February 24 / 14.35 Punchestown

14.35

Heavy

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7314.05
  • 2m 4f 23y
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/8 (Won)

Form: 1111-3 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Classy bumper performer for Anthony McCann; won a 2m Flat maiden at Tramore on her second start for Gordon Elliott; shaped nicely enough despite not jumping well on her hurdling debut over 19.5f here last month when 9.75l behind Maughreen; that form has been boosted, she should improve plenty and she holds leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(5)

28th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 179y

18:40 Galway

Familiar Dreams

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Big improver in bumpers for previous yard in first half of 2024, the last of four wins gained in mares' Grade 3 at Punchestown; won 2m maiden at Tramore last August on second start for Gordon Elliott. 2-5 over hurdles since January; won a 2m6f Grade 3 mares' hurdle at Limerick, unplaced in two subsequent Grade 1 attempts.

15/2

6th

8

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 192y

16:15 Punchestown

Familiar Dreams

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

in rear, hit 6th

8/1

6th

8

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 192y

16:15 Punchestown

Familiar Dreams

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

in rear, hit 6th

8/1

Form: 2/ BF

Last run: 690 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Solid effort on debut in a Clonmel bumper on debut in April 2023 behind Shannon Royale; that's amongst the best form on offer but he's been off the track since; preferred by Paul Townend of the Mullins' pair and it'll be interesting to see if the money comes on his belated hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Jun 2025

Yielding

3m 1f 32y

14:47 Kilbeggan

Toad Hall

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m6f Downpatrick maiden easily in March; keen and hung right when beaten 9.5l in Class 2 novice at Cheltenham on latest; top rated here at 129 and the return to a right-handed track a plus; stamina in pedigree so should stay this far; yard has won the last two renewals; leading claims.

Evs

2

1st Jun 2025

Yielding

3m 1f 32y

14:47 Kilbeggan

Toad Hall

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m6f Downpatrick maiden easily in March; keen and hung right when beaten 9.5l in Class 2 novice at Cheltenham on latest; top rated here at 129 and the return to a right-handed track a plus; stamina in pedigree so should stay this far; yard has won the last two renewals; leading claims.

Evs

Form: 57-3

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed a bit of promise in a Leopardstown bumper on debut in December 2023; finished third after a 291-day absence on his hurdles debut at Down Royal on Boxing Day but was beaten 35l; could do better with that under his belt.
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:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sixth foal; sister to point/2m5f hurdle winner Top Target; dam unraced half-sister to 2m-2m5f hurdle/chase winner Roll The Dice out of unraced sister to 2m2f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner Pongo Waring; daughter of Westerner is worth a market check on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

31st Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 70y

17:42 Limerick

Westandtogether

11st 5lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Mrs Denise Foster

Off the mark on handicap debut at Navan early last month (2m6f, heavy); raised 8lb for that and given how well she saw out the trip, this drop back in distance doesn't look an obvious plus.

9/2

1st

9

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

15:20 Navan

Westandtogether

10st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Mrs Denise Foster

Soundly beaten in four maiden hurdles at 2m-2m4f on yielding, soft and heavy ground; bred for this sort of trip though so she is worth a market check on handicap debut.

20/1

Form: 7

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Jumping left a bit to be desired on debut at Fairyhouse last month; more will be needed to make an impact here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 0y

13:15 Cork

Milanova

11st 12lb

J: Niall Moore

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

soon raced in second

25/1

10

21st Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 0y

13:15 Cork

Milanova

11st 12lb

J: Niall Moore

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

soon raced in second

25/1

5th

5

24th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 23y

14:35 Punchestown

Milanova

11st 4lb

J: Niall Moore

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Jumping left a bit to be desired on debut at Fairyhouse last month; more will be needed to make an impact here.

33/1

OUR TIP

13/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Decent effort on second start in point-to-points on decent ground at Tattersalls in April for Warren Ewing; off since and the tongue tie goes on for his stable/Rules' debut; ground an unknown but worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

21st May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 160y

18:48 Limerick

Game On

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Best form on good ground; won a Downpatrick maiden hurdle without much fuss this time last year (2m6f, good); unseen since pulled up at Kilbeggan in June on chase debut after suffering an overreach; may need this first run back.

11/1

5

1st Jun 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

16:22 Kilbeggan

Game On

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

All his improvement has come on good ground, last time winning a Downpatrick 2m6f maiden hurdle without much fuss; connections evidently keen to get him over fences but the weather needs monitoring.

13/2

Form: 05P

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Huge odds and failed to trouble the judge in three maiden hurdles at trips ranging from 17.5f to 23.5f; pulled up on heavy ground here latest; will likely be seen to better effect in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Sir Carnegie

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

He can make mistakes and may be better over further, but he won two in a row last autumn (2m7f, good/good to soft) and was back on song when runner-up here (3m, good) three weeks ago in reapplied cheekpieces (retained since); good third here (3m, good to soft) yesterday; could be in the mix.

5/1

3rd

3

13th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:43 Perth

Sir Carnegie

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Completed a double with win at Kelso (3m, good to soft; 11-4) last November; wasn't fluent - has been a theme - but bounced back to form in reapplied cheekpieces when chasing home Inis Oirr over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 2lb higher with James Bowen taking over in the saddle; likely candidate.

9/2

Form: 96

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest form in a trio of point-to-points and a similar story in two maiden hurdles; needs a lot more to make an impact here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

8th May 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:42 Tipperary

The Mail Train

11st 12lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: David Harry Kelly

Modest form in trio of point-to-points and similar story in three maiden hurdles; sent off 125-1 for handicap hurdle debut and was well beaten; needs to raise his game.

66/1

13

8th May 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:42 Tipperary

The Mail Train

11st 12lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: David Harry Kelly

Modest form in trio of point-to-points and similar story in three maiden hurdles; sent off 125-1 for handicap hurdle debut and was well beaten; needs to raise his game.

66/1

9th

7

6th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:30 Thurles

The Mail Train

11st 12lb

J: Ryan Treacy

T: David Harry Kelly

prominent, briefly disputed lead after 1st, not fluent 3rd

50/1

Form: 09

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished last of 17 when beaten 94l on his hurdles debut at Cork in May; 150-1 and beaten a similar distance on his first run since at Limerick last month; no appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Listowel

Bitofajokelike

11st 5lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Left all previous form behind when a 125-1 runner-up over 3m at Cork in April; confirmed promise when justifying favouritism in a 3m1f Tipperary maiden hurdle in May; encouraging handicap debut when close up in third at Killarney; similar effort at Galway; form of that race looks solid (second and fifth have wnn since), may confirm with Duke Silver.

9/2

8

3rd Aug 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

14:20 Galway

Bitofajokelike

11st 7lb

J: Jake Coen

T: E McNamara

Left all previous form behind when a 125-1 runner-up at Cork; confirmed that promise when justifying favouritism in a Tipperary maiden hurdle in May; encouraging handicap debut when close up in third behind Greatness Awaits at Killarney, with Coole Cheery fourth

10/1

6

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:30 Killarney

Bitofajokelike

10st 10lb

J: Jake Coen

T: E McNamara

Left all previous form behind when a 125-1 runner-up at Cork behind a nice prospect and confirmed that promise when justifying favouritism in a Tipperary maiden hurdle in May; fair mark for handicap debut but hasn't shown anything in two heavy ground runs so may need the rain to stay away.

5/1

Form: 8

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a point-to-point for Colin Bowe; 9-2 but finished well beaten in a Leopardstown bumper in December on debut for Willie Mullins; with a top yard and should be capable of much better but Paul Townend prefers his stablemate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 23y

14:35 Punchestown

Leaky Cauldron

11st 4lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Won a point-to-point for Colin Bowe; 9-2 but finished well beaten in a Leopardstown bumper in December on debut for Willie Mullins; with a top yard and should be capable of much better but Paul Townend prefers his stablemate.

6/1

8th

6

27th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

15:30 Leopardstown

Leaky Cauldron

12st 0lb

J: Mr Elliot Ohgren

T: W P Mullins

Second runner for top yard; won a point-to-point in October 2023 for Colin Bowe but that form doesn't look overly strong and stable jockey Patrick Mullins prefers his stablemate; dangerous to discount but others have better form claims.

11/4

Non-runners

Pookie Holler

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €4.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Familiar Dreams

The Irish Sun:

Toad Hall

POSTDATA:

Familiar Dreams