Killarney - Thursday 20th August 2026
SEA OF DUBKA has recent winning form on the level and will be well schooled for today's jumps debut. Although her initial form was nothing special and she scored from a mark of just 61 last month, she will have no trouble staying National Hunt distances and it is encouraging that she goes jumping so soon after her recent Flat success. Harmani won't have done as much schooling as the selection, having joined Gordon Elliott from Ger Lyons in the past few weeks, but was nonetheless quite capable on the level and commands respect. Minella Buoy has jumps form and should be competitive.
HI HO IDAHO won here in May and it is hoped he will cope with dropping in distance on handicap debut. Placed in two point-to-points last autumn, he has shown nice ability over hurdles and defeated subsequent winner Livio into third, with Eye Contact chasing home Willie Mullins' gelding at Cork recently. Stablemate Fiveonefive scored at the Galway Festival but is 8lb higher and has top weight, while the hat-trick seeking Gino Bella has the same rise in the handicap to overcome after her Cork success.
French import DIAMOND DU BERLAIS was a 13-race maiden prior to scoring on debut for Willie Mullins at Ludlow in February but is a capable type who could be suited by stepping up to this trip. She ran well at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last spring and gained course experience when finishing behind two smart types here last month. Brother Walfrid disappointed at Galway but is better judged on his Punchestown success the time before, while stablemate Loch Cuan steps up from two summer Cartmel wins.
AFFINITY ROCK is rated just 105 over hurdles but this summer has shown better form over fences and has winning course form. Successful here in May 2025, the selection again ran well here in May when finishing ahead of subsequent winner La Note Verte, and backed up that effort with another useful runner-up placing at Limerick. She stays well and likes good ground. French import Fort Dino scored smartly at Auteuil in May 2025 but was absent nearly a year prior to his return at the Punchestown Festival. He should improve from that effort but notably wore a tongue-tie then and now tries a longer distance on chase debut. Previous Galway Festival winner Ballystone wasn't beaten too far at that same course last month.
WESTERN MODEL is a nine-race maiden over fences, but scored over hurdles recently and is ideally suited by this distance and good ground. A dual hurdles winner, he has finished second three times over fences and having struck from a rating of 97 over the smaller obstacles at Roscommon, should compete from this lower chase mark. Three-time winner Cullenwaine defeated Kilkee Bay by 15 lengths at this venue last month, but is now 9lb higher. Ladies Well sprung a surprise in the earlier division of that event here and ran well at Roscommon subsequently.
It is hoped that GAELIC DES CHASTYS will be ready for his first start since January because last year's Listowel Festival success reads well. An able type at this level, he was well enough held in third-place here last August but reverts to a more favourable trip and, notably, from that last chase outing at Listowel, five of the beaten horses won races soon afterwards. Stablemate Illtakehimmyself is progressive and won over hurdles here last month, but debuts over fences. Tippin And Tappin was out of sorts here last month but is a previous course winner, while ex-hunter chaser Kings Jet ran well in Kilbeggan but would prefer a longer trip.
STUNTMAN STEVE hasn't enjoyed much luck over fences, but wasn't beaten far behind Galway Hurdle winner Putapoundinthejar and runner-up Thisistheway at Bellewstown and reverts to chasing with a favourable rating. A dual hurdles winner, he is ideally suited by this distance and good ground and while his jumping has let him down over fences, he is rated 8lb lower in this sphere. Femme Magnifique is in fantastic form but now competes from a career-high mark, while Ballybrittas has been running well in similar races recently.
KILLEEDY wasn't beaten far here last month and is now fitted with a tongue-tie. Out of a bumper winner and a sibling to a dual bumper victor, she needs to improve from that debut effort to cope with capable rivals but should progress and seems suited by a sound surface. The Last Line has notable form having been pipped by the exciting Windbeneathmywings in July 2024, although he hasn't raced since and will improve from this reappearance. Iron Sword finished narrowly ahead of Rocky Alfonso at Roscommon and can confirm his superiority. Con Did It is by Conduit and has a fine Flat pedigree.
Minella Buoy sets the standard on hurdle form following a couple of promising runner up efforts and he should be capable of better again if settling. However he could be vulnerable to an unexposed rival and there are a few who fit the bill. Sea Of Dubka relished the step up to 13f when off the mark on the Flat last time and looks the type to make into a useful hurdler for her top yard. HARMANI also represents a top jumps stable and was victorious over 10f on the Flat this summer. He was the best of these in that discipline and is worth chancing on his hurdle debut.
EYE CONTACT was only beaten by a very useful rival last time and is potentially thrown in back in a handicap. He placed off 4lb lower on his last handicap run where he finished ahead of Fiveonefive and he gets a pull at the weights with that rival. Hi Ho Idaho proved progressive in maidens culminating in a victory last time which has been boosted. His opening mark looks lenient so if getting a stiff test at the trip he should be thereabouts at the finish. Fast Felix returns from chasing and is well treated on his C&D maiden win last year so is also respected.
DIAMOND DU BERLAIS was highly tried in France and has posted some solid efforts for her new yard at higher levels than this. Her Cheltenham form sets the standard and she will appreciate this step back up in trip so she is picked to defeat the unbeaten Local News. Both of that rival's victories so far have been boosted and she can confirm form with Pets Georgina who has progressed since that defeat. She was well held last time but is forgiven that run as she refused to settle and she can complete the tricast here.
AFFINITY ROCK sets a clear standard on her latest runner up effort. She remains unexposed in this discipline and her hurdles form suggests this step up in trip will deliver more so she should prove tough to beat. Fort Dino was a winner in France over hurdles and looked in need of the run on his stable debut in the spring. His top yard's horses tend to improve significantly for fences so he looks the biggest threat ahead of Lemmy Caution who also tackles the larger obstacles for the first time. He steadily progressed over hurdles following a debut victory and should have more to offer in this sphere judged on his point win.
WESTERN MODEL is yet to win over fences but he was in good form last summer and he's been running well over hurdles of late. He gets to race off a mark 3lb lower than when winning in that discipline last time and can take advantage. Ladies Well was an easy winner on her penultimate start and her latest run is worth marking up as she was given far too much to do. She looks the obvious danger ahead of Tropical Image who is well treated on her penultimate run but failed to convince with her stamina for 3m last time.
MINERS BRIDGE was a winner here over hurdles and proved he retained his ability following a long lay off last time. His latest chase effort where he finished runner up has been franked emphatically by the winner and he's potentially thrown in on his old hurdle form. He can defeat Burru who is also a hurdles winner at this venue and his latest chase run is worth marking up as he did plenty early. He can fill the places with last time out course hurdles winner Illtakehimmyself who is a strong stayer at the trip and should have more to offer over fences.
COSTACURTA could get an easy lead here and will be tough to peg back if that's the case. He was progressing over fences until his last run where he was unable to dominate and the form of that race has worked out well. He can lead home the frustrating Piccolo Player whose latest couple of runs over fences have been boosted making him look on a dangerous mark returned to handicaps. Femme Magnifique has been thriving for her new yard and remains well treated on her early chase efforts so could also play a part.
KILLEEDY rallied well on debut and could prove tough to beat if building on that effort. The form has had some knocks but she was poorly placed in a race dominated from the front and should be capable of much better if ridden more positively. The Last Line has a huge absence to overcome but his debut effort has been boosted at Listed level and he was probably given too much to do that day. If fit after a break he can provide the main challenge ahead of Rocky Alfonso who was a bit too keen but ran well for a long way first time out.
Whilst studying the form, we have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today's racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as the Grand National 2026, Royal Ascot 2026 and Cheltenham Festival 2026.
