19.42
Yielding To SoftPaul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £12804.35
- 3m 0f 100y
- 14 runners
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Runners: 14 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 2/20-3
Last run: 10 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
5th Jun 2026 Good 2m 3f 61y |
11st 6lb |
Career peak came in 2023 when winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham October meeting on first run for Gavin Cromwell; well beaten when runner-up over fences in April and June last year; returned to John McConnell, with whom he started his career, last time at Musselburgh back over hurdles but was disappointing; hard to fancy on current form. |
8/1 |
|
11th 5 |
1st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Career peak was in October 2023 on first start for Gavin Cromwell and he was well beaten when runner-up over fences last April and June; unraced beyond 2m4f under rules and now wears a hood for the first time; back with John McConnell, with whom he started his career. |
25/1 |
Form: /FP9P-
Last run: 44 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
2nd May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 90y |
11st 12lb |
Decent sort at his best, career-best performance when close second in last season's 2m5f Topham at Aintree; very lightly raced this season, most recently running well for long way in same event before fading from last; type who could go well here if taking to the banks (won only point-to-point). |
11/2 |
|
9th 20 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
10st 6lb |
Well below his best on both runs this season, the latest at Leopardstown in December; however, he produced a career-best performance when a close second in this 12 months ago (good to soft), pulling clear with Gentleman De Mee, and the return to Aintree could spark a revival; on the shortlist. |
12/1 |
Form: 54940- D
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 8lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19th 11 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
10st 8lb |
Won a Grade 3 hurdle over this trip in 2025 but hasn't repeated that form since; some fair runs in defeat over fences this season but has to get back to his best returned to hurdles; yard second-string. |
40/1 |
|
4th 2 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 88y |
11st 12lb |
Useful 128-rated hurdler last season, including a Grade 3 win; well beaten over various trips in four beginners' chases this season, fourth behind King Alexander at Gowran was his best effort; tailed off in the Leinster National at Naas last time when 3m1f on soft to heavy may have been too far; 13lb to find on ratings with Sandor Clegane, but that rival is not the most solid. |
2/1 |
Form: 3001-2
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 6lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 8 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 6f 100y |
11st 2lb |
Breakthrough win over hurdles on latest at Punchestown (19.5f, yielding); hit hard with an 11lb hike for that 11l victory and consistency has never been a strong suit, so is no banker to back that up. |
9/2 |
|
1st 25 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 58y |
11st 1lb |
Winning chaser; weak record (0-18) as a hurdler makes it hard to be confident; not a big price when down the field at Gowran on latest. |
16/1 |
Form: 5P0D6-6
Last run: 14 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 6 |
1st Jun 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 150y |
11st 11lb |
Won a Grade 2 handicap over 2m4f a couple of years ago for Harry Fry before losing form; some good efforts in point-to-points, including recent win under this jockey; previously, was only around 7l off stablemate Solitary Man over 2m4f at Cork (disqualified, rider weighed in marginally light). |
12/1 |
|
7th 12 |
2nd May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Rated in 140s at peak over fences, best form over much further, others preferred. |
14/1 |
Form: /523-0 BF
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 10 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 6f 100y |
11st 1lb |
Sole success over hurdles a Fairyhouse maiden (2m, heavy) in February 2024; beaten a head off 3lb lower at the Galway Festival last August (2m1f, good); shaped like this trip might suit when remote third behind Jacovec Tavern at Punchestown (19.5f, yielding) in sole start since; could go well. |
5/1 |
|
3rd 10 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 58y |
11st 11lb |
Won over 1m6f on the Flat at the 2024 Galway festival; never landed a blow when 6-1 for the big amateur handicap at the same fixture last July; different proposition later that week, only just denied in a valuable 2m1f handicap hurdle; could be a big player if fit and ready. |
9/1 |
Form: 2114-P
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 2lb
