November 20 / 14.35 Thurles

14.35

Soft

William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £5607.44
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 15 runners
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William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 15 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: /537-2

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual-Flat winner made his handicap hurdle debut at Cork last time, going clear in straight but collared late on by a nose over this trip (6l clear of remainder); 4lb higher but deserves plenty of respect; withdrawn at Fairyhouse on Monday due to testing ground but has won on soft on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

18

(10)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 5f 0y

17:25 Navan

Plunkett Street

9st 7lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Michael William O’Meara

Won a 1m4f Cork handicap on return last year and some good runs off higher marks after; won over hurdles in November but disqualified after a positive sample; failed to run to market expectations at Gowran on seasonal debut, capable of better.

10/1

7th

10

(1)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Plunkett Street

8st 12lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Michael William O’Meara

Won a 1m4f Cork handicap on return last year and some good runs off higher marks after; won over hurdles in November but disqualified for a positive sample; could run well.

8/1

Form: 0444-3 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced novice, career-best here last month when front-running third over this trip (good-to-yielding); potential improver entering handicaps and has to be on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:22 Thurles

Lambay Island

11st 3lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Best of four runs under rules came at Wexford last time when he shaped as though a step up in trip, such as this could suit; a lot on his plate here all the same.

9/1

4th

4

17th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:10 Wexford

Lambay Island

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

prominent, outpaced on turn before 2 out, raced in fourth when mistake last

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 64P-0

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo showed some debut promise in Clonmel maiden last winter but hasn't backed that up in just two starts since, latest after lengthy absence earlier this month when fading tamely over 2m on heavy at Gowran; back up in trip here for handicap debut with potential for more but opening mark high enough on what he's achieved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

23rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

14:53 Limerick

Mister Box

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Encouraging debut in a Leopardstown bumper before a distant fourth in a Clonmel maiden hurdle; much more required here but further should suit with stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree.

12/1

Form: PP-083 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won a big-field handicap at Leopardstown last Christmas over this trip (yielding); easily best effort since on latest when staying on third over same trip at Punchestown last month; one to consider although has been withdrawn on soft ground before so would appreciate some drying.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

20:00 Wexford

Giant Haystacks

11st 9lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Won big-field Leopardstown 2m4f handicap hurdle at Christmas meeting in 2024; fourth to stablemate Driveonwill in a beginners' at Downpatrick; 3l off runner-up A Snow White Park in another beginners' last time and nice pull at the weights with her; second handicap run and mark looks exploitable.

11/2

3rd

3

29th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 180y

16:50 Tramore

Giant Haystacks

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Winning hurdler is 0-3 in chases and rated 95; kept on well for a 2.75l fourth of 14 in Down Royal beginners' on latest (19.5f, gd-yld); place claims again if sees out this longer trip but that's not guaranteed.

11/2

4th

5

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

19:00 Downpatrick

Giant Haystacks

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Second runner for yard; top-rated of these over fences; third on sole point start; 1-13 over hurdles; tailed off on chase bow at Fairyhouse; improved fifth of 16 in Thurles handicap chase (2m2f, soft) in February; should be involved if the ground doesn't deteriorate.

12/1

Form: 2660-5

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Bumper debut winner on heavy last winter but is 0-7 hurdling and opening handicap efforts leave her with a fair bit to find, although entitled to come on for recent comeback run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

16:55 Wexford

Miss Mini Bee

11st 5lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Patrick T Foley

Bumper winner has been running respectably over hurdles; finished a 4.75l third of 13 at Gowran (2m4f, heavy) last month; same mark here but quicker ground a query.

5/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

15:43 Gowran Park

Miss Mini Bee

11st 5lb

J: Mr Alan O’Sullivan

T: Patrick T Foley

Bumper winner is 0-11 hurdling but good second in Punchestown maiden (2m4f, soft) last season; solid form of late in handicaps; dropped 1lb for latest fifth at Punchestown and capable 7lb claimer aboard.

8/1

5th

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 55y

15:30 Fairyhouse

Miss Mini Bee

11st 6lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: Patrick T Foley

Bumper winner is 0-10 hurdling but good second in 2m4f Punchestown maiden (soft) last season; okay form of late in handicaps but needs to improve to play a major role.

