April 09 / 17.25 Leopardstown

17.25

Good To Firm

O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Handicap

  • Prize money: £5851.24
  • 1m 1f 0y
  • 10 runners
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O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 008/04 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 41

Form & Verdict
Course winner; missed all of 2024 but encouraging yard debut when making up some late ground from rear at Dundalk 12 days ago; interesting runner back here if he comes on for that and one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(6)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

20:15 Dundalk (AW)

Harbanaker

8st 11lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: William Harvey

Dual course winner at 1m off higher marks than this; weakened into an 8l seventh when last seen here in January over C&D; 3lb wrong but on a dangerous mark if returning to form.

15/1

7th

14

(5)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

18:45 Dundalk (AW)

Harbanaker

8st 10lb

J: Siobhan Rutledge

T: William Harvey

Dual course winner at 1m off higher marks than this; hung left when beaten 6l over C&D on latest (hampered); lurking on a dangerous mark and can't be fully discounted.

20/1

10

(17)

13th Aug 2025

Good

1m 1f 100y

20:05 Gowran Park

Harbanaker

9st 2lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: William Harvey

Ended a losing run at Leopardstown in April; made some headway from rear when sixth of 17 at Naas three weeks ago but has a tough draw this time.

20/1

33/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 6800-0

Last run: 47 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in 10 starts so far and tailed off on February's reappearance; wears first-time blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(14)

30th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:20 Cork

Sayfa Fad

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Paul W Flynn

Came from well back to collect over 1m at Bellewstown (good to yielding); 7lb higher now but a wide draw made life difficult at Dundalk last time.

12/1

7th

8

(15)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:30 Dundalk (AW)

Sayfa Fad

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Paul W Flynn

Runner-up at Leopardstown in the spring and returned from a break to score at first attempt for new yard, coming from well back over this trip at Bellewstown last month; 7lb rise but could have more to offer and wide draw may not be such a negative under hold-up tactics.

11/2

1st

9

(4)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

0m 7f 195y

16:55 Bellewstown

Sayfa Fad

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Paul W Flynn

Career-best when second over 1m1f at Leopardstown in April in first-time blinkers; well below that form in similar contest latest and now debuts for new yard.

8/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 5-5604

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
All six wins have come on AW and it was a step back in the right direction when beaten roughly 2l at Gowran last week; shaped like this extra furlong will help and has to be high on any shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(12)

6th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:55 Ayr

Higher Kingdom

9st 9lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Irish challenger who is a six-time AW scorer; 0-30 on turf but has some respectable form this term; fighting chance at the weights in this first classified attempt.

9/2

7

(13)

19th Jun 2025

Yielding

1m 1f 0y

19:30 Leopardstown

Higher Kingdom

9st 10lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six AW wins; yet to score on turf after 29 starts; third in four of his last six races; not the most consistent, but possible he can pick up one of these at some stage.

8/1

9th

4

(5)

12th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

20:20 Leopardstown

Higher Kingdom

9st 10lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six-time AW winner yet to score on turf after 28 starts although Naas third in April would give him a definite shout here (upset in stalls both starts since).

11/2

OUR TIP

3/1

Form: -43484

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Sole win came in sprint maiden at Sligo in 2023; major step back in right direction when fourth of 20 (beaten 1l) last week in new headgear combination (retained); extra furlong is fine and should be involved again with handy draw.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

(6)

11th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

14:08 Dundalk (AW)

Si Senior

10st 2lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: M K Flannery

Nothing like her best form in ten races since a 1m2f Ballinrobe win last June; unappealing in a sprint handicap at this stage of her career, although she won a maiden at around 6f at two.

33/1

Form: 09/43- D BF

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Won twice over timber last season and two good runs on the Flat over a bit further than this including a third of 11 at Bellewstown (1m4f, yielding) in October; mixed record fresh and suspicion he needs a bit further; new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(10)

8th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 115y

20:07 Tipperary

Slieve Bearnagh

10st 6lb

J: Ms K M Ryan

T: David Marnane

Just one Flat win since 2021 but was only beaten a neck on soft by Tassarolo at Killarney last month; form knocked since and his better recent runs have come on softer ground than what's likely here.

5/1

2nd

16

(3)

16th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 103y

19:50 Killarney

Slieve Bearnagh

9st 8lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

First reserve; five wins in all codes; has been running consistently in defeat on the Flat lately including at Limerick four days ago; needs more but easy ground might help.

