August 04 / 14.00 Cork

14.00

Good

Fermoy Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7070.25
  • 2m 1f 20y
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Fermoy Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 4-U2P4 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Scored twice over hurdles in the first half of last season; largely out of form under both codes this year with the exception of a second behind solid yardstick Bowensonfire at Tramore in May; beaten 16l in fourth at Ballinrobe last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 185y

14:50 Downpatrick

Hasten Slowly

11st 9lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Last win came at Tramore in August but has lost form and struggling in claimers lately; cheekpieces.

20/1

8th

3

9th Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

17:20 Sligo

Hasten Slowly

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Two of her three wins over hurdles have come at Tramore; a long way below her best in a similar race to this at that course in April; hard to fancy following remote seventh behind Rich Belief at Wexford.

8/1

7th

2

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

16:42 Wexford

Hasten Slowly

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Two of her three wins over hurdles have come at Tramore; however, she was a long way below her best in a similar race to this at that course last month; that run was prefaced by weak form at Dundalk during the winter.

4/1

Form: 44-301 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner in Denmark in 2023, stayed 1m4f; creditable efforts in maiden hurdles before finishing third in a novice event at Downpatrick; moderate display at Tipperary on handicap debut; more like it when winning an ordinary maiden at Ballinrobe.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

22nd Sep 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

15:40 Warwick

Dunkerque

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Made it 4-5 over fences with 10l win in three-runner handicap at Stratford (extended 2m6f, good to firm) last month and beaten just a neck in a match at Perth (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; bumped into an unexposed winner last time and there is every chance that he will again be bang there.

2/1

2nd

1

7th Sep 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:20 Perth

Dunkerque

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Progressive 6yo who comfortably beat two rivals at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month and is now 4-5 over fences; went up another 4lb for that but will be fine over this shorter trip and makes obvious appeal.

8/11

1st

1

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

19:06 Stratford

Dunkerque

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won his first three races over fences (2m4f to an extended 2m5f) and, in first-time cheekpieces, ran well enough at Cartmel (2m1f; Krak 15l behind) to believe he's still on a workable mark; hard to knock.

11/10

Form: /16F-8 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won a C&D maiden hurdle 12 months ago at 20-1; tailed off in follow-up bid at Killarney and fell on final start before a break; may have needed the race at Killarney last month; should be more competitive now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

1st Oct 2026

Good

2m 0f 166y

13:49 Clonmel

Champagne Dawn

11st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: T J O’Mara

Has failed to make the frame in eight appearances since a maiden win at Cork in 2024; remote seventh at Cork in August.

25/1

Form: 63/264

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Has shown a fair standard of form in three runs since returning from a lengthy absence, best of those was when second at Killarney in May comeback; possibly a bit high in the ratings for handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

16

25th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:25 Listowel

Wholelotofbusiness

10st 3lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Killarney novice hurdle winner last October has run well in defeat at times since, notably Killarney third to Ragmans Corner, just okay Galway effort on latest; looks to have a bit to find.

20/1

8th

10

1st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 175y

14:37 Galway

Wholelotofbusiness

11st 2lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Killarney novice hurdle winner last October has run well at times in defeat since, notably back at that track in May; poor behind Spy at Listowel since so questions.

18/1

8th

3

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:57 Listowel

Wholelotofbusiness

11st 8lb

J: G B Noonan

T: Eoin Christopher McCarthy

Won a novice at Killarney in October (2m1f, yielding) and probably posted a similar effort when third in a handicap there last month; solid chance off an untouched mark.

4/1

Form: 110-06 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back handicap hurdles at Punchestown and over C&D in October/November last year; went up an aggregate 15lb and has struggled in three starts since then; looks held by Hasten Slowly on Ballinrobe running, but he likes this track, having also won oin the Flat here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(6)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Jake Peter

9st 0lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: M A Cahill

Dual-purpose veteran; four-time Flat winner (once over C&D in 2018); hasn't been pulling up any trees over hurdles in recent times; made little impression over C&D four weeks ago; others preferred; cheekpieces.

25/1

6th

13

27th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:22 Wexford

Jake Peter

11st 5lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: M A Cahill

Dual-purpose; 3-24 over hurdles, the last win coming off 3lb higher at Cork in November 2024; hasn't looked like taking advantage of sliding mark recently and fell on latest at Punchestown; needs a revival.

