August 10 / 14.17 Downpatrick

14.17

Good

ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4876.03
  • 2m 1f 165y
  • 8 runners
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ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 0-120

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Limerick bumper winner on second start (16.5f, good); followed that with another nice effort when second in a Punchestown mares' bumper in June (16.5f, good to yielding); needs to step up on underwhelming hurdles debut at Kilbeggan last time (2m, good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 85y

14:25 Fairyhouse

Atomic Queen

10st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Peter Fahey

Useful bumper form and stepped forward hugely from underwhelming hurdles debut effort to land 2m2f Downpatrick mares' maiden in August, quickening up well from the last to beat a hot favourite 5l (good); soon beaten however on easier ground in Leopardstown novice handicap last month and legitimate ground concerns upped in grade.

16/1

Form: 91-42F

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winner of a Tipperary bumper by a nose in October (good to yielding); promising in three of her maiden hurdle runs; fell at the last when headed at Wexford recently (2m4f, good); her consistency may yet be rewarded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

10th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 50y

14:40 Cork

Hillhead Runner

11st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Bumper winner for Peter Fahey and placed three times in summer maiden hurdles last year for Gavin Cromwell; has moved yards again and returns from layoff.

7/1

12

20th Sep 2025

Yielding

1m 7f 165y

13:25 Navan

Hillhead Runner

11st 5lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Winner of a Tipperary bumper by a nose last October; has made the frame in four of her five maiden hurdle starts and was in contention when falling at the last at Wexford; went close at Sligo last month, after making the running, headed last stride; solid chance.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7-9

Last run: 93 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not much of note in her two bumper runs; makes stable debut but hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

10th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:17 Downpatrick

Boldplay

10st 13lb

J: Mr R Guiney

T: Paul Traynor

Not much of note in her two bumper runs; makes stable debut but hard to fancy.

33/1

9th

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

20:17 Downpatrick

Boldplay

11st 11lb

J: Mr W R Hamilton

T: H Smyth

Beaten 33l in a Down Royal bumper last December and can't be fancied on that evidence.

50/1

9th

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

20:17 Downpatrick

Boldplay

11st 11lb

J: Mr W R Hamilton

T: H Smyth

Beaten 33l in a Down Royal bumper last December and can't be fancied on that evidence.

50/1

Form: 9223-7

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise in two maiden hurdle starts before successive runner-up finishes in good quality mares' bumpers last winter (2.5l behind decent Carrigmoornaspruce in one); below her best in Roscommon bumper latest; back over hurdles now and good chance if back to form (yard going well).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(4)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 63y

18:20 Roscommon

Galileo Springs

10st 2lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: Martin Brassil

Placed in three of her four bumper starts, including a fine effort behind the useful Carrigmoornaspruce; winner over hurdles on yielding ground at Killarney last autumn; younger rivals preferred.

10/1

5

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 95y

14:30 Punchestown

Galileo Springs

10st 13lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Martin Brassil

Some decent form in bumpers last year without winning; failed to justify 5-4 favouritism when a 5l second at Downpatrick on hurdles debut in August (2m2f, good); repaid the faithful at Killarney earlier this month when a comfortable winner (2m1f, yielding); makes handicap debut now and is a leading contender.

2/1

5

10th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:17 Downpatrick

Galileo Springs

10st 13lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Martin Brassil

Some promise in two maiden hurdle starts before successive runner-up finishes in good quality mares' bumpers last winter (2.5l behind decent Carrigmoornaspruce in one); below her best in Roscommon bumper latest; back over hurdles now and good chance if back to form (yard going well).

9/4

Form: 00

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on bumper debut and the same here over hurdles last time (2m2f, good); ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

18:23 Down Royal

Georges Angel

10st 6lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: R K Watson

Beaten a long way in a bumper and two maiden hurdles; look elsewhere.

100/1

6

10th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:17 Downpatrick

Georges Angel

10st 10lb

J: Ivan Ryan

T: R K Watson

Tailed off on bumper debut and the same here over hurdles last time (2m2f, good); ruled out.

66/1

12

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 165y

14:28 Downpatrick

Georges Angel

11st 3lb

J: Ivan Ryan

T: R K Watson

Order Of St George filly; second foal of a French 1m3f-2m winner (RPR 86); 20-1, dropped out quickly on debut in Cork bumper in May; best watched here on hurdles debut.

40/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-8 on Flat with a basement level mark; tailed off at Down Royal latest (1m5f, good); she can't be ruled out coming from this yard now over hurdles but her form so far does little to recommend her; one of two for yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

4th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 50y

15:05 Gowran Park

Lightning Legs

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Modest Flat maiden ran reasonably in her opening three maiden hurdles but was well behind at Downpatrick latest; worth a market check on handicap debut.

15/2

9th

13

19th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 165y

16:26 Downpatrick

Lightning Legs

10st 9lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Modest Flat maiden has run respectably in her three hurdle starts including here last time; isn't the yard's first-string on jockey bookings but can't be ruled out.

7/1

20

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

17:47 Curragh

Lightning Legs

11st 9lb

J: Ella Budds

T: Gordon Elliott

Recent Downpatrick hurdles second but 42 Flat rating says plenty.

50/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to four winners inc The Kings Baby (2m4f-2m6f hurdle/chase), Steel Express (bumper) and Moonlight Beam (2m4f/2m7f hurdle); unraced dam out of 2m3f-3m hurdle/chase winner; worth a market check on debut with yard also running Lightning Legs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 3

14:43 Cartmel

Penny Perfect

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Looked like one for stayers' trips when taking a Downpatrick 2m6f maiden last summer (good), but unable to confirm that impression on her one run after; much the longest absent of these, and her mark is no gift.

7/2

3rd

4

12th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 50y

15:27 Cork

Penny Perfect

10st 13lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

4yo filly rated 116 after three runs; won a Downpatrick maiden hurdle on penultimate (2m6f, good); good effort conceding weight to progressive sort in a novice back there on latest (21.5f, yld); shaped like further would suit so she should go well up in trip.

2/1

2nd

4

19th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 5f 110y

15:56 Downpatrick

Penny Perfect

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Excelled after being stepped up in trip here over 2m6f on second start last time (good), winning by 9.5l in the end; the choice of Kennedy with further improvement likely.

5/2

Form: 8

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
One completed point start from four (7l third of nine); 12.5l behind in a Galway bumper latest (2m1f, good); others make more appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:32 Listowel

Whispering Willow

11st 5lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Much improved to make a successful stable debut in a 2m handicap hurdle at Punchestown and she nearly followed up on chase debut at Downpatrick (2m3f, good to yielding); jumped soundly enough that day and the one to beat here.

4/7

3rd

14

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:00 Downpatrick

Whispering Willow

11st 5lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Left all known form behind when bolting up over hurdles at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) on stable/handicap debut nine days ago; one place and three non-completions in points but high on the shortlist on chase bow.

5/2

1st

9

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:50 Punchestown

Whispering Willow

11st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has had time to mature since her last run; improvement is feasible on first run for Gavin Cromwell.

8/1

Non-runners

Chasing Crowns

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €17.30
Straight Forecast €12.42
Trifecta €31.40

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Hillhead Runner

SPOTLIGHT:

Galileo Springs

The Irish Sun:

Lightning Legs

TOPSPEED:

Hillhead Runner

POSTDATA:

Hillhead Runner