July 18 / 19.27 Down Royal

19.27

Good

GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap

  • Prize money: £7314.05
  • 1m 5f 0y
  • 8 runners
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GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 762340 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Scored over this trip at Ballinrobe last summer and pick of form this year includes similar contest and good third of 21 at Navan (1m6f, good); too keen and inadequate trip on latest in Curragh Ladies handicap but respected back at optimum trip here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

2nd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 109y

19:51 Bellewstown

Desert Friend

10st 0lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: P J F Murphy

Dual-purpose veteran; winner of nine races across both codes; bolted up at Sligo in May (1m6f, yld-sft) off 6lb lower; struggled the last twice however, and previous runs here have not been his best.

11/1

12th

2

(3)

7th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

16:37 Navan

Desert Friend

10st 1lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: P J F Murphy

Veteran gained the ninth win of his career when bolting up at Sligo on penultimate (1m6f, yld-sft); raised 8lb and couldn't follow up at Listowel (2m, good); drop back in trip a plus and has run well here before; place shout.

12/1

Form: 435252

Last run: 83 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won beyond 1m2f although strong-finishing second over 1m4f at Bellewstown in April; chased home clear winner over 1m2f at Navan later in month (4lb rise seems harsh) and now tried over a new trip after a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(14)

24th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 194y

19:10 Naas

Doctor Grace

10st 0lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: Adrian McGuinness

The latest of her five wins came over 1m4f at Roscommon in May; unseated early next time and 1m1.5f looked too short last time at Gowran; has to rebound.

12/1

11th

4

(6)

12th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 1f 100y

20:18 Gowran Park

Doctor Grace

10st 0lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: Adrian McGuinness

Notched third turf win at Roscommon (1m4f, gd) two starts ago, beating Makaiah by 2.25l; stumbled and unseated early lto at Fairyhouse; needs more from career-high mark.

12/1

3

(7)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 210y

16:52 Fairyhouse

Doctor Grace

10st 0lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: Adrian McGuinness

Recorded third turf win earlier this month at Roscommon under positive ride from today's rider (1m4f, good), overcoming wide draw and having been hampered; 5lb rise takes her back to a near career-high mark so interesting to see if she can back that up.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 1417-4

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Killarney winner a year ago (1m4f, good) and later won at Dundalk; Gowran comeback run (1m6f) in May very encouraging and no surprise if she played a major role here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:40 Dundalk (AW)

Lady Kai

10st 0lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Ross O’Sullivan

C&D winner last year; split today's rivals El Bello and Glady Eagle when second at Tipperary in August; beaten favourite when seventh of 19 at the Curragh last time.

8/1

1

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:40 Dundalk (AW)

Lady Kai

10st 0lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Ross O’Sullivan

C&D winner last year; split today's rivals El Bello and Glady Eagle when second at Tipperary in August; beaten favourite when seventh of 19 at the Curragh last time.

8/1

7

(17)

16th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Lady Kai

9st 11lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Wins last year came at Killarney and Dundalk; light campaign this year, most recently just denied over 1m5f at Tipperary in late August; 3lb higher so more needed.

9/1

Form: 87263-

Last run: 268 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Killarney maiden winner yet to score in handicaps but has gone close several times at around this trip; fair maiden hurdler but hasn't run since April and tried in cheekpieces here on Flat return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 33y

13:50 Down Royal

Beautiful Chaos

11st 2lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Dual-purpose; 1-29 on Flat; 0-6 over hurdles; her sole Flat win came over three years ago, but she had fair form in 2025, including when second in a 1m5f handicap at this venue; well clear of the remainder when chasing home an easy winner at Tramore on New Year's Day.

5/1

6

(5)

22nd Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

1m 6f 55y

17:25 Listowel

Beautiful Chaos

9st 10lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Record of 1-27 with her win coming three years ago doesn't inspire hugely, but she has been running well in defeat recently; beaten a head at Down Royal in first-time cheekpieces off 62 in July (1m5f, good); creditable runs at Galway and Killarney following that (a neck behind Ehteyat at Killarney); interesting.

8/1

5

(1)

22nd Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:41 Killarney

Beautiful Chaos

9st 11lb

J: Shane Markey

T: Ross O’Sullivan

No win since 2022 but went agonisingly close to ending the drought at Down Royal last month (1m5f, good) in first-time cheekpieces; merit in Galway fourth since so remains of interest.

