March 15 / 16.15 Thurles

16.15

Good To Yielding

Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5851.24
  • 2m 6f 42y
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.10

Form: -23257 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Last season's King George winner; given a break after a fine Grade 1 second over hurdles at Auteuil last May; went close in a Grade 1 chase at Down Royal in November; below par effort in Grade 1 staying hurdle at Leopardstown in December (2 3/4l in front of Asterion Forlonge); sights lowered now after Irish Gold Cup run; improved ground conditions will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

20:00 Cork

Hewick

11st 6lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Stable stalwart not getting any better at this stage, but solid hurdling form last two completions, when beaten 10l in the Stayers' at Cheltenham and a similar distance in 24-runner Punchestown festival handicap; won a pair of conditions hurdles at Thurles last year; best going this way around and genuine good ground would see him in with a big shout.

5/2

9th

1

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Hewick

12st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Has been a fantastic standard-bearer for his yard, winning 12 races between hurdles and fences including the King George in 2023; hasn't been at that level in the last year but ran respectably in the Stayers' Hurdle; has to bounce back from a poor Aintree run.

20/1

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Hewick

11st 10lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Career highlight when winning the King George over fences at Kempton in December 2023; won two conditions hurdles last year; gave it a very good go from the front when seventh in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, good) last month following wind surgery but this 11yo is probably vulnerable once more.

22/1

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 612-65 C

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Most recent of his seven wins came in a two-runner chase at Cork last March; fine effort subsequently when chasing home Teahupoo in Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown; below his best in two high-class staying hurdles this season, though not beaten far in fifth in the Galmoy at Gowran.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:00 Punchestown

Asterion Forlonge

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, good headway on inner when not fluent 3 out, challenging after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

12/1

2nd

1

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:00 Punchestown

Asterion Forlonge

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, good headway on inner when not fluent 3 out, challenging after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

12/1

Form: /00-57

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has run only four times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; has failed to beat a single opponent in two runs this season, the first in a hurdle race at Limerick
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 170y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Kilcruit

11st 4lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Has run only five times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; failed to beat a single opponent in his two races this season; only mild encouragement from last month's third over hurdles at Thurles.

20/1

7

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 170y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Kilcruit

11st 4lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Has run only five times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; failed to beat a single opponent in his two races this season; only mild encouragement from last month's third over hurdles at Thurles.

20/1

3rd

4

15th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 42y

16:15 Thurles

Kilcruit

11st 0lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Has run only four times since a runaway Punchestown festival handicap chase success in 2023; has failed to beat a single opponent in two runs this season, the first in a hurdle race at Limerick

10/1

Form: 5-2907

Last run: 133 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-12 over fences, has failed to add to his score since landing a beginners' event at Fairyhouse in 2022; has often been well supported in major handicaps including when unplaced favourite for the 2023 Irish Grand National; 2024 form included second in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan; almost three years since he won a maiden hurdle by 30l
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 80y

18:32 Kilbeggan

Amirite

11st 12lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Henry De Bromhead

Was in the form of his life in the spring and summer of last year, victory in this race being followed by an excellent fourth in the Galway Plate; by contrast, his spring form this year leaves plenty to be desired, but he is only 3lb higher than last year and cannot be dismissed with the stable in such form.

12/1

37

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Amirite

10st 2lb

T: Henry De Bromhead

A fluent fourth in the 2m5f Topham over these fences was the first of three big runs in good handicaps last April-July; ran creditably in one (Sandown in April 2024) of his three attempts at 3m4f-3m5f and excuses might be made for his latest two outings (first cross-country, then the mud) but other candidates are more persuasive.

80/1

Form: 21-URR D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground specialist; in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; has blotted her copybook in recent months with an unseat and two refusals, the most recent three in a Grade 3 mares hurdle at Punchestown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 42y

16:15 Thurles

Aodhan May

10st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Heavy-ground specialist; in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; has blotted her copybook in recent months with an unseat and two refusals, the most recent three in a Grade 3 mares hurdle at Punchestown.

14/1

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 23y

15:25 Punchestown

Aodhan May

10st 9lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Heavy-ground specialist in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; looked likely to take advantage of 35lb lower chase mark at Tramore when last seen but refused to jump the last; tough task on these terms but market will be the best guide; blinkered.

16/1

5

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 170y

15:25 Tramore

Aodhan May

11st 5lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

midfield, prominent halfway, disputing second 4 out

11/4

Form: 166P-6

Last run: 280 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Did well to win a Listed handicap chase at Cork last season; failed to sustain the improvement shown on that occasion; lacks a recent run and is out of his depth in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

26th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Curragh

Typical Thomas

12st 0lb

T: James Andrew Fahey

Hurdle and chase winner ran respectably on sole Flat start; not a bad hurdle run last time; chance.

8/1

4th

3

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:00 Downpatrick

Typical Thomas

11st 12lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: James Andrew Fahey

Maiden hurdle winner here in 2022 but hasn't won since taking a Cork chase in 2023; well beaten over fences at Tramore last time; others preferred.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €4.20
Straight Forecast €4.04
Trifecta €10.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hewick

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Asterion Forlonge

POSTDATA:

Hewick

The Irish Sun:

Asterion Forlonge