7 yo Filly
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 80y |
10st 8lb |
Better chaser than hurdler; couple of wins over 2m6f last summer, but much stiffer task here after a layoff and O'Keeffe prefers yard's other runner. |
14/1 |
Form: P6-763 CD
Last run: 25 days
W: 11st 1lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 7 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 160y |
11st 5lb |
Four-time winner over hurdles is yet to score from 12 runs over fences; recent form is concerning, tailed off in a Down Royal handicap chase earlier this month and sixth of eight over hurdles at Kilbeggan latest. |
9/1 |
|
6th 2 |
15th May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 50y |
11st 6lb |
Four wins over hurdles including in this race last year off 110 (good); recent form over fences not too encouraging but she's better over timber. |
11/1 |
Form: 422P-5
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
6th May 2026 Good 2m 6f 151y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Pulled up in the Ulster National (3m4f, soft) in March but he was runner-up in two chase handicaps at Musselburgh (2m4f/2m7f) before that; now returns to hurdling but he's 3-8 in this sphere and is on a dangerous mark on this drop back in trip and grade; one to keep an eye on. |
13/2 |
|
9 |
29th Mar 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 4f 120y |
10st 12lb |
Mixed form in 2025; ran his best race for a long time when going close at Musselburgh on New Year's Day (2m4f, good to soft); again finished second over 2m7f at that venue last time; main positive is his good record at this venue, two wins (bumper and maiden hurdle) and a second from four visits. |
10/1 |
Form: 78647- C
Last run: 244 days
W: 10st 13lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 6 |
14th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 22y |
11st 11lb |
Hasn't really threatened over fences or over hurdles this year; beaten 12l when fourth at Listowel on latest; dropped another 2lb and blinkers now tried; others make more appeal. |
20/1 |
|
4th 1 |
25th Sep 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
11st 13lb |
Better over fences than hurdles and hasn't been overly threatening in this discipline in last three races; can look a hard ride at times. |
20/1 |
Form: 125F5- C
Last run: 165 days
W: 10st 13lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
12th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 50y |
11st 4lb |
One of two for yard; point-to-point winner; off the mark at the second attempt in bumpers at Kilbeggan (19.5f, gd-yld) after an encouraging run here on Rules' debut; bred to stay this far but Declan Queally prefers his stablemate. |
7/2 |
Form: 1537P-
Last run: 148 days
W: 10st 11lb
9 yo Mare
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
18th Jan 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 198y |
10st 10lb |
Point winner has been running consistently over fences this season, runner-up in two mares' beginners' before a comfortable win at Ballinrobe in September (2m7f, soft); outclassed in Graded company, but in between those efforts she ran respectably in a four-runner contest around here in October when third; makes handicap chase debut now. |
16/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
23rd Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 2f 146y |
11st 0lb |
Gained a first chase win at Ballinrobe on her penultimate run but didn't jump well when tailed off since and probably needs further than this. |
10/1 |
Form: 42145/ D
Last run: 435 days
W: 10st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 |
6th Apr 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Won his fourth hurdle race when scoring at Catterick over an extended 3m in January and a solid run over 2m6f at Thurles since; this trip suits better and can be involved. |
8/1 |
Form: 52PP-6
Last run: 25 days
W: 10st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 150y |
11st 10lb |
Decisive winner of handicap chase at Wexford (25.5f, good) last July off 4lb lower; pulled up both starts since returning from a break, in the Ulster National and over the banks at Punchestown; this more suitable but others arrive in better form. |
20/1 |
|
5 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 4m 1f 11y |
11st 12lb |
Stays well, won a 3m2f handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe two seasons ago; won a chase on good ground at Wexford last summer; pulled up in the Ulster National a month ago on first run since a 12l second at the Listowel festival; first attempt at this course. |
25/1 |
Betting Forcast
12/1 Encanto Bruno, 13/2 Lisnamult Lad, 10/1 Ballybow, 100/30 Jacovec Cavern, 20/1 In Excelsis Deo, 11/2 Toll Stone, 6/1 Cobra Queen, 25/1 Ad Caelum, 10/1 Rexem, 16/1 Moonovercloon, 15/2 St Lawrences Well, 25/1 Littlebiggie, 20/1 Crossing The Bar, 22/1 Dorans Law