January 20 / 15.50 Down Royal

15.50

Yielding To Soft

William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7439.13
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
RTV
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William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.20
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 05-905 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler, two wins and rated 129; nothing of note over fences yet; remote fifth when stable's second string at Fairyhouse last time; Joystick, who finished last then, showed much improved form when winning at Navan on Saturday; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Lucky Lyreen

10st 5lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Won over 3m on handicap debut (first-time cheekpieces) at Down Royal in January, beating subsequent Ulster National winner Born Braver; in rear in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and ordinary run in Ladies National at Fairyhouse last time; all four wins have been on soft or worse, so that's a concern; yard has won last three renewals.

10/1

5th

2

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Lucky Lyreen

11st 12lb

J: Miss Charlotte Butler

T: Gordon Elliott

Peak rating of 135 over hurdles; won a 3m handicap chase at Down Royal (yielding-to-soft) in January, beating subsequent Ulster National winner Born Braver; in rear the Grand National Trial at Punchestown on latest; could go well if first-time blinkers do the trick; trainer teamed up with rider Charlotte Butler to win this in 2024.

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5-9096 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
2-4 over hurdles; modest form in beginners' chases; started on handicap company on a mark 7lb below his 129 hurdles rating and was beaten 20l in sixth in a Punchestown contest over an extended 2m3f; won twice in points, and also won a 3m hurdle, so stamina is not an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Born Braver

11st 0lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Much improved since going handicapping, just denied at Down Royal before decisive 3m5f success in Ulster National at Downpatrick in late March, winning going away; didn't count just eight days later when tough ask in 3m5f Irish National but don't rule out back in grade here and handles this quicker ground.

9/1

1st

6

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Born Braver

11st 3lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

2-4 over hurdles; modest form in beginners' chases; much improved when a neck second over 3m at Down Royal on second handicap start, underlining the stamina shown when winning two points and a 3m hurdle; however, he failed to build on that in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown.

10/1

12th

3

15th Feb 2026

3m 3f 60y

15:00 Punchestown

Born Braver

11st 7lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

2-4 over hurdles; modest form in beginners' chases; started in handicap company on a mark 7lb below his 129 hurdles rating and was beaten 20l in sixth over an extended 2m3f at this venue; much improved when a neck second to Lucky Lyreen over 3m at Down Royal, underlining the stamina shown when winning two points and a 3m hurdle.

7/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: /14-23 BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Ayr maiden hurdle winner; has run in small-field handicap chases at Kelso (both just short of this trip) on his last two starts, beaten 3 3/4l in second in November and 8 1/4l in third last month; needs to raise his game on the home front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

21

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Al Kalila

10st 8lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

Maiden hurdle winner built on previous chasing promise with a 2l win at Kelso in February (2m5f, good to soft) in a four-runner field; this is a different challenge altogether and needs to improve again in first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

17:10 Kelso

Al Kalila

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: S R B Crawford

Ayr maiden hurdle winner (2m4f; made much of running) last winter; shaped well over the extended 2m7f here on his first two starts this season and he wasn't disgraced over 3m at Down Royal last time; this drop in distance should suit him and he could be ready to strike.

9/4

Form: 04-766

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Filly

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Two wins over hurdles, rated 132; nowhere near her best over fences; beaten a long way in three starts in beginners' races and out of her depth in a Grade 2 event at Limerick last time; 12lb below her hurdles rating, but does not appear well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:45 Fairyhouse

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 2lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Dual hurdles winner has shown poor form in five runs over fences, including on handicap chase debut at Down Royal last time when beaten by 29l; others bring more pressing claims.

25/1

4th

3

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 12lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

Two wins over hurdles, rated 132; nowhere near her best over fences; beaten a long way in three starts in beginners' races and out of her depth in a Grade 2 event at Limerick last time; 12lb below her hurdles rating, but does not appear well handicapped.

8/1

4th

8

25th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 200y

18:25 Kilbeggan

Whatcouldhavebeen

11st 7lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: Jarlath P Fahey

towards rear, not fluent and dropped to rear 3rd, detached 3 out, kept on and went remote fourth towards finish

4/1

Form: 8-7658 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
No success since two hunter chases wins in 2023; has failed to make the frame in four starts for this yard;
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 165y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Shantou Show

11st 3lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Noel C Kelly

No success since two hunter chase wins in 2023; has failed to make the frame in five starts for this yard; tailed off at Down Royal last time.

20/1

5th

8

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Shantou Show

10st 9lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Noel C Kelly

No success since two hunter chases wins in 2023; has failed to make the frame in four starts for this yard;

16/1

Form: 7F-67P D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Two chase wins in 2021 included a Navan novice handicap on heavy; declining mark lately has failed to spark a revival in fortunes; pulled up in 3m Navan handicap last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Stormy Judge

11st 1lb

J: Richard Condon

T: P A Fahy

Two chase wins in 2021 included a Navan novice handicap on heavy; declining mark lately has failed to spark a revival in fortunes; pulled up in 3m Navan handicap last month.

14/1

7th

2

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:00 Galway

Stormy Judge

12st 0lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: P A Fahy

Two chase win in 2021; never found his form last season and ran poorly over hurdles at Gowran on his return.

25/1

10

3rd Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 40y

16:20 Gowran Park

Stormy Judge

10st 13lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: P A Fahy

Two-time chase winner in 2021 is winless from 14 over hurdles; out of form over fences this year and fell when last seen in a Punchestown festival handicap chase; others preferred.

40/1

Form: 12-212 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
112-rated hurdler took advantage of a much lower chase mark when winning at Limerick last month; possibly unlucky not to follow up under a 7lb penalty at Tramore three days later; almost lost his footing on the downhill run to two out and was beaten only one length; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:03 Wexford

Duffys Hodey

10st 3lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Decent performer at a modest enough level, three hurdle wins and twice successful over fences off lower marks this term in Limerick handicaps, most recently last month when patiently-ridden to lead two out for ready 11l win (2m4f, soft); up 9lb but remains 10lb lower than hurdles so remains very much of interest.

9/2

1st

8

31st Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 128y

18:12 Limerick

Duffys Hodey

10st 10lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: P J Rothwell

Three wins last year included a win over fences here over 2m6f; has to rebound from two poor runs since a second at Tramore on New Year's Day.

14/1

Form: -U6511

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Twice beaten favourite in handicap hurdles in December before rectifying matters in a 2m3f contest at Limerick's Christmas meeting; sent straight into handicap company over fences at Punchestown nine days ago; recovered from a bad mistake at the 11th and had the race in safe keeping between the last two; bolted up, big chance despite a 15lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 0y

15:50 Down Royal

Diamond Dollar

10st 13lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Twice beaten favourite in handicap hurdles in December before rectifying matters in a 2m3f contest at Limerick's Christmas meeting; sent straight into handicap company over fences at Punchestown nine days ago; recovered from a bad mistake at the 11th and had the race in safe keeping between the last two; bolted up, big chance despite a 15lb rise.

13/8

Non-runners

Wheres Frankie

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €27.60
Straight Forecast €25.61
Tricast €77.47
Trifecta €105.80

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Al Kalila

SPOTLIGHT:

Diamond Dollar

POSTDATA:

Lucky Lyreen

The Irish Sun:

Duffys Hodey

TOPSPEED:

Al Kalila