September 28 / 14.05 Curragh

14.05

Good To Yielding

Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Irish EBF Maiden

  • Prize money: £9752.07
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • 12 runners
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Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Irish EBF Maiden

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 87

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Similar levels of form in his two maiden runs and will likely be of more interest in handicaps down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(2)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

15:55 Curragh

Admiral Will Brown

9st 5lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Patrick Magee

Nicely improved on yard debut to win over this trip at Navan last month, didn't appear to stay 1m4f at Galway 16 days later; could still have more to offer at this trip.

8/1

9th

8

(8)

27th Jul 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 84y

19:50 Galway

Admiral Will Brown

9st 3lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Patrick Magee

Ordinary form in three maiden runs last season; similar story on seasonal/handicap debut at Roscommon in May; battled well to win at Navan on first outing for the stable; 9lb rise may anchor him

10/1

1st

11

(7)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 40y

16:40 Navan

Admiral Will Brown

8st 7lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Patrick Magee

Didn't show much in three maiden runs last season; similar story on seasonal return and handicap debut at Roscommon in May; has moved to a new yard; 5lb wrong and likely best watched.

25/1

Form:

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten 37l on debut at Tipperary and gelded since; still best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

5th May 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

19:38 Gowran Park

Believe Believe

9st 9lb

J: Sam Coen

T: M D O’Callaghan

Ran okay in 7f nursery here and well backed 4-1 fav at Galway next start, would have been a few places closer but for meeting trouble in running; cheekpieces tried there are left off for this return; hasn't fully shown his hand yet, and has been found a winnable contest if he's ready; draw has been kind too.

7/2

8th

14

(2)

27th Oct 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

14:06 Galway

Believe Believe

9st 0lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Slow to break and never involved on last week's handicap debut at Gowran in race won by Mr Tony; cheekpieces now added

14/1

Form: 00

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten a long way in two maidens and can only be watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

21

(17)

2nd Sep 2026

Good

1m 0f 20y

19:10 Navan

Dream Legend

8st 12lb

T: E D Delany

Third reserve; hasn't had a lot of racing and won easily at Bellewstown (1m, good; fine on soft) to earn this 13lb higher mark; definite chance if getting a run.

1st

3

(1)

2nd Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 211y

17:40 Bellewstown

Dream Legend

9st 10lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: E D Delany

Down the field in turf/AW contests last year; long-priced C&D winner (soft) in April on first attempt at the trip before solid third at Gowran (7f, soft) from 9lb higher; would probably want rain but holds every chance.

5/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; dam unplaced 6f/7f (RPR 60), half-sister to winners Thunder Legend (useful 6f/8.5f) and Vitello (6f 2yo), out of useful 6f/7f winner; E28,000 foal only made 14,000gns as a yearling but is by a young sire who is doing well so could go well on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(4)

4th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Ascot

Hambelton

9st 6lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

Irish challenger who goes from the front and has been in excellent form back home, last time a game winner at Gowran Park (1m, good; fine on faster); expect a positive ride back over 7f.

7/2

1st

8

(2)

25th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:30 Gowran Park

Hambelton

9st 3lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

Never saw another rival when making all at Cork (1m, good) to win by 3l; raised 10lb for that but almost repeated the dose at York two weeks ago when headed late on into second (1m, good to firm); raised another 4lb now, but he's thriving and is firmly in the mix.

7/1

2nd

6

(4)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 4

15:55 York

Hambelton

9st 2lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

Pulled too hard under restraint when a beaten favourite at Haydock (1m, good to soft) in May and a return to front running worked a treat at Cork (1m, good) since, making all by over 3l; the handicapper hasn't missed him but this course often suits similar tactics and David Marnane had a winner here last month.

5/1

Form: 08

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in two Naas maidens over 6f and has loads to find up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(8)

12th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

14:35 Dundalk (AW)

Iff In Doubt

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: Edward Lynam

C&D winner in February off 8lb lower; beaten less than 2l in a big field at the Curragh on latest (6f, good), staying on well, and eased 1lb for that effort; return to 7f on the AW could enable him to get his head back in front; leading claims.