22/1

Form: 07-816

Last run: 59 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Wexford maiden winner over 2m4f on good ground; reported to have pulled a shoe in running when well beaten in sixth at Clonmel in his first handicap; down in trip now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

14th Oct 2026

Good

2m 4f 45y

15:20 Punchestown

Avalo

11st 3lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Peter Fahey

Consistent in defeat in handicaps last year, including a festival win here over 2m on first run of the year; good second to Elusive Ogie over this trip at Bellewstown; plugged on to take fifth of 14 at Listowel; player in first-time cheekpieces.

12/1

5th

9

26th Sep 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:55 Listowel

Avalo

10st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Peter Fahey

Consistent in defeat in handicaps last year, including when second to a talented sort over this trip here at the festival; Punchestown festival winner over 2m on first run of the year; mistake two out stopped him at Galway; good second to Elusive Ogie over this trip at Bellewstown

17/2

2nd

6

26th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

17:35 Bellewstown

Avalo

11st 5lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Peter Fahey

Won off 7lb lower at Punchestown in May (2m, yielding); came up short off revised mark in the Tribes at Galway (2m1f, gd-yld); won his maiden over this trip so no stamina concerns but needs more off this mark.

12/1

Form: 438-3 BF

Last run: 68 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Pick of three maiden hurdle runs when third over 2m at Thurles in March, dropped out tamely on soft at Limerick later in month; jumping was untidy in the early stages when third in a Wexford maiden hurdle won by Avalo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

14

20th Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 150y

16:48 Listowel

Cappa Hill

10st 0lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Sean Joseph Allen

Dual winning hurdler but has been soundly beaten in three chase runs lately and lots more is needed from 5lb out of the handicap even with a capable claimer aboard.

28/1

9th

8

4th Sep 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 95y

18:45 Kilbeggan

Cappa Hill

10st 6lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Sean Joseph Allen

Two-time winning hurdler has finished well beaten in novice chases at Killarney (2m1f, gd-yld) and Tramore (15.5f, good); unproven over this far and forecast rain a concern, so probably best watched in first handicap chase.

22/1

4th

2

13th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 120y

17:11 Tramore

Cappa Hill

11st 5lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Sean Joseph Allen

Won back-to-back handicaps at Cork (2m1f, good) and Tipperary (2m, good to yielding) in August/October; hasn't hit same heights since; unplaced in points and switch to chasing didn't bring improvement at Killarney last time when beaten 28l.

11/1

Form: /300-4 C

Last run: 81 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
No further success since a course 2m maiden hurdle win in May 2022; unplaced in two Flat handicaps since fourth of eight in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(2)

28th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fascinating Shadow

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: James Owen

Turf winner for Richard Hannon as a 3yo and won his first two starts (Polytrack/hurdles) in the spring of 2022, but 0-26 under both codes since; makes his debut for another new yard and worth a market check; stable also runs Knight Of Magic.

5/1

3

(2)

28th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Fascinating Shadow

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: James Owen

Turf winner for Richard Hannon as a 3yo and won his first two starts (Polytrack/hurdles) in the spring of 2022, but 0-26 under both codes since; makes his debut for another new yard and worth a market check; stable also runs Knight Of Magic.

5/1

12

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

17:47 Curragh

Fascinating Shadow

12st 0lb

J: Christopher Brabson

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Long losing run and rating leaves him with loads to find with some of these.

25/1

Form: 801/5/

Last run: 603 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
A long time since his last hurdles run; no fitness doubts after two Flat runs in recent months, third over 1m4f at Leopardstown and fourth at Newcastle; good chance of adding to the win gained in a maiden at Wexford in March 2023; has won twice on the Flat since then.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(8)

1st Oct 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 4f 77y

17:05 Bellewstown

Secret Rock

10st 0lb

J: W J Lee

T: Cian Collins

Only beaten a length off this mark at Down Royal a year ago, when trained by Tony Martin; disappointing when favourite for a division of this three days later; hurdles winner on yard debut in May; goes on soft.

8/1

8

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 200y

18:05 Kilbeggan

Secret Rock

11st 6lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Won over 2m here on stable debut in May off 98 (good to yielding); didn't back it up at Killarney next time, but a bit more promise when ninth at Ballinrobe last time; others preferred.

20/1

9th

2

10th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 109y

18:27 Ballinrobe

Secret Rock

11st 7lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Maiden hurdle winner in 2023 and also recorded two Flat wins for Tony Martin; won a Kilbeggan handicap on stable debut in May, when returning from a 214-day break; failed to back that up at Killarney last month.

10/1

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dunkerque

SPOTLIGHT:

Secret Rock

TOPSPEED:

Champagne Dawn

The Irish Sun:

Jake Peter

POSTDATA:

Dunkerque