over C&D (heavy); needs to find a bit more to win off this rating.

8/1

4th

13

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 168y

13:40 Thurles

Harrys Dream

10st 0lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Off the mark with a C&D win in November (good to yielding); up 7lb and ran to a similar RPR to his win when fourth at Limerick next time (2m, heavy), prominent before weakening late on; better ground may help.

13/1

Form: 7

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Failed to run to market expectations in 'points' and had more in front of her than behind when down the field in a mares' bumper at Naas on recent rules debut; hood now applied but has her work cut out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:05 Fairyhouse

Walk In The Sea

10st 0lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Joint-favourite but was well beaten at Down Royal last time without any obvious excuse; can do better but questions now and 2lb out of the handicap; blinkers on.

14/1

9th

11

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 33y

13:50 Down Royal

Walk In The Sea

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Modest overall form over hurdles; has run twice over fences (fell on latest) since finishing in mid-field in a handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Gowran in November; before that, not a bad run when seventh in a 19-runner contest over 2m at Punchestown.

8/1

7th

16

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 46y

14:35 Punchestown

Walk In The Sea

10st 1lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

First of her two handicap runs in March was encouraging (sixth at Down Royal); failed to reproduce that form at Downpatrick; lack of a recent outing may be a drawback.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Satisfactory second (btn 15l) in a Dromahane 4yo mares' maiden on debut in November; winner a respectable sixth in Naas maiden on next start; stable can ready one and far from ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

19:50 Punchestown

Written In My Soul

11st 1lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: E D Delany

Weakened into sixth of 18 at Down Royal on handicap debut in March (2m5f, yielding); returns to this sphere following two poor efforts over fences.

22/1

13

20th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 160y

18:42 Tramore

Written In My Soul

11st 5lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: E D Delany

85-rated hurdler, last of five finishers at Down Royal on chase debut, can be left out of calculations

25/1

5th

6

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

16:07 Down Royal

Written In My Soul

11st 5lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: E D Delany

Placed in sole point-to-point; finished sixth of 18 on handicap hurdle debut here last month off a mark of 87 (2m5f, yielding); a fair bit to do based on that on ratings for chase debut.

33/1

Betting Forcast

11/2 Battleoftheboyne, 4/6 Downmexicoway, 66/1 Knockraha Eagle, 10/1 Our Soldier, 6/1 Scalpnagoon, 100/1 Dollymount, 150/1 Bruno From Mars, 9/1 Busy Being Busy, 10/1 Harrys Dream, 50/1 Walk In The Sea, 20/1 Written In My Soul

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Downmexicoway

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Downmexicoway

TOPSPEED:

Downmexicoway

POSTDATA:

Downmexicoway

The Irish Sun:

Downmexicoway