5/2

5th

15

(5)

4th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

17:20 Curragh

Iff In Doubt

9st 0lb

J: W J Lee

T: Edward Lynam

Showed promise for 10lb claimer Enola Pollet (rides Jon Riggens here) before Billy Lee took over for a 7f Dundalk win; has since finished second over 1m at the same venue; previous 6f form is weak, but he is more mature now, and his trainer is a master with sprinters.

6/1

2nd

5

(8)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:45 Dundalk (AW)

Iff In Doubt

9st 4lb

J: W J Lee

T: Edward Lynam

Showed promise in three 7f runs for a 10lb claimer before Billy Lee took over three week ago; got up in the final strides and should remain competitive on his first attempt at this distance.

4/1

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; half-brother to Group-placed 5f 2yo winner Midnight Strike (RPR 99); dam placed 6f/7f 2yo (72), half-sister to 1m Listed winner Fox Power; made 7,000gns as a foal and E33,000 as a yearling; is by a useful sire and could run well on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(9)

4th Sep 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

16:25 Down Royal

In The Gloaming

9st 8lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: A Oliver

Looked in need of further when running over 6f at Navan on handicap debut; however, he ran poorly when raised in trip at Galway; official rating of 64 is short of the standard likely to be required, even though this looks like a weak maiden.

8/1

18th

7

(15)

31st Jul 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 98y

19:40 Galway

In The Gloaming

9st 13lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: A Oliver

Looked in need of further when running over 6f at Navan on handicap debut; open to improvement, and cheekpieces may help.

12/1

6th

4

(14)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 180y

14:57 Navan

In The Gloaming

9st 10lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: A Oliver

Lightly raced 3yo didn't get home on soft (7f) on seasonal return before briefly tapped for toe when fourth in Cork maiden over 5f; tongue-tied added for handicap debut and stiffer 5f should suit.

9/1

Form: 22

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumped into subsequent Futurity Stakes winner Constitution River on debut at Galway and might have met another decent sort at Gowran since; needs to take a step forward to win but should be involved again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(3)

18th Oct 2025

Yielding

0m 7f 30y

16:20 Leopardstown

Spangled Sands

9st 5lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Starspangledbanner colt finished runner-up on first two starts in maidens at Galway and Gowran before emphatic winner of similar Curragh contest last month, appreciating softer ground; type to continue improving and could play a role here.

11/2

7

(8)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

0m 7f 0y

14:05 Curragh

Spangled Sands

9st 7lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Bumped into subsequent Futurity Stakes winner Constitution River on debut at Galway and might have met another decent sort at Gowran since; needs to take a step forward to win but should be involved again.

3/1

2nd

10

(3)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

14:10 Gowran Park

Spangled Sands

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

A E130,000 yearling; no match for the front-running Constitution River on debut at Galway; however, finished well clear of the third (another wide gap to the fourth) and the form was franked by the winner in landing the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh; tongue-tie fitted now.

7/2

Form: 7

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran with credit on debut at Tipperary and can take a step forward from that but still has a fair bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(6)

27th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

16:49 Navan

Sunrush

10st 0lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Andrew Slattery

Raced keenly but finished a 1.5l third at Tramore on just his second handicap start 12 days ago (1m4f, gd-yld); will need to settle better if he is to see out this longer trip.

10/1

3rd

2

(8)

15th Aug 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

17:55 Tramore

Sunrush

10st 2lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Andrew Slattery

Bolger-bred Teofilo gelding; good fourth in a hot Curragh maiden last year; okay comeback over 1m at Leopardstown, and soft ground probably the reason for a poor display on handicap debut at same track; gelded since and steps up in trip here.

8/1

5th

7

(8)

4th Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 1f 0y

19:30 Leopardstown

Sunrush

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Last month's seasonal return here (1m) was okay but nothing to suggest he'll make an immediate impact in handicaps off this mark, albeit has to be respected from a yard having a great season.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-brother to 5f-6f winner Pipsy (inc 2yo/AW/US Grade 2; RPR 115); dam unraced half-sister to French 12.5f Group 2 winner Ziyad; made E200,000 as a foal but only 100,000gns as a yearling but is by a young sire that is doing well; capable of a good run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(1)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Zia Zabel

9st 5lb

J: W J Lee

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

Ran twice at two; has matured along the right lines, judged on his victory in a conditions race at Cork last month; however, this is likely to prove too taxing.

