13.15
Soft To HeavyNathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £76956.52
- 2m 6f 53y
- 9 runners
h.jpg)
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 2-1511 D
Last run: 56 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 1 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 190y |
11st 10lb |
Bumper winner has taken really well to hurdling, winning first three starts over a trip, notably Grade 2 Navan novice and Grade 1 Leopardstown contest (2m6f) at the DRF (beating Kazansky 8l) on heavy; much too keen and ultimately pulled up when favourite for Grade 1 Albert Bartlett on latest and hood now fitted; encounters much better ground now. |
9/2 |
|
2 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
His bumper form was nothing to shout about but he's gone 3-3 over hurdles; it wasn't a strong Grade 1 he won at the Dublin Racing Festival (2m6f, heavy; won on good) but he bombed clear to win it by some 8l despite taking a firm grip, and his previous defeat of Thedeviluno looks all the better now; there's a nagging concern that his keen-going tendencies might come at a cost in this race, but other than that he's solid. |
4/1 |
|
1st 1 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Four bumper runs, the first in 2024; after a year off, third at Clonmel last March; won at Ballinrobe in May; fairly tame effort at the Galway festival; made a bright start over hurdles at the same venue and looked smart when winning a four-runner Grade 2 event at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy); form well franked by runner-up Thedeviluno at Doncaster. |
6/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 122315 C
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 4 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 190y |
11st 10lb |
Leopardstown maiden winner has contested Grade 1 novices all three starts since, notably remote fifth to Doctor Steinberg at same venue and better form on latest at Aintree in 3m1f Sefton Novices' when decent fourth in first-time cheekpieces (good-to-soft); this probably a stronger race so more needed. |
25/1 |
|
4th 3 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Talented Irish raider but with questions to answer at this level having twice finished well beaten in Grade 1s (2m4f/2m6f) since winning a maiden at Leopardstown over Christmas; the cheekpieces are new. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 113/22 C BF
Last run: 33 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 140y |
11st 12lb |
Point-to-point and dual bumper winner; off the mark over hurdles on penultimate start when making all for a dominant win at Naas (18.5f, sft-hvy); 3m may have stretched him when well beaten in the Albert Bartlett last time; may do better dropped back in trip; place claims. |
10/1 |
|
13th 6 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Excellent third when favourite for the 2024 Champion Bumper here; missed last season but definite signs of getting his act together over hurdles in posting an eyecatching RPR when strolling home at long odds-on in a 2m2f maiden at Naas (soft to heavy; effective on drier ground); unraced beyond an extended 2m4f but might yet prove that stamina is one of his assets; respected. |
20/1 |
|
1st 5 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 2f 101y |
11st 12lb |
Won a point and two bumpers before finishing third when favourite for the Grade 1 at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival; not seen again until chasing home subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Sortudo in a Cork maiden in November; outpointed by Frankie John at Leopardstown at Christmas; missed a Grade 1 engagement at the DRF; change of ground cited, but has won on soft-to-heavy. |
5/4 |
Abandoned
Form: U11 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 190y |
11st 10lb |
Nicely progressive on heavy ground over the winter, winning Limerick Grade 2 novice and chased home 8l winner Doctor Steinberg over 2m6f at the DRF at Leopardstown; didn't really land a blow (pulled up) in 3m Albert Bartlett on latest and others now preferred. |
20/1 |
|
8 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Should stay okay having won a point over 3m and a Grade 2 at Limerick over just shy of that trip; he's relying on Doctor Steinberg fluffing his lines as he was hammered by him at Leopardstown (2m6f, heavy) on latest start, but has place claims nonetheless. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1113
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 11 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 190y |
11st 10lb |
Won a bumper, maiden hurdle (2m3f) and 2m Grade 3 novice without being extended, all on good-to-yielding; acquitted himself creditably in Grade 1 Leopardstown novices', including third to stablemate Doctor Steinberg (2m6f, heavy); most recently not at same level back in trip in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse; place claims at best. |
14/1 |
|
