June 10 / 17.28 Sligo

17.28

Good

Knocknarea Claiming Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4876.03
  • 2m 2f 96y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Knocknarea Claiming Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: P874-5 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Decent chaser at his best, Grade 3 winner for Joseph O'Brien 2021 and won a competitive handicap for Gordon Elliott in 2023; lost form, and has failed to retrieve it for this stable; well beaten in a race in this grade in January; could feature with the benefit of a recent run over fences, since he has a light weight further reduced by a 7lb claim.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Embittered

11st 10lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Scored over hurdles and fences for Eric McNamara in Ireland last summer; well beaten on both runs for his current yard recently, though he faced a very stiff task in the Plate at Cheltenham last time; back hurdling now with something to prove.

8/1

21

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Embittered

10st 4lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Four chase wins at up to about 2m4f on a range of surfaces but out of sorts since the latest of them, at Killarney in August, including for new yard on Friday; often wears cheekpieces, first-time blinkers now.

100/1

7th

6

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Embittered

11st 5lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Won a 2m1f handicap chase at Killarney last August but three heavy defeats since, with latest second remote in a claiming hurdle; first run for Syd Hosie.

25/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 0/1-82 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Three of his five hurdle wins have been in races of this type, at this venue and Ballinrobe in August 2023 and at Tramore in April on his return from a lengthy absence; disappointing handicap run at Killarney before remote second in a controversial Wexford event 13 days ago; has to be taken seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(11)

7th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

20:00 Tramore

Must Meet Cecil

9st 7lb

J: Rory Mulligan

T: Cian Collins

Five-time winning hurdler, including in a claiming event at this venue; not at his best for some time; well beaten in three Flat maidens this term.

16/1

11th

8

(14)

18th Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 0y

20:20 Leopardstown

Must Meet Cecil

11st 7lb

J: Mr B T Stone

T: Cian Collins

Five-time winning hurdler; not at his best for some time; well beaten in two Flat maidens this term, including Bellewstown event in which Joe Cool was second.

20/1

6th

2

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 113y

18:10 Clonmel

Must Meet Cecil

11st 13lb

J: Carl Millar

T: Cian Collins

Five-time winning hurdler hasn't been at his best for some time; 17l behind in seventh at Kilbeggan last time; drop into 0-100 company for the first time may spark a revival.

12/1

Form: 4U9-53

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Three-time Flat winner; yet to shine over hurdles (0-11); has been running in races of this type lately; needs to reverse Clonmel form with Mephisto; finished behind Must Meet Cecil at Wexford.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(7)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Rockview Roman

9st 11lb

J: Miss Abigail Voyce

T: Mickey Bowen

Had a lot of racing in Ireland and was getting beaten in claiming hurdles when last seen during the summer; makes debut for Mickey Bowen but he's a 9yo now and hard to warm to.

20/1

9th

12

(7)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Rockview Roman

9st 11lb

J: Miss Abigail Voyce

T: Mickey Bowen

Had a lot of racing in Ireland and was getting beaten in claiming hurdles when last seen during the summer; makes debut for Mickey Bowen but he's a 9yo now and hard to warm to.

20/1

3rd

8

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 96y

17:28 Sligo

Rockview Roman

10st 6lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John C McConnell

Three-time Flat winner; yet to shine over hurdles (0-11); has been running in races of this type lately; needs to reverse Clonmel form with Mephisto; finished behind Must Meet Cecil at Wexford.

25/1

Form: 6043-0

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Third in a 2m Tramore maiden last October; failed to reproduce that form in a handicap at the same venue on return from a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 185y

14:18 Downpatrick

Halla Paroiste

11st 0lb

J: Mr C A Bowman

T: Cian Collins

Maiden has shown a couple of flickers of ability, including in a chase here over 2m2f last September; however, not a lot to shout about in two runs in 2025; others hold more pressing claims.

16/1

4th

7

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 96y

17:28 Sligo

Halla Paroiste

10st 10lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Third in a 2m Tramore maiden last October; failed to reproduce that form in a handicap at the same venue on return from a break.

16/1

12th

2

30th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 145y

19:20 Tramore

Halla Paroiste

11st 11lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Unlikely that he gave his running when tailed off in his previous handicap and made the frame in a maiden here in October (final run); does have his stamina to prove over this far and now goes in cheekpieces.

7/1

Form: 52/4P-

Last run: 387 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise early in his career; point winner for Sean Doyle and placed over hurdles for Dan Skelton; well exposed in points in recent seasons since return from Britain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 96y

17:28 Sligo

Iorens

10st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Turlough O’Connor

Showed promise early in his career; point winner for Sean Doyle and placed over hurdles for Dan Skelton; well exposed in points in recent seasons since return from Britain.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3P06-7

Last run: 15 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 novice hurdle winner in 2021; hit form last spring winning conditions chases at Down Royal (2m4f) and Wexford (2m); chase form deteriorated last season and he was pulled up in a handicap hurdle at Naas in March; retains a high hurdles rating that gives him a chance in theory but looks risky
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

17th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:07 Killarney

Dreal Deal

11st 1lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: P J Rothwell

Veteran's most recent win came in this race last year off 2lb lower; rediscovered form in the spring in 2m4f veterans' handicaps, finishing fine third at Haydock and good second (having hit last) at Ballinrobe; has to be considered.

10/1

2nd

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Dreal Deal

11st 10lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Bled in this last year; good form in first two starts for this yard at Killarney in the summer and creditable third of 17 in valuable 2m4f veterans' contest at Haydock last month; chance on that form.

10/1

Form: 0F69-3

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Three Flat wins; 0-17 over jumps, outran his 66-1 odds when third in a claimer at Clonmel last month; again faces a tough task at the weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 185y

16:47 Downpatrick

Mephisto

11st 13lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gerard Keane

Three wins last season and shaped nicely on return to hurdling at Bellewstown (24.5f, good) 10 days ago; never won off a mark this high but definite place shout dropped back in trip.

11/1

4th

6

4th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 116y

19:48 Bellewstown

Mephisto

11st 2lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gerard Keane

Dual-purpose performer is 3-21 over hurdles with all three gained in an eight-day period in August last year; has been ticking over nicely on the Flat without winning of late; could make his presence felt.

16/1

6th

9

(9)

7th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

17:12 Navan

Mephisto

9st 7lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

Two solid runs since return from winter break; 4l third at Dundalk (1m4f), then 0.5l behind Jurality when third at Down Royal (Synchronize fourth); 2lb rise for that seems a touch harsh, but place claims again.

11/2

Non-runners

Lightkeeper

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €6.30
Straight Forecast €5.30
Trifecta €25.10

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

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SPOTLIGHT:

Embittered

TOPSPEED:

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The Irish Sun:

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POSTDATA:

Embittered