October 02 / 17.00 Clonmel

17.00

Good

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase

  • Prize money: £9752.07
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 73-140

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Winner on Flat, over fences and two-time hurdling winner; unable to follow up Downpatrick debut chase success when 9.5l behind recent Kerry National winner Spanish Harlem in June; tailed off over hurdles at the Galway festival and well beaten at Bellewstown on the Flat so needs to come back to form.
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: 22/411

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In good form since returning from a 956-day absence, reeling off a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle win before a comfortable debut beginners' chase success at Kilbeggan last time (2m4f, yielding) with Ho My Lord 7.5l behind him that day; he should handle this step up in trip; he is lightly raced and there is likely more to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

17:00 Clonmel

Ocean Of Mercy

11st 7lb

J: Niall Prendergast

T: Paul Hennessy

In good form since returning from a 956-day absence, reeling off a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle win before a comfortable debut beginners' chase success at Kilbeggan last time (2m4f, yielding) with Ho My Lord 7.5l behind him that day; he should handle this step up in trip; he is lightly raced and there is likely more to come.

4/1

1st

6

5th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 95y

18:07 Kilbeggan

Ocean Of Mercy

11st 12lb

J: Niall Prendergast

T: Paul Hennessy

Runner-up in first two hurdle starts in 2022; returned from mammoth break at Limerick with a reasonable fourth; well fancied at Ballinrobe last time (2m7f, good) when duly obliging with a winning margin of 13l; goes chasing now and there could be more improvement in him.

5/1

1st

3

11th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 218y

19:55 Ballinrobe

Ocean Of Mercy

11st 6lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Paul Hennessy

Runner up in first two starts over hurdles but those were in 2022; back from mammoth layoff with a respectable fourth at Limerick (2m1f, good) in May; this longer trip is more suitable; top rated at 111 and the one to beat if backing that last run up.

11/8

Form: B30-41 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over fences on the ninth attempt at Killarney last time, responding well for pressure to run out a comfortable victor at the finish (2m7f, good); closely matched with Donnie Devito based on Galway beginners' chase meeting; cheekpieces may help him now and he looks a key contender despite a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

17:00 Clonmel

Whats Up Darling

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Off the mark over fences on the ninth attempt at Killarney last time, responding well for pressure to run out a comfortable victor at the finish (2m7f, good); closely matched with Donnie Devito based on Galway beginners' chase meeting; cheekpieces may help him now and he looks a key contender despite a penalty.

9/4

1st

6

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 100y

18:07 Killarney

Whats Up Darling

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

His hurdling form is right up there in this company; as good over fences despite being 0-8 in this discipline and he was a close fourth of 16 in a beginners at Galway (2m6f, good); barring mishaps, he'll be seriously involved.

13/8

16

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

17:30 Galway

Whats Up Darling

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

0-7 over fences; has been running well in defeat in beginners' events but his run in a handicap chase at Punchestown last time was not one of his best (2m, yielding); Kennedy chooses him but others make more appeal.

8/1

Form: P0-32U

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdles winner; 0-8 over fences but has run well in defeat; needs to jump better than he did in the Blazers last time when unseating at the ninth but had finished second in the Connacht National at Roscommon before that when headed late on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 150y

16:42 Listowel

Ambitious Fellow

11st 7lb

J: Mr G Devitt

T: Peter Fahey

Four wins over hurdles (rated 130), one of them here; maiden after 10 chase starts and has had jumping issues, but was second off 120 at Roscommon last summer; only beaten 7l in Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown where he was a huge price.

6/1

5th

1

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Ambitious Fellow

12st 0lb

J: Mr G Devitt

T: Peter Fahey

Four wins over hurdles; has never won a chase; point-to-point form nowhere near good enough.

66/1

Form: 07-343

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdles winner last year at about 2m4f; appeared to be getting the hang of things over fences with a 1l third at the Galway festival (2m6f, good) where What's Up Darling was 1.5l behind off level weights; avoids a penalty and a repeat of his latest effort should see him in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

17:00 Clonmel

Donnie Devito

11st 3lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Dual hurdles winner last year at about 2m4f; appeared to be getting the hang of things over fences with a 1l third at the Galway festival (2m6f, good) where What's Up Darling was 1.5l behind off level weights; avoids a penalty and a repeat of his latest effort should see him in the mix.

5/1

2

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

17:30 Galway

Donnie Devito

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Followed up Punchestown maiden hurdle win with a novice success here last year (2m4f, good); out of form since; modest improvement upon chase debut to finish a 9.75l fourth of six at Wexford last time (2m3f, good); the return to this track needs to spark something.

20/1

Form: 4-3543

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Cheekpieces are reached for following underwhelming run behind Ocean Of Mercy at Kilbeggan latest when 7.5l behind off level weights; may get closer now but in general 10 chasing runs have been middling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:03 Wexford

Ho My Lord

11st 4lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

No success yet over fences and is beginning to look well exposed, the addition of cheekpieces (replaced here by blinkers) failing to bring improvement the last twice; declining mark but hard to fancy, although better ground in his favour.

14/1

7

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

17:00 Clonmel

Ho My Lord

11st 3lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Cheekpieces are reached for following underwhelming run behind Ocean Of Mercy at Kilbeggan latest when 7.5l behind off level weights; may get closer now but in general 10 chasing runs have been middling.

7/1

3rd

3

5th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 95y

18:07 Kilbeggan

Ho My Lord

11st 12lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Padraig Roche

Is 0-9 chasing but a couple of placed-finishes; okay runs this year and his 7.5l fourth off 128 in a handicap around here last time was one of his best (3m2f, good to yielding); sets the standard on ratings.

11/4

Non-runners

Chinx Of Light

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €8.70
Straight Forecast €7.06
Trifecta €44.50

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

What's Up Darling

SPOTLIGHT:

Ocean Of Mercy

TOPSPEED:

What's Up Darling

POSTDATA:

What's Up Darling

The Irish Sun:

What's Up Darling