May 23 / 17.35 Downpatrick

17.35

Good

Frank And Brian Fitzsimons Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5607.44
  • 2m 2f 185y
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Frank And Brian Fitzsimons Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 8158P- C

Last run: 208 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Soft ground was an excuse on final run (October) but he was hit hard by the handicapper for bolting up in a 2m handicap hurdle at last year's Galway Festival; others might be better in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:15 Newton Abbot

Son Of Hypnos

12st 0lb

J: Jack Stenhouse

T: Ryan Chapman

All downhill since winning over hurdles at Galway's festival of 2024; well beaten in three of his four runs for this yard and when third in April only five ran; visor added.

25/1

7th

3

11th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:17 Worcester

Son Of Hypnos

12st 0lb

J: Jack Stenhouse

T: Ryan Chapman

Won at Galway (2m, good) in July 2024; downhill thereafter, ending time in Ireland competing on the Flat; third of five at Exeter (2m; 33-1) on second start for this trainer but tough to fancy on strength of his other two efforts.

25/1

7th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Son Of Hypnos

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Ryan Chapman

Hurdle/chase winner in Ireland but on a losing run now and, although he ran better when third of four finishers at Exeter recently than he had on his yard debut there, a few more pounds off his back wouldn't go amiss.

16/1

Form: 84/51/ C

Last run: 1076 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
With Gordon Elliott when the 2-5 winner of a 2m5f maiden hurdle here nearly three years ago and has been off since; changed hands for 22,000euros and would need to see some confidence behind him after so long on the sidelines; tries a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

17:35 Downpatrick

Roaring Potter

11st 10lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: R K Watson

With Gordon Elliott when the 2-5 winner of a 2m5f maiden hurdle here nearly three years ago and has been off since; changed hands for 22,000euros and would need to see some confidence behind him after so long on the sidelines; tries a tongue-tie.

10/1

2

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

17:35 Downpatrick

Roaring Potter

11st 10lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: R K Watson

With Gordon Elliott when the 2-5 winner of a 2m5f maiden hurdle here nearly three years ago and has been off since; changed hands for 22,000euros and would need to see some confidence behind him after so long on the sidelines; tries a tongue-tie.

10/1

3

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 3f 0y

17:00 Kilbeggan

Roaring Potter

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Relished the step up in trip when getting off the mark in good style at Downpatrick 68 days ago; needs to improve again but going the right way; chance.

7/2

Form: 15FFP- C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Dual winner and had every chance when taking a heavy late fall at Leopardstown (2m4f, yielding) two runs ago; that was her second tumble on the trot and was perhaps thinking of those when below par a month ago; however, the ability is there to go close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:00 Downpatrick

Goodie Girl

11st 13lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Beat Arcland when winning her third hurdle race over 2m3f here a year ago; fell after a break at Fairyhouse next time; well beaten on the Flat on recent return; needs her best.

12/1

8th

5

(2)

8th May 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 183y

19:52 Ballinrobe

Goodie Girl

10st 2lb

J: James Ryan

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Three-time winning hurdler on decent ground; absent since faller at Fairyhouse in November and probably best watched on Flat debut.

16/1

Form: 1246/4

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Wasn't in bad form on the AW through the winter and was under 7l away on her belated return to hurdling over C&D two weeks ago; must have some sort of chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

16:25 Kelso

Rockview Consort

11st 1lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Irish challenger is on a long losing run but she posted a good second of nine in 2m5f Downpatrick handicap hurdle 23 days ago; up 4lb but very much one to consider.

11/4

4

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:43 Downpatrick

Rockview Consort

11st 10lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John C McConnell

AW/hurdle winner; remote second on her latest Flat run (1m4f) but she went close here in May over 2m3f and she's worth a go over this far.

8/1

2

(2)

8th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

18:50 Tramore

Rockview Consort

10st 3lb

J: James Ryan

T: John C McConnell

Dual-purpose mare; without a win since August 2023; made the frame twice over hurdles in May; fair record on AW (1-13, placed six times), not as effective on turf though she has had few opportunities.

9/1

Form: /8344-

Last run: 261 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
1-22 on the Flat and 0-13 over hurdles; has threatened off this sort of mark in the past and joining Gavin Cromwell has to heighten interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 85y

18:45 Killarney

Arcland

11st 10lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual Flat winner is only 1-18 over hurdles, but has put up solid runs the last twice at Downpatrick; the blinkers worn last time are retained and can be involved, but needs more to win.

8/1

2nd

1

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:00 Downpatrick

Arcland

11st 13lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual Flat winner is 1-17 over hurdles; beaten 7l on the Flat and here (2m3f) over hurdles latest starts; needs a bit more but can go well with blinkers added.

7/1

5th

1

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 185y

17:52 Downpatrick

Arcland

12st 0lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dual Flat winner got off the mark over hurdles over C&D last September; raised 6lb for this first hurdle runs since; not a bad seasonal bow on the Flat recently.

13/2

Form: 44209-

Last run: 148 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a Wexford maiden and was a 10l ninth of 19 in his third handicap start at Leopardstown last time; has been off since Christmas but he's still lightly raced and not yet exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

6th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:52 Wexford

Depalma

10st 9lb

J: Ross Berry

T: C A Murphy

Best run over hurdles when second in a maiden over 2m here last October; hasn't matched that form since and was poor in cheekpieces at Kilbeggan last time; needs best on chasing debut.

12/1

8th

2

11th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 160y

18:30 Kilbeggan

Depalma

12st 0lb

J: Ross Berry

T: C A Murphy

Runner-up in a Wexford maiden and respectable handicap debut at Leopardstown over Christmas; possibly needed the comeback run in May so remains of interest and cheekpieces now tried although may want easier ground.

8/1

Form: 40P4P-

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Hasn't taken to fences the last twice but those were after some underwhelming runs on the Flat and over hurdles; bit to prove right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 155y

16:50 Tipperary

Wrecking Ball Paul

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Paul Mulligan

Dual-purpose; 1-15 over hurdles and rated 99; not many positives to glean from two starts over fences; others preferred.

25/1

7

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

17:35 Downpatrick

Wrecking Ball Paul

11st 3lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: Paul Mulligan

Hasn't taken to fences the last twice but those were after some underwhelming runs on the Flat and over hurdles; bit to prove right now.

20/1

Form: P064-1

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Questionable whether he's improving but arrives here after two good efforts, last week battling on well to edge home over 2m1f at Wexford (good); 5lb higher here with Tiernan Power Roche again claiming his 5lb; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 190y

17:03 Wexford

Splendid Choice

11st 10lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Sole win came over C&D in May off 89 (good); has generally run well since, most recently only caught late under a positive ride when third at Kilbeggan (second won next time); 2lb higher but every chance.

9/2

3rd

7

9th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:00 Kilbeggan

Splendid Choice

11st 7lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: P J Rothwell

Held up to win a Wexford handicap hurdle by a neck off 89 in May (2m1f, good); similar tactics at that venue last twice, fifth of 14 and then a 15l fourth last time, where the winner got loose in the lead (just in front of Slea Head and Surviving Murmansk); can't discount.

7/1

3

24th Jul 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 150y

19:17 Wexford

Splendid Choice

11st 8lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Off the mark over C&D in May off 89 and okay run back here early in the month off this mark but clearly needs to improve to play a major role.

13/2

Form: 00U09- C

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Only 2-35 overall and last win came here nearly three years ago; hasn't offered much in his three starts this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:45 Navan

Peckham Springs

11st 1lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Without a win since June 2022; no sign of losing run ending in recent starts; new headgear combination needs to have a transformative effect.

25/1

7th

5

(4)

4th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

18:10 Laytown

Peckham Springs

10st 3lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Dual hurdler winner and better known in that sphere these days; while he's shown a bit of ability on the level down the years, that's been over much longer trips than this.

16/1

9

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 180y

15:43 Downpatrick

Peckham Springs

10st 5lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Over three years since last successful when winning here; doesn't look in good enough form to end the drought.

20/1

Form: 07667-

Last run: 175 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
0-7; penultimate run was encouraging as she was with the leaders when making a bad mistake three out (2m4f, good); below that level last time but the tongue-tie tried then is now removed; off since November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

16:30 Downpatrick

Demanding Gerry

11st 0lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: James Andrew Fahey

Has finished runner-up in four of last five starts, including on return from 225 days off at Wexford on latest; nudged up another 1lb, but has gone well over C&D before and a leading contender.

13/2

2nd

12

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

17:47 Wexford

Demanding Gerry

10st 13lb

J: Conor Smithers

T: James Andrew Fahey

Runner-up in handicaps at Downpatrick and Kilbeggan last summer and again over 2m4f at Clonmel in October; slightly lame when beaten favourite later same month at Punchestown but definite player if reproducing those earlier efforts on her return here.

11/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €20.30
Straight Forecast €18.89
Tricast €81.23
Trifecta €82.30

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Wrecking Ball Paul

POSTDATA:

Splendid Choice

The Irish Sun:

Roaring Potter

SPOTLIGHT:

Arcland

TOPSPEED:

Wrecking Ball Paul