4th 1 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Won a bumper, maiden hurdle (2m3f) and 2m Grade 3 novice without being extended, all on good-to-yielding; has acquitted creditably in Grade 1 Leopardstown novices' since, none too fluent when third at Christmas (heavy) and keen enough when third over 2m6f behind a stablemate at the DRF; drop back to 2m4f probably in his favour and open to improvement on better ground. |
11/2 |
|
3rd 5 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Won a bumper, maiden hurdle (2m3f) and 2m Grade 3 novice without being extended, all on good-to-yielding ground at very short odds; those races possibly did not advance his education since his jumping was untidy in a 2m Grade 1 race here at Christmas; third to Skylight Hustle was respectable in the circumstances; some reservations about trip/ground. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 24-212 BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 58y |
11st 12lb |
Beat Zeus Power (improved since) on hurdles debut at Thurles (2m4f, good to yielding) in November and couple of decent efforts on heavy; soon beaten however in 2m5f Grade 1 Turners Novices' at Cheltenham (Zeus Power third), but definite claims here down in grade. |
9/2 |
|
17th 13 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Beat Zeus Power (improved since) when drawing clear on hurdles debut at Thurles (good to yielding) in November; consistent on heavy when second to leading BetMGM Cup fancy Storm Heat at Limerick (also 2m4f) and fourth in 2m6f Leopardstown Grade 1; those efforts still leave him with a bit to find. |
66/1 |
|
4th 6 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Placed in points and bumpers; off the mark on hurdles debut at Thurles over 2m4f on good-to-yielding; lost out to a Willie Mulins-trained rival in a 2m4f Limerick contest on heavy ground; his trainer has stronger candidates |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-411
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
21st Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 6f 150y |
11st 7lb |
Scored on debut in a six-runner heavy ground Punchestown bumper last season; well beaten on hurdling debut at Wexford; stayed well a 2m3f Punchestown maiden on soft to heavy; had enough pace to win over 2m1f at Clonmel but should have enough stamina for this; big drop in class now after running in a 2m6f Grade 1 at the DRF. |
11/8 |
|
6th 7 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Scored on debut in a six-runner heavy ground Punchestown bumper in February; well beaten on hurdling debut at Wexford, but appeared to benefit from a step up in trip when winning a 2m3f Punchestown maiden on soft to heavy; had no trouble landing the odds when dropped to 2m1f at Clonmel but appeals as a likely staying type. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2F1611
Last run: 90 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 17 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Raced 11 times over hurdles and plenty of experience is never a bad thing in this race; however, he's won only three of those and finished tailed off behind Doctor Steinberg when 40-1 last time; tongue-tie enlisted. |
50/1 |
|
7th 8 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Won a 3m Wexford handicap (good) off a modest 98 last July; beaten off 12lb higher at Listowel before making spectacular progress to achieve a mark of 135 as a result of a pair of 3m wins at Cork; those were on good/yielding, and these conditions are not certain to suit; if he handles it, stamina will not be a issue. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2/8-13
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
4th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 7f 170y |
11st 6lb |
Second in the Goffs Defender Bumper at the 2024 Punchestown festival; ran only once last season but returned from long absence to beat Vitorio Piel (made all) in 2m5f Punchestown maiden in November (heavy); contested graded novices' since, decent third at Limerick but too keen and didn't jump well when pulled up at Leopardstown at DRF; drops to handicap company and don't rule out. |
16/1 |
|
9 |
2nd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 53y |
11st 10lb |
Second in the Goffs Defender Bumper at the 2024 Punchestown festival; ran only once last season; well backed and made all to gain his first win in a Punchestown maiden (2m4f, heavy) in November; probably unsuited by slow gallop at Limerick but looks held by Kazansky, and RPR and official figures suggest this will be too demanding, |
33/1 |
Verdict
Willie Mullins has won four of the last five editions and can maintain the trend with DOCTOR STEINBERG, whose Navan win has been boosted by a Doncaster success for the runner-up. Gordon Elliott runs four in opposition to a Mullins duo and Santo Sospir is marginally more appealing than Kazansky. Love Me Tender was found wanting at this level last time after three races in which he was thoroughly dominant. [Alan Sweetman]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Doctor SteinbergTOPSPEED:
Love Me TenderRP RATINGS (IRE):
Doctor SteinbergPOSTDATA:
Doctor SteinbergThe Irish Sun:
Doctor Steinberg