August 26 / 19.55 Bellewstown

19.55

Yielding

Ploughman Bar & Grill (Q.R.) Handicap

  • Prize money: £7801.65
  • 2m 1f 110y
  • 8 runners
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Ploughman Bar & Grill (Q.R.) Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: /424-6

Last run: 48 days

W: 12st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Winner on the Flat, over hurdles and fences; was fourth in this race last year off a 3lb higher mark; however, was poor on the Flat and over hurdles lately so has to rebound.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

Baltic Bird

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Useful Flat and hurdles performer who has gone 0-5 over fences since a winning start in May 2025 and he'll need to run better than he did in a handicap chase at Ballinrobe last time; however, a case can be made off this mark on best form; versatile trip-wise from 2m to beyond 3m.

9/1

6th

16

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Baltic Bird

10st 4lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: William Durkan

Any horse in these colours worth a second look here, and one presumes this has been the plan; useful Flat and hurdles performer and won 2m6f hurdle on this card in 2024; held in novice company last year after winning on chase debut at Down Royal; third over inadequate 2m on handicap debut at Wexford; better for that run and ground and trip to suit, albeit he's up in grade a good bit.

8/1

3rd

5

7th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:08 Wexford

Baltic Bird

11st 9lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: William Durkan

Ground should be coming right for him now; probably needs further than this, and his lack of a recent run is a possible drawback.

12/1

Form: 7713

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 1lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner got off the mark on the Flat in a 1m5f Down Royal maiden before a cracking handicap run over a similar trip to this at Galway; up another 4lb but has to be taken seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(1)

8th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 200y

18:15 Fairyhouse

Light Up The Dark

10st 1lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Two bumper wins and was gaining a second win on the Flat when readily taking 1m6f Gowran handicap in April (soft); 8lb higher and quicker ground to contend with (has won on good).

4/1

1st

3

(4)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Light Up The Dark

10st 1lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Two bumper wins and added a 1m5f Down Royal Flat maiden to her haul last year; below form at Bellewstown when last seen but is a big player if ready on return; the market could guide.

7/2

2

(9)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Light Up The Dark

12st 1lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Dual bumper winner got off the mark on the Flat in a 1m5f Down Royal maiden before a cracking handicap run over a similar trip to this at Galway; up another 4lb but has to be taken seriously.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 65553-

Last run: 320 days

W: 11st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat on 2yo debut but no win since though some good efforts last autumn; a close third in a valuable handicap hurdle at Galway last time and should run well if transferring that back to this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Messerschmitt

10st 3lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

Dual-purpose; 1-10 over hurdles; good effort at big odds when a 4.5l fourth of 18 in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March; didn't back that up at Fairyhouse on latest; would have a place chance with a repeat of that Sandown run.

20/1

9th

12

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Messerschmitt

10st 4lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Noel Meade

Hasn't added to Galway 3yo maiden win although last month's return from winter break was encouraging, not fluent last when fourth of 18 behind Mondo Man in Imperial Cup at Sandown; runs off same mark here, rider's claim a positive.

10/1

4th

9

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Messerschmitt

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Noel Meade

Irish-trained 5yo who failed to threaten on his last two hurdle starts last autumn; however, a break may have helped and he was a close third of 15 at Galway (2m1f, good) last August; his maiden hurdle win came on yielding to soft; has an each-way shout if back on song; tongue-tie is left off.

25/1

Form: 083165 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Four-time Flat winner has also won over hurdles; won over 1m7f at Leopardstown in July but has been below that level since off this mark and has to rebound.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(4)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Curious Bride

11st 10lb

J: Mr P A King

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Four-time Flat winner has also won over hurdles; won over 1m7f at Leopardstown in July but has been below that level since off this mark and has to rebound.

16/1

6

(9)

16th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

19:37 Tramore

Curious Bride

9st 8lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Likes a stamina test, last three wins at around this trip including at Leopardstown last month off 71; hampered start when never counting at same venue 9 days ago but that run can be forgiven and remains a player.

15/2

6th

1

(9)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 7f 0y

20:25 Leopardstown

Curious Bride

12st 2lb

J: Miss T Hjalmarsson

T: Eamonn O’Connell

Won two staying handicaps last year and added another one over C&D (gd-yld) two weeks ago; a 6lb rise makes things harder but another good run likely on the cards.

9/4

Form: 000850 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Six Flat wins including at this course; last win was in the valuable Leopardstown October Handicap in 2024; some decent efforts in defeat this term but not so good in this sphere and over hurdles lately; needs a return to form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(11)

15th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 103y

20:00 Killarney

Arch Enemy

10st 8lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Patrick Magee

Dual-purpose mare was gaining her first Flat win in nearly two years when getting up late over 1m2f at Navan on Saturday (first two clear); quick return under mandatory 7lb penalty (upped 10lb in future) and longer trip in her favour.

9/2

1st

2

(8)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 40y

17:15 Navan

Arch Enemy

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Patrick Magee

Dual-purpose mare hasn't won on the Flat since October 2024; has had a break since two runs on heavy ground at the Curragh in March, may just need this.

12/1

6th

14

(10)

28th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 4f 0y

14:30 Curragh

Arch Enemy

8st 10lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: Patrick Magee

Dual-purpose; 5-55 on turf on the Flat but on losing run since scoring at Leopardstown (1m4f, heavy) in October 2024; is now 17lb below that win and she shaped promisingly over an inadequate 1m here 13 days ago in a first-time tongue tie (retained); could go well back up in trip.

14/1

Form: /2/1/4

Last run: 105 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Zanahiyr

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player.

5/2

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Zanahiyr

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.

2/1

3

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Zanahiyr

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition.

11/8

Form: 01-764 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Dual-purpose sort scored the eighth win of his career in this race last year off today's mark; has been hit and miss since but can't be ignored with first-time blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

4m 1f 11y

15:40 Punchestown

Walking On Glass

11st 7lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Dual-purpose sort; 4-38 over jumps, 4-30 on Flat; 66-1 when in rear throughout in the race won by Desertmore House here in November.

66/1

4

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 22y

16:36 Punchestown

Walking On Glass

11st 12lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Dual-purpose; 3-27 over hurdles but without a win in this sphere since October 2022; beaten 7.5l over C&D off this mark in June; four modest efforts on the Flat since; others preferred.

14/1

Form: 3/7882

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Is just 4-74 under all rules but has been placed plenty of times; the latest when a 1l runner-up over 2m at Tramore last time; up 2lb but a repeat should see him run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(12)

7th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

20:30 Tramore

Takarengo

9st 12lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: James M Barcoe

Three-time Flat winner; last success was in 2021; hard to take any encouragement from his Flat/hurdles form this year.

14/1

9th

11

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 61y

19:55 Clonmel

Takarengo

11st 1lb

J: Millie Barcoe

T: James M Barcoe

Three-time Flat winner is just 1-32 over hurdles; fourth at Wexford in April but has been below that twice since and others make more appeal.

18/1

Non-runners

Molly Hall

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €11.20
Straight Forecast €11.07
Tricast €187.62
Trifecta €145.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Light Up The Dark

POSTDATA:

Zanahiyr

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Takarengo

The Irish Sun:

Light Up The Dark