15/2

Form: -59563

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Fair maiden form but yet to make her mark in handicaps, never competitive when a remote third at Tramore on latest in first-time cheekpieces (now replaced by visor); more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(6)

22nd Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 160y

19:48 Gowran Park

Fianna

9st 13lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Aidan Anthony Howard

Placed once in seven starts for Willie McCreery; her new trainer appears to have a better chance with Bhean Saibhre; tongue-tie for the first time

14/1

5

(3)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 5f 0y

19:27 Down Royal

Fianna

9st 9lb

J: Megan Telford-Kelly

T: W McCreery

Fair maiden form but yet to make her mark in handicaps, never competitive when a remote third at Tramore on latest in first-time cheekpieces (now replaced by visor); more needed.

10/1

3

(3)

8th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

18:50 Tramore

Fianna

10st 1lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: W McCreery

Fair maiden form; best of her three handicap runs when fifth over 2m at Listowel; needs to find extra after never-threatening Ballinrobe sixth; first time with cheekpieces.

5/1

Form: 41-660

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
1m4f Fairyhouse winner last summer and won over 1m2f on Dundalk AW in November; never sighted on recent comeback run at latter venue so needs to find plenty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

17th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

19:24 Down Royal

Numidia

9st 1lb

J: Mel Sheridan

T: Peter Lawlor

Five wins, two of them on turf, including 25-1 success over extended 1m6f at Bellewstown earlier this month; needed every yard that day, and his previous win was over 2m; got an 8lb rise, which is likely to prevent a follow-up; placed once in seven previous runs here.

4/1

1st

7

(3)

2nd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 109y

19:51 Bellewstown

Numidia

9st 5lb

J: Mel Sheridan

T: Peter Lawlor

Four wins on the Flat but hasn't won on turf since June 2024; 4lb below that last success but recent form hasn't indicated that a return to winning ways is imminent; others preferred.

20/1

8th

9

(12)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 207y

17:13 Down Royal

Numidia

9st 7lb

J: Rory Cleary

T: Peter Lawlor

Sole win on turf came at Fairyhouse in June 2024 (1m4f, good); latest of three AW wins came at Dundalk in November over 2m; two turf runs this term were poor and most recent Dundalk outing was not his best either.

18/1

Form: 0-5222

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 51

Form & Verdict
Modest but improving handicapper, finding one too good on last three starts; at Navan and on successive days at Bellewstown for today's rider, 1m4f on latest probably a tad short when clear of the remainder; 7lb rise for those runs looks harsh but respected nonetheless.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 90y

14:50 Sligo

Maxwell Smart

10st 9lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: T G McCourt

Best hurdle run came when third at Downpatrick last time in this sphere, but was poor on the Flat since, so has to put that effort behind him.

10/1

8th

5

(1)

2nd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 109y

19:51 Bellewstown

Maxwell Smart

9st 6lb

J: Sadhbh Tormey

T: T G McCourt

Just 1-21 on the Flat but not beaten far the last twice; closely matched with Kevin The Great on Navan running earlier this month; didn't quite see out 2m2f at Down Royal latest; goes well here and big chance back down in trip off last winning mark for local yard.

5/1

3rd

3

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

15:55 Downpatrick

Maxwell Smart

11st 6lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: T G McCourt

Glimmers of promise in maiden hurdles last year and rated 102; decent effort off lowly mark on the Flat at Navan on latest (1m5f, good); rider takes off useful 7lb and would have a place chance on best form over timber.

11/1

Form: 080500

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 8lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
3-29 on AW but yet to make the frame in nine turf starts, never sighted at Bellewstown latest; hard to be confident in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

(2)

24th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

16:35 Naas

Picpoul

8st 11lb

J: Rory Mulligan

T: M M Rice

Tough task at the weights in a claimer last time and was third in a handicap at Gowran (extended 1m1f) the run before; rarely wins, though.

25/1

2

(1)

6th Aug 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 129y

16:50 Sligo

Picpoul

10st 2lb

J: Shay Wallace

T: M M Rice

Record of 3-40 but has a mark of only 43 and can be opposed at these weights.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €82.30
Straight Forecast €109.06
Tricast €326.40
Trifecta €252.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lady Kai

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Numidia

POSTDATA:

Lady Kai

The Irish Sun:

Lady Kai