July 15 / 16.18 Downpatrick

16.18

Good

Randox Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5607.44
  • 2m 2f 185y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Randox Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 8824-2

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Yet to win but some solid runs in maidens and handicaps, the best of which was runner-up in a 2m6f maiden at this track last time; previously ran well over C&D so has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

8th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 180y

17:35 Downpatrick

Fool Me Once

11st 11lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has achieved his best form at this venue, namely when twice second (in a maiden and a handicap) in the first half of 2025; moderate form last summer; always behind at Down Royal on return from a break; appears to be the trainer's second string.

14/1

14th

1

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

15:03 Down Royal

Fool Me Once

11st 13lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Gavin Cromwell

One of two for yard; some fair efforts in defeat last year but pulled up on heavy ground when last seen in November at Fairyhouse; these conditions more suitable, capable off this mark and not dismissed dropped in grade.

18/1

Form: 652-6F C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdle winner over 2m6f at this venue last year and some decent efforts in defeat after in this sphere; fell on second chase start last time; might find this trip a bit sharp.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

8th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:48 Roscommon

Ollie La Ba Ba

10st 9lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Won second race over hurdles when landing a handicap at Listowel (2m2f, gd-yld) in September; below best twice since, in a handicap chase at Clonmel and a handicap hurdle on heavy at Limerick in December; off since and record fresh suggests he might need this run.

20/1

7

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 219y

16:55 Clonmel

Ollie La Ba Ba

11st 2lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Got his head back in front over timber last month but struggled in a couple of chase starts earlier this season; 7lb lower chase mark to work with at least.

7/2

Form: 80-080

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner hasn't been at his best in a chase and two hurdle starts this year; is getting closer to his last winning mark of 100 though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

9th Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

17:20 Sligo

Woodstream Lad

11st 0lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Has been inconsistent in recent years; three-time winner; returned to form with a second placing in a similar race at Tramore last month; should go close.

4/1

2nd

7

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 116y

16:47 Clonmel

Woodstream Lad

10st 12lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: P J Rothwell

Course hurdle winner was last successful in a Downpatrick handicap in 2025; was pulled-up on recent return at Punchestown and has to bounce back.

12/1

Form: 6803-

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose maiden ran a solid race on the Flat at Down Royal last time; beaten 15l on handicap hurdle debut at Punchestown in January but could improve on that on this better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

15th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

16:18 Downpatrick

Jarvis Brook

10st 13lb

J: Richard Deegan

T: Paul Nolan

Dual-purpose maiden ran a solid race on the Flat at Down Royal last time; beaten 15l on handicap hurdle debut at Punchestown in January but could improve on that on this better ground.

4/1

4

(11)

21st Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 207y

17:10 Down Royal

Jarvis Brook

9st 11lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Paul Nolan

Well-backed on seasonal return but failed to fire at Fairyhouse 45 days ago (1m, good); is 1lb lower since being beaten a short head at Gowran last August (1m1f, good to firm); may come on from last run but needs more.

9/1

10th

4

(7)

7th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

20:20 Gowran Park

Jarvis Brook

9st 13lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Paul Nolan

Dual-purpose sort; went closest on the Flat over 1m1.5f at this track last year; needs a repeat on return.

10/1

Form: 302-02

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Maiden after 13 hurdle starts but went closest at Punchestown over 2m3f last time off this mark; can be inconsistent but a repeat of that form should see him go close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

15:02 Cartmel

Divilabother

11st 3lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tristan Davidson

Stable is going well at the moment and this 8yo contributed with a clearcut win at Hexham (extended 2m7f, good) 15 days ago; up 5lb today; usually ridden in the last ten months by Harry Reed, who's on stablemate Pyramid Place this time but, on the face of it, this is the yard's stronger option.

8/1

1st

8

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 4

16:10 Hexham

Divilabother

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

C&D winner on stable debut in August and has shown fair form since, though he needs to be forgiven a below-par effort here last time over 2m4f; possible danger if returning to form now back up in trip.

12/1

6th

11

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Divilabother

11st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

C&D winner on stable debut in August and mainly fair form since; closely matched with Wee Alki on their clash over 3m here 17 days ago and the drop back in trip is maybe more in his favour; respected.

9/1

Form: 8-088

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
AW Flat winner in UK has been soundly beaten in all four maiden hurdles and has to do much better even dropping to a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 185y

16:18 Downpatrick

Niigata

10st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

AW Flat winner in UK has been soundly beaten in all four maiden hurdles and has to do much better even dropping to a handicap.

18/1

9

5th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 40y

17:30 Bellewstown

Niigata

11st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Regressed on the Flat after a winning debut for the Crisfords; weak hurdles form so far.

25/1

13

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

14:30 Listowel

Niigata

11st 7lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Regressed on the Flat after a winning debut for the Crisfords; tailed off in both runs over hurdles.

50/1

Non-runners

Purse Price

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jarvis Brook

POSTDATA:

Fool Me Once

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Ollie La Ba Ba

The Irish Sun:

Jarvis Brook