Form: 9214-6

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Got the better of an in-form Comfort Line (runs earlier on card) over 1m in September and has shaped okay both starts since; may come on for latest Dundalk outing and capable of having a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:41 Worcester

Dynamite Defense

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won over 1m on the Flat in Ireland in 2024, but Olly Murphy was unable to get a win out of him in five runs over hurdles and two on the Flat; sold for 5,500gns to join new yard last month; best watched on stable debut.

25/1

3rd

7

(1)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 66y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Dynamite Defense

9st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Olly Murphy

Gained his Irish win on AW; posted an encouraging effort, keeping-on third, at Lingfield (1m4f) returned to this sphere on seasonal debut; interesting.

7/2

3rd

4

(6)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:12 Lingfield (AW)

Dynamite Defense

10st 13lb

J: Mr Josh Myers

T: Olly Murphy

Sole win was at Dundalk (1m, AW) in September 2024 and he's been well held in five hurdle runs for current yard; has something to prove back on the Flat and this is competitive; cheekpieces removed.

9/1

Form: 8/8/9-

Last run: 337 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Hurdle winner who is 0-12 on the Flat but only seen once last season and has been off 337 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Duleek Street

11st 4lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Won a maiden hurdle at Cartmel almost two years ago; not much encouragement from two runs on the Flat this season.

14/1

5

(14)

4th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 37y

20:07 Bellewstown

Duleek Street

9st 5lb

J: Ross Coakley

T: John C McConnell

Winning hurdler; Flat form does not amount to much; moderate run at Leopardstown in April after a lengthy break; others make more appeal.

16/1

7th

6

(5)

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

17:25 Leopardstown

Duleek Street

9st 9lb

J: Ross Coakley

T: John C McConnell

dwelt start, towards rear

33/1

Form: 74-140

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark in a Dundalk claimer in January but hasn't built on that in two runs for new yard; shorter trip may help but turf record of 0-20 is off-putting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(5)

11th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

16:38 Dundalk (AW)

Guest Star

9st 0lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: T G McCourt

Sole win in a 40-race career came in a claimer at this venue last year; recent fourth was in the same grade; handicap form is uninspiring.

33/1

4th

8

(2)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

16:30 Dundalk (AW)

Guest Star

9st 6lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: T G McCourt

Sole win came in a C&D claimer this time last year; hasn't looked like adding to his tally in recent Flat and hurdle starts; last of 14 here last time.

66/1

12th

12

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 40y

19:25 Bellewstown

Guest Star

10st 8lb

J: Paul Kavanagh

T: John C McConnell

AW winner is 0-6 hurdling and no great impact so far in handicaps.

25/1

Form: 08-000

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
Sole win came on AW (7f) in 2023 and struggled in six starts for his new connections; hard to fancy at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

(6)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:23 Roscommon

Serengeti Sunrise

8st 11lb

J: Siobhan Rutledge

T: R K Watson

Short-head second at Gowran just over a year ago was out of kilter with the rest of his form for this yard.

33/1

8th

14

(1)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 2f 158y

16:32 Sligo

Serengeti Sunrise

8st 10lb

J: Jack Cleary

T: R K Watson

Hasn't added to Wolverhampton 7f maiden win in 2023; touched off at Gowran (heavy) this time last year, but form since none too encouraging and takes a big step up in trip here.

20/1

6th

6

(7)

15th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

15:12 Newcastle (AW)

Serengeti Sunrise

9st 9lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: R K Watson

Stablemate of My Kurkum; beaten 16 times since winning a 7f maiden at Wolverhampton in October 2023 (second start); finished a staying-on fourth in a similar event at Wolverhampton (7f) nine days ago; more needed to end his drought.

12/1

20/1

Form: /3970-

Last run: 247 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Two promising runs at 7f last season but well held over that trip when last seen and probably best watched stepping up in distance for new yard after 247 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

11th Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

19:20 Limerick

Still Rolling

9st 7lb

J: Wayne Hassett

T: P J F Murphy

Lightly raced maiden; soundly beaten both handicaps this term; handicapper relenting but still others preferred.

16/1

14th

6

(6)

20th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 90y

20:20 Cork

Still Rolling

9st 13lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: P J F Murphy

Ran well here over 7f on heavy ground in March 2024 but struggled subsequently last term and tailed off when making her yard debut on return.

16/1

14th

6

(6)

20th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 90y

20:20 Cork

Still Rolling

9st 13lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: P J F Murphy

Ran well here over 7f on heavy ground in March 2024 but struggled subsequently last term and tailed off when making her yard debut on return.

16/1

Non-runners

Knockmore Prince

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €56.10
Straight Forecast €88.68
Tricast €339.43
Trifecta €354.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Higher Kingdom

POSTDATA:

Dynamite Defense

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Harbanaker

The Irish Sun:

Higher Kingdom