June 08 / 13.30 Punchestown

13.30

Good

Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase

  • Prize money: £7557.85
  • 3m 0f 186y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 4073-1

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winner of a beginners' chase last month at Down Royal by 3.5L (2m3f, good); winner on the Flat and twice over hurdles; has run well twice since returning from a break; in great form and has a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

Baltic Bird

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Useful Flat and hurdles performer who has gone 0-5 over fences since a winning start in May 2025 and he'll need to run better than he did in a handicap chase at Ballinrobe last time; however, a case can be made off this mark on best form; versatile trip-wise from 2m to beyond 3m.

9/1

6th

16

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Baltic Bird

10st 4lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: William Durkan

Any horse in these colours worth a second look here, and one presumes this has been the plan; useful Flat and hurdles performer and won 2m6f hurdle on this card in 2024; held in novice company last year after winning on chase debut at Down Royal; third over inadequate 2m on handicap debut at Wexford; better for that run and ground and trip to suit, albeit he's up in grade a good bit.

8/1

3rd

5

7th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:08 Wexford

Baltic Bird

11st 9lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: William Durkan

Ground should be coming right for him now; probably needs further than this, and his lack of a recent run is a possible drawback.

12/1

Form: U9/U-

Last run: 398 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on debut point-to-point start; has been running in points and hunter chases since then with little success; likely to be out of his depth here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

16:50 Killarney

Ballinrea

11st 1lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Roger Joseph McGrath

Point winner but shown very little in four starts under rules; now tries handicaps and others appeal more.

20/1

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 186y

13:30 Punchestown

Ballinrea

11st 4lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: Roger Joseph McGrath

Won on debut point-to-point start; has been running in points and hunter chases since then with little success; likely to be out of his depth here.

40/1

1

6th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 50y

16:30 Down Royal

Ballinrea

12st 0lb

J: Mr M J McGrath

T: Roger Joseph McGrath

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent when mistake and unseated 4th

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 780-44

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in points, bumpers and in two chase starts; hard to see him being involved in a race such as this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Minella Sergeant

10st 13lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Maiden who was a huge price when down the field in a beginners' event here on Friday; beaten 18l in fourth behind Blood Destiny at Listowel in June; better effort when third in a five-runner contest at Punchestown.

40/1

9

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

17:30 Galway

Minella Sergeant

11st 12lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Maiden gave his best run over fences last time at Punchestown when a 6l third of five (3m1f, good to yielding); beaten a long way in two starts prior to that; hard to see him getting involved.

25/1

Form: /P439-

Last run: 89 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Two wins under rules came on soft-heavy ground; last seen finishing a distant ninth in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival; ran well at Musselburgh on penultimate run when losing by 1L (2m7f, good); cheek pieces added to tongue tie; one of the likelier contenders if the favourite underperforms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

22

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

No Time To Wait

10st 0lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: John C McConnell

Now 0-10 chasing and hasn't progressed from his novice season; looks to have a good bit to find.

25/1

21

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

No Time To Wait

10st 12lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: John C McConnell

He's on a competitive mark on chase form as recent as last July; however, he hasn't been at his best on either outing this winter and is now 0-9 over fences; needs to raise his game in first-time blinkers (replacing a visor); well beaten in the NH Chase (3m6f) at last season's Festival.

100/1

4th

1

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:45 Fairyhouse

No Time To Wait

11st 12lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: John C McConnell

Bumper/hurdles winner for Gordon Elliott; 0-8 chasing; well beaten when unseating at the last in the Troytown at Navan (3m, heavy); better effort when 14l behind in the Paddy Power (3m, yielding) at Leopardstown; others preferred.

10/1

Form: 074C4-

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Sole win came on hurdles debut at Auteuil in 2022 (2m1f, heavy); second in the 2023 Martin Pipe; 0-10 over fences, thouhg has been running okay in some valuable staying handicap chases including in the bet365 at Sandown most recently where he finished fourth of 19 (3m4f, good); appears to have a good opportunity to bag a second win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Spanish Harlem

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Smart staying handicapper at his best; won the Kerry National at Listowel last September and looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse, same outcome in the Grand National.

25/1

10

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Spanish Harlem

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Career with Willie Mullins took a long time to catch fire but it's done so this season and he looked set for victory in the Thyestes at Gowran Park (3m1f, heavy) in January when unseating at the final fence; pulled up behind Grangeclare West last time but back catalogue includes a creditable sixth in the Scottish National and fourth in bet365 Cup at Sandown, so he stays long distances; his revised mark since the Thyestes would be the chief worry.

33/1

9

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Spanish Harlem

11st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Got his first chase win at the 11th attempt at Punchestown in June before following up in the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, yielding); pulled up at Newbury but looked set for victory in the Theyestes (3m1f, heavy) last time when unseating at the final flight; firmly in the mix but Townend rides Grangeclare West.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.90
Straight Forecast €4.92
Trifecta €20.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Spanish Harlem

The Irish Sun:

Baltic Bird

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Spanish Harlem

TOPSPEED:

Spanish Harlem

POSTDATA:

Spanish Harlem