25/1

1st

7

(1)

24th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:40 Cork

Zia Zabel

9st 5lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

Made 200,000euros as a foal but only 100,000gns as a yearling; promising Curragh debut second but failed to build on that when favourite at Leopardstown; off the track 188 days.

8/1

4th

12

(6)

18th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:40 Leopardstown

Zia Zabel

9st 5lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

Ghaiyyath colt made 200,000 as a foal but only 100,000gns as a yearling; half-brother to 5f-6f winner Pipsy (inc 2yo/AW/US Grade 2; RPR 115); dam unraced half-sister to French 12.5f Group 2 winner Ziyad; promising Curragh debut last month, getting up late for second behind ready winner Spangled Sands (runs in Group 3 later on) after getting worked up beforehand and running green; big scopey colt, could well improve enough to play a major role.

9/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-sister to winners incl' King Of Fury (7f/1m AW; RPR 86) and Lucky Banner (HK 6f AW; 71); dam placed 5f-7.5f (inc 2yo; 75), half-sister to 6f 2yo Group 2 winner Rajasinghe; E5,000 yearling is best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

18

(13)

5th Sep 2026

Good

1m 2f 10y

16:55 Navan

Arizona Star

8st 11lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Michael Mulvany

Beaten a long way in five starts before a mildly encouraging run in Fairyhouse claimer for Peter McCreery; left with plenty to do on stable debut at Cork; likely to be capable of better.

10/1

8th

12

(16)

30th Aug 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:25 Cork

Arizona Star

9st 6lb

J: Terry Casey

T: Michael Mulvany

Beaten a long way in five starts before mildly encouraging run in Fairyhouse claimer last month for Peter McCreery; first start for in-form Mulvany yard and improvement a possibility.

14/1

3rd

4

(7)

8th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

16:38 Fairyhouse

Arizona Star

9st 1lb

J: Leigh Roche

T: Peter McCreery

Beaten a long way in all five starts, last twice in handicaps; hard to fancy.

25/1

Form: 00

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second runner for yard; well behind in two sprint maidens and can't be fancied on that evidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(2)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

0m 7f 0y

14:05 Curragh

Lil Hot Shot

9st 2lb

J: Darragh O’Sullivan

T: David Marnane

Second runner for yard; well behind in two sprint maidens and can't be fancied on that evidence.

100/1

12th

8

(16)

18th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 205y

14:07 Naas

Lil Hot Shot

9st 2lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

Slowly away and unable to make any impact on debut at Navan 12 days ago; can be left out of calculations.

33/1

1

(11)

6th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

0m 5f 180y

13:45 Navan

Lil Hot Shot

9st 4lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: David Marnane

Too Darn Hot filly cost 22,000gns as a yearling; first foal; dam runner-up at 1m (RPR 82), closely related to 1m Group 2 winner Century Dream, half-sister to Group 1 mile winner King Of Change; bred to want further, market best guide on debut.

14/1

Form: 2

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beautifully-bred filly wasn't strong in the market on debut over 1m at Punchestown but ran a fine race to be a close runner-up; should have improved from that and looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(3)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

14:10 Curragh

White Sand Beach

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Placed six times in maidens from 7f-11.5f on different ground; longer trip didn't bring improvement from her at Killarney last time when again runner-up (11.5f, good); she's expensive to follow, but sets the standard and her day is sure to come someday soon.

13/8

2nd

11

(5)

13th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 73y

19:30 Killarney

White Sand Beach

9st 3lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

0-8 and rated 82; all starts over 1m this season; 1.75l third in Naas maiden on seasonal return on soft; no impact in two stakes races and a handicap subsequently, but back on song in first time blinkers (retained) returned to maiden company at Naas (1m, good); worth a go at this trip and should go well again.

9/4

Non-runners

Suspicious Mindz, Anushka

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €13.00
Straight Forecast €13.16
Trifecta €25.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

White Sand Beach

RP RATINGS (IRE):

White Sand Beach

POSTDATA:

White Sand Beach

The Irish Sun:

White Sand Beach