Tramore - Sunday 19th April 2026
BALLYHAHILL may be able to step forward from her initial experience at Limerick at the end of last month. The King Of Change filly was bang in contention over the second-last before fading a touch late on to finish fourth behind Shirzan. She's entitled to improve a bit from the run and gets a nice chunk of weight from her older rivals. Nirisque was second on her sole outing in her native France, but faded tamely enough on her Irish debut at Naas in December. She should be capable of better. Chautuaqua was well beaten last time but had run well previously when runner-up in Gowran and, on that form, she can play a part in this company.
Smart Flat performer TYSON FURY can open his hurdling account here. The Iffraaj gelding won a claimer at Dundalk on his last outing and has a rating of 96 on the level. He was pitched into a Grade 1 when last seen over hurdles, but was a fine fourth at Leopardstown in maiden company on his other outing and that form looks strong. Kentucky Beach sets the standard with his mark of 113. Philip Rothwell's charge has been placed five times over timber and should be thereabouts again. Jack Kennedy rides newcomer Porcupine Bank for Gordon Elliott and money for the Order Of St George gelding would be noteworthy.
DROMBANE was no match for easy winner Kaiser De Chanay at Clonmel earlier in the month, but may improve from that initial outing over timber. The Wings Of Eagles gelding was free early on and made a few jumping errors. He should have learned a bit from that run. Mr Master Mac won a Sligo bumper when last seen in August and that form looks solid enough. He has to give weight to his rivals, but is respected on his jumping debut. Jackmoon narrowly lost out at Cork over further. He sets the standard with his mark of 110 and has to be on the shortlist.
The decision to come here with POPPYCON could reap rewards. He was taken out at Limerick on Thursday because of testing conditions and the ground shouldn't be as deep here. The six-year-old ran well at Wexford when chasing home Westoftignes on his handicap debut and looks up to scoring off this mark. Ellies Rock was a winner at Clonmel earlier this month and is an obvious danger. A 6lb rise for that victory doesn't look harsh. Top-weight King Of Westeros didn't run too badly in maiden company at Wexford and is another to consider on his handicap debut.
KILLINURE LASS won twice here last year and may be able to strike again on her return to action for her in-form trainer. The Morozov mare will appreciate any drying of the ground and looks on a competitive mark of 108 over fences. Tullyveery Lad is another dual course winner who has to be respected. He also makes his reappearance and was third behind the selection over hurdles when last seen here in October. Casey West ran well to finish third at Limerick last month. He is race-fit and is another to consider.
SOLDANTE looks capable of winning off this mark over fences. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding won his maiden hurdle here and may be able to score now over the larger obstacles. He was a solid fourth on his chase debut at Clonmel last month and may improve a bit from that experience. Marelly has been knocking on the door and ran well to finish runner-up at Limerick at the end of last month. He should be capable of playing a big role, likewise In The Trenches.
SPANISH MAID was well backed on her first outing for Ross O'Sullivan and ran well to chase home Connemara Shore. She just ran around a touch late on having held every chance over the last and dropping back to the minimum trip may help. Courtbrack Boy has been in good form over timber and goes straight into handicap company on his chase debut. La Tene makes her chase debut in a handicap as well and is another to consider for in-form trainer John Ryan.
A weak race that can go to Gordon Elliott's 4yo BALLYHAHILL. She shaped with a fair bit of promise when fourth at Limerick on debut and any improvement on that ought to see her go close at the very least. The ex-French Nirisque failed to shine on her Irish debut but she's with a good yard and can be expected to turn in a much better effort this time. Third choice is Crohan Lady. She hasn't been at her best of late but is considered on her Thurles third from February.
The most likely winner of this is POLEPATRICK, who showed improved form on his hurdles debut tried in a hood, finishing third at Clonmel. He's not had many starts and is surely capable of better still for his top yard. Kentucky Beach is more exposed than the selection but comes off a good run himself and a place seems on the cards. Of the others Tyson Fury and Sea Eagle boast a similar claims, with the first-named having some Flat class.
Dont Tell Jack has been running well over fences and he has the ability to win this back hurdling, but something like DROMBANE could improve past him. From a top yard, he was much-improved last time in a tongue-tie on his hurdles debut and promises to be even better over this longer trip. Jackmoon needs considering also having run an improved race himself at Cork last time, although the drop in distance here isn't certain to suit.
A competitive handicap that can go to POPPYCON, who showed improved form when runner-up on his handicap debut at Wexford and still looks on a good mark off 2lb higher. The danger is Maciver, who wasn't seen to best effect over 3m last time but is considered on his earlier placed form at about this trip. Third choice is Coffeys Forge. He was pulled up last time but that was on deep ground and he now has a first-time tongue-tie to assist.
Plenty to consider here, not least MOUNT FRISCO, who has been running well in defeat and still looks fairly treated, with the step up in trip likely to suit. He's only a tentative choice ahead of in-form veteran Tullyveery Lad. That one was a chase winner two starts back who fared with credit back hurdling last time. He's back from a break but should be fit enough to do himself justice. Casey West, who returned to form at Limerick last time, is third choice.
A return to fences might be just what KOTKITO BELLO needs as his progressive over hurdles seems to have levelled out. He took a beginners' chase on his fencing debut in October, though, and retains plenty of potential for the larger obstacles. Soldante ran well for a long way on his recent chasing debut, possibly just needing the run, and he should improve here, so rates the danger ahead of Marelly. That one is a capable chaser but he needs to settle better if he's to fulfil his potential.
There are a couple of chasing newcomers with potential here, namely COURTBRACK BOY, who has been in good form over hurdles and could raise his game further now tackling the larger obstacles. His mark still appeals as being fair. The