14/1

Form: 1PF-80 D

Last run: 92 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Much better chaser, winning 3m4f Cork National last season (good); unable to capitalise on much lower hurdles mark in August however; back from a break and still has to be kept in mind off this mark but trip looks on the short side.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

12th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 121y

16:35 Sligo

Sphagnum

11st 2lb

J: Mr J P Sampson

T: J P Broderick

Lost his form badly after winning the Cork National in 2024, but bounced back over 3m2f here (good) last time in first-time blinkers when runner-up after idling when leading (1.75l ahead of Je Suis); form of that race is questionable, but he has a notably low hurdles mark if he can repeat that effort.

7/1

2nd

8

9th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

19:30 Sligo

Sphagnum

11st 11lb

J: Mr J P Sampson

T: J P Broderick

Lost his form badly after winning the Cork National in 2024 and is hard to fancy on recent poor hurdle runs; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

33/1

11th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

15:35 Down Royal

Sphagnum

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Maxwell

T: J P Broderick

Much better chaser, winning 3m4f Cork National last season (good); holds a whopping 30lb lower hurdles mark but unable to capitalise on it in three runs over timber this season; must be kept in mind considering his mark.

20/1

Form: 69/13- D BF

Last run: 418 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Cork win came at 2m (soft) and second over this trip in Gowran handicap on heavy; later in year won Downpatrick beginners' chase but absent since decent third in 2m2f Listowel handicap hurdle in September last year; has run well fresh so not one to rule out with trip/ground to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

28th Sep 2024

Soft

2m 2f 0y

15:55 Listowel

Dgalwaygallivantor

11st 13lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Is 1-9 over hurdles; last sighted in May beating a subsequent two-time winner in a beginners' chase at Downpatrick (19.5f, good); sole win over timber came in November of last year off 90 on soft at Cork (2m); seems best going right handed and might need this on his return from 127 days off.

11/2

1st

3

24th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 100y

18:35 Downpatrick

Dgalwaygallivantor

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Record of 1-9 over hurdles but has been consistent enough in handicaps, mostly on easier ground; has 10l to find with Warm In Gorey from his chasing debut at Wexford but will have improved from then; yard in great form and a player.

5/1

Form: 954F-0

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Maiden has shaped with some promise in bumpers and maiden hurdles; handicap debut at Cork in May was moderate however and may be best watched on return from six months' absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:25 Cork

Arctic Piper

11st 7lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Patrick T Foley

in touch with leaders

14/1

10th

6

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:25 Cork

Arctic Piper

11st 7lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Patrick T Foley

in touch with leaders

14/1

Form: 0-0023 CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
C&D winner this time last year off 1lb lower (good); mixed form since but last two efforts were more promising, under positives rides at Ballinrobe and Punchestown; back in trip here and could go well on ground he handles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 180y

20:17 Kilbeggan

Down Around

11st 12lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Won over 2m4f at Thurles in 2024 for Philip Rothwell, his only success from 28 starts; placed nine times; in fair form before changing stables; market may provide clues to what is expected on his first start for Gordon Elliott.

8/1

3rd

17

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 22y

16:36 Punchestown

Down Around

10st 8lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Won off 3lb lower at Thurles (2m4f, good) last November; mostly below best in 2025 but a bit of encouragement at Ballinrobe on latest (2m6f, soft); place chance if building on that.

12/1

Form: -1256P

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark over hurdles at Wexford on return in May (2m1f, good) and second in similar event after; chasing didn't really work out and back hurdling here; trip no problem but ground could be.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 55y

17:50 Wexford

Hatfield Hammer

11st 7lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Off the mark over C&D in May last year (good) and second in similar event subsequently off 99; recent Clonmel comeback run should have brought him on and one for the shortlist.

13/2

6th

5

5th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 113y

17:40 Clonmel

Hatfield Hammer

11st 8lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Got off the mark over hurdles at Wexford on return from a break in May last year (2m1f, good) and second in similar event after; yielding to soft ground unlikely to his liking when always behind at Thurles when last seen in Nov'; not discounted.

14/1

Form: 147-00

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Limerick winner last Christmas (2m, yielding-to-soft) but hasn't made much impact since, never sighted both outings since returning last month when big odds; hard to fancy but handicapper relenting and worth a market watch.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(2)

7th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

20:00 Tramore

Liberated Light

9st 10lb

J: Ben Coen

T: John E & Thomas Kiely

Beat today's rival The Banger Doyle in a 1m6f maiden at Killarney in 2023; a long time since his last Flat outing; however, he comes here in good shape after an emphatic win in a 2m handicap hurdle at this venue in May.

7/2

1st

4

30th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

19:30 Tramore

Liberated Light

11st 4lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: John E & Thomas Kiely

Back to form with 1.75l front-running second over C&D on penultimate off this mark; never travelled and didn't jump well when poor at Wexford last time; cheekpieces replace blinkers; could rebound back at this venue.

10/1

11th

7

16th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

14:40 Wexford

Liberated Light

11st 5lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: John E & Thomas Kiely

Flat winner was successful over hurdles at Limerick in December 2024 off 7lb higher; moderate recent form until a change of tactics almost saw him make all at Tramore (2m1f, good to yielding) when headed late home in this headgear combination; could go one better if adopting the same tactics.

100/30

Form: 959588

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ordinary form in maidens, sole handicap attempt was okay over probably an inadequate trip; plenty more needed though and cheekpieces now fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

20th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 0y

14:35 Navan

No Demand

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Darren Collins

Ordinary form in maidens; this trip may help his cause judged on a satisfactory handicap run over shorter at Galway; lost ground with a mistake at the fifth, stayed on from off the pace to finish in mid-division.

6/1

14

8th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 160y

16:20 Galway

No Demand

11st 1lb

J: Cian Cullinan

T: Darren Collins

Mild promise when fifth in a 2m1f maiden hurdle at Cork; struggled at Ballinrobe, no impact at Sligo; makes handicap debut.

16/1

Form: 868603

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Some early promise in bumpers and much the best hurdles effort came on latest when made plenty of use of in 2m3f Limerick maiden in finishing third in first-time blinkers; returns to handicap ranks with claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

12th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 121y

16:35 Sligo

Kazbek

10st 11lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Peter Fahey

Has been showing a fair standard over hurdles, making the frame in three of his last four outings in this sphere; his chasing debut didn't go to plan when last seen in January; in the mix if picking up where he left off over hurdles.

12/1

7

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 145y

15:20 Down Royal

Kazbek

11st 9lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Peter Fahey

Has been showing a fair standard over hurdles, making the frame in three of his last four outings; lack of chasing experience raises a doubt.

10/1

Form: 8-6252

Last run: 46 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
First reserve; Tramore maiden winner last summer and has gone close in handicaps at Wexford and last month at Killarney when only worn down late over 2m7f (yielding); cheekpieces worn latest now left off; one to consider if getting a run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 150y

16:55 Downpatrick

Miss Lia

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: P J Rothwell

Hurdle winner has run well in defeat at this venue, notably when second in March; poor at Wexford last time; decent run on sole chase start last year; needs best.

10/1

Form: PP040/ D

Last run: 755 days

W: 10st 1lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Second reserve; sole win came over this trip at Roscomon over 3 years ago; absent over two years and can only be watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 180y

18:29 Downpatrick

Lady Iseult

10st 7lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Sole win came over 2m5f at Roscommon in 2022; back from mammoth absence when pulled up at Down Royal last month; well beaten behind Gangster Granny over C&D on latest.

33/1

11th

12

8th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 180y

17:35 Downpatrick

Lady Iseult

10st 10lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Sole win came over 2m5f at Roscommon in 2022; 100-1 when pulled up at Down Royal last month on first outing since October 2023.

50/1

12

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

15:35 Down Royal

Lady Iseult

10st 13lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Sole win came over 2m5f at Roscommon over three years ago; absent over two years and can only be watched.

33/1

Betting Forcast

13/2 Plunkett Street, 11/2 Lambay Island, 9/1 Mister Box, 5/1 Giant Haystacks, 12/1 Miss Mini Bee, 14/1 Sphagnum, 7/1 Dgalwaygallivantor, 14/1 Arctic Piper, 8/1 Down Around, 9/1 Hatfield Hammer, 16/1 Liberated Light, 14/1 No Demand, 9/1 Kazbek, Miss Lia, Lady Iseult