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

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

3

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Baltic Bird

11st 7lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: William Durkan

Has won all sorts during his career, including one of his three chases; didn't run too badly when a well-held third in a 3m novice at Clonmel last time but looks to have a bit on his plate at these weights.

20/1

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

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

5

(3)

30th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

20:20 Galway

Light Up The Dark

9st 12lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

One of two for yard; dual-bumper winner (including Listed) on heavy and soft; left moderate two first Flat runs behind when winning at Down Royal (1m5f, good); opening mark looks fair but this a tough assignment on handicap bow.

5/1

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

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

6th

16

(13)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

17:30 Curragh

Arch Enemy

9st 6lb

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Patrick Magee

Dual-purpose mare has been out of form in both codes for over a year; off since 20l defeat over hurdles at Navan in November; tongue tie now tried.

11/1

9

27th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 100y

14:22 Wexford

Arch Enemy

11st 6lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: Patrick Magee

Sole hurdles success at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding) last December and she remains 8lb above that win; in the doldrums on the Flat recently; others arrive in better form.

16/1

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

5th

5

28th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

18:50 Limerick

Takarengo

11st 2lb

J: Millie Barcoe

T: James M Barcoe

Dual-purpose; record of 1-31 over hurdles; couple of promising placed efforts after joining this yard last year but modest form so far in 2026 on the Flat and over hurdles; beaten 23l off 2lb higher at Clonmel latest; others preferred.

20/1

8th

11

14th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 159y

19:50 Clonmel

Takarengo

10st 8lb

J: Millie Barcoe

T: James M Barcoe

No win since 2021; has occasionally run well in defeat; improved from a run on the Flat at Navan in March when going well for this jockey (on her first ride over jumps) at Wexford last month; beaten 8l in fourth, so needs to raise his game another notch.

16/1

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