January 21 / 13.10 Down Royal

13.10

Good To Yielding

Franciscan Well Rated Novice Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7070.25
  • 2m 1f 33y
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Franciscan Well Rated Novice Hurdle

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50

Form: 43254F C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a Cork maiden hurdle last summer; consistent in handicap and novice company since; fell when sent to Taunton for a Listed event last month; much more exposed than any of these but has proven form and shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

30th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 130y

17:23 Tramore

Disco Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

One of two for the yard; bumper/dual winning hurdler; hasn't been at her best since returning from a year off and one or two others appeal more.

10/1

4

9th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

14:25 Killarney

Disco Dancer

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

One of two for trainer; bumper/dual winning hurdler; returned from almost a year off when well beaten on Flat in February; more promise in 10l fifth over hurdles at Navan (2m, soft); didn't build on that at Bellewstown last time.

18/1

8th

1

18th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 1f 30y

15:15 Bellewstown

Disco Dancer

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Bumper and dual winning hurdler; came back from almost a year off the track when well beaten in a 1m4f maiden at Dundalk in February; more promise in her 10l fifth of 12 at Navan last month (2m, soft); more needed with cheekpieces added to the tongue tie.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-15 D

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Overcame some greenness to win a 2m4f Cork maiden hurdle in November but disappointed when upped to Grade 3 level at Navan two weeks later; drops back in trip here but looks to have been found a decent opportunity.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

16

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Blue Mosque

10st 5lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Won a bumper and Cork maiden hurdle in 2024 but no win since; however, she has run well in defeat several times up to 2m7f including at this track; up 2lb from last time and one to consider.

10/1

2nd

16

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 110y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Blue Mosque

10st 8lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Cork maiden hurdle winner in November 2024 (2m4f, good); struggled in first two runs this season at Leopardstown but signs of life when a 13l fourth at Naas (2m3f, sft-hvy) 29 days ago; the return to better ground here will suit and yard had a double at the Curragh on Good Friday; could go well.

16/1

4th

7

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 10y

15:30 Naas

Blue Mosque

11st 6lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Noel Meade

Bumper winner here and maiden hurdle winner at Cork in 2024 (2m4f, good); good effort when runner-up behind Kaid d'Authie at the Punchestown festival in a conditions hurdle (2m4f, yielding); needs to return to form following two poor runs this season, finished last of 18 at Leopardstown last time (2m2f, heavy).

14/1

Form: 13

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in a point-to-point at Tinahely during the autumn campaign; 40-1 Punchestown maiden winner over this trip in November, beating odds-on Sounds Victorius who has since made amends at this venue; again 40-1 when a remote third in a 2m Punchestown conditions event; tough task to give weight here and probably better over further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

21

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Rockymountainbleu

10st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Course winner in decent form and has finished in the first four in four of five starts this season; beaten 3.25l behind Sainte Lucie at Cork on latest; cheekpieces worn that day left off and he's 4lb wrong here; minor place claims.

14/1

2nd

18

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Rockymountainbleu

10st 7lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Maiden hurdle winner has been mostly consistent in defeat in handicaps; has been slowly dropping in the weights and cheekpieces may help eke out more.

18/1

3rd

14

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 10y

15:30 Naas

Rockymountainbleu

10st 13lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Punchestown maiden hurdle winner in 2024 has been consistent in his runs since without looking like winning; down 1lb since 7l fourth at Punchestown on New Year's Eve (2m3f, yielding); Billy Lee Swagger looks like the stable first string.

18/1

Form: 28-1 D

Last run: 236 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Created a nice impression when winning a maiden hurdle at Limerick in May; not seen since but an interesting runner here with ground to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

18:50 Stratford

Half A Chance

11st 7lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Irish challenger whose sole success came in a Limerick maiden on his hurdles debut in May 2024; placed five times last term and returns to this discipline after a couple of unsuccessful runs over fences this month; win record is offputting.

8/1

3

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:20 Cartmel

Half A Chance

10st 5lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Sole success came in a Limerick maiden hurdle in May 2024; placed several times since and made a promising debut over fences when fourth of 12 at Wexford (2m, good to yielding) 16 days ago; should win races but up against a serious rival here.

9/4

4th

2

7th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

17:35 Wexford

Half A Chance

11st 12lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Sole win came in 2m Limerick maiden hurdle two years ago; consistent placed form in handicap hurdles last year, well below best last month at Plumpton; straight into handicap company for chase debut and inexperience a concern.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €5.40
Straight Forecast €6.12
Trifecta €12.20

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Disco Dancer

SPOTLIGHT:

Blue Mosque

TOPSPEED:

Half A Chance

The Irish Sun:

Rockymountainbleu

POSTDATA:

Disco Dancer