March 23 / 16.03 Limerick

16.03

Good

Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £14628.1
  • 3m 0f 150y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 16P-14

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a Grade 2 bumper and Grade 3 novice hurdle; looked good on her chase debut at Naas (2m4f, soft) and when below that level at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft) she made mistakes and lost a shoe; unraced over this far but there's plenty of stamina in the pedigree; every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:14 Exeter

Fun Fun Fun

11st 4lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Front-runner who had a Grade 3 novice at Limerick (3m, yielding to soft; has won on heavy) last March among three chase wins last term; below form both starts (hurdle/chase) this season but latest, in which she did not lead, was a step back in the right direction; the chase form pick even on that result.

4/6

1st

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

Fun Fun Fun

11st 2lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

One of two runners for Willie Mullins; useful mare who took her chase record to 2-3 with an easy success in Grade 3 novice at Limerick (upped to 3m) most recently; top on ratings.

4/5

1st

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

Fun Fun Fun

11st 2lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

One of two runners for Willie Mullins; useful mare who took her chase record to 2-3 with an easy success in Grade 3 novice at Limerick (upped to 3m) most recently; top on ratings.

4/5

Form: 357/51

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Smart novice hurdler two seasons ago and ended up in a Grade 1 (well beaten); this winning pointer was always going to be a better chaser and, having probably needed his first run back after a long absence, he made no mistake at Gowran (2m4f, soft; jumped well); there should be plenty more to come over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 7f 20y

15:30 Naas

Harry Des Ongrais

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won Gowran beginners' chase last season before being pulled-up in the Irish National; back to form on seasonal return when second in 2m5f Navan Listed handicap but two disappointing runs since and now reverts to hurdles off 14lb lower mark so has to be respected.

11/2

11th

5

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Harry Des Ongrais

11st 4lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Gowran beginners' chase last season before being pulled-up in the Irish National; bounced back to form on return when second in a Navan Listed event but questions to answer now after being pulled-up in testing ground in the Thyestes Chase; cheekpieces added.

22/1

8

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Harry Des Ongrais

11st 4lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Useful novice chaser last season, winning 2m4f beginners' event at this venue in February and second to a clear winner in 3m1f Limerick Grade 3; pulled up after mistakes in 3m5f Irish Grand National; met some trouble in running before keeping on promisingly for third over an extended 2m4f at Navan on reappearance; trip should be fine.

12/1

Form: /3-F74

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third to Its On The Line at Punchestown last May but below that level in a recent hunter chase at Gowran; the winner of four points but unlikely to making his rules breakthrough in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

3rd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 0y

15:25 Leopardstown

Lonesome Boatman

11st 12lb

J: Mr D Allen

T: Sean Joseph Allen

Won the 3m4f Cork National in November and a good third over 3m6f at Fairyhouse since; below form in a Naas Grade 3 novice last time; just three hurdle runs, the last was in November 2021 but handles this ground so not ruled out.

6/1

6th

6

25th Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 125y

15:25 Naas

Lonesome Boatman

11st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: Sean Joseph Allen

Seasoned chaser got off the mark at the ninth attempt when making all in 3m4f Cork National in November (good-to-yielding); solid third off 9lb higher in 3m6f Porterstown Handicap at Fairyhouse later in month (winner just edged out in Thursday's Thyestes Chase); upped in grade here so career-best required, but could go well.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 422231

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Quirky but very talented; peak RPR of 147 over hurdles when beating Spillane's Tower in a novice; beaten in eight of his ten chases but probably career-best form in winning a 2m5f Listed handicap at Leopardstown three weeks ago (yielding); has to be taken very seriously on the back of that, for all that his stamina for this far isn't entirely proven.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Monbeg Park

11st 8lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Jack Foley

Better known as a chaser but has shown smart hurdles form in the past; would have a squeak if back in top form off a lower hurdle mark.

14/1

9th

4

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Monbeg Park

11st 6lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Jack Foley

Two wins include this race last year off 2lb lower; standout run this term when second in Grade 3 Punchestown contest (2m7f), tame effort last time (albeit stiff task) in Grade 2 at Thurles; not one to rule out back in handicap company.

15/2

4th

5

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

Monbeg Park

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Jack Foley

Useful sort; best form at Punchestown, including when second to the talented Heart Wood three starts ago; 2-16 record over fences is not a great return bearing in mind his 147 rating; inferior to the four Mullins-trained runners on official figures

12/1

Form: -221P6 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who bumped into smart opposition in his first two chases before beating the useful High Class Hero at Punchestown (3m, yielding); his pull-up in the Thyestes can be forgiven but Navan was disappointing, even allowing for the drop back to 2m4f; now on a recovery mission.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Shannon Royale

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Won a 3m beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last season; lost form and has failed to show anything like his best since joining this team; has reportedly bled, including when a remote seventh behind Vanillier over this course in February.

25/1

5th

2

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Shannon Royale

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Won a 3m beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last season; lost form and has failed to show anything like his best since joining this team; reported to have bled from the nose at Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day; reportedly bled again in Punchestown cross-country event

16/1

7th

2

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Shannon Royale

11st 11lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Very useful hurdler and last track success came here in 3m beginners chase just over a year ago (yielding) for Gordon Elliott; well held here in 2m6f handicap in November and reported to have bled from the nose when pulled up in 3m2f Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day, having not jumped well; questions to answer on cross-country debut.

8/1

Non-runners

Broomfield Bijou

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.80
Straight Forecast €6.83
Trifecta €40.10

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Monbeg Park

SPOTLIGHT:

Harry Des Ongrais

TOPSPEED:

Monbeg Park

The Irish Sun:

Monbeg Park

POSTDATA:

Harry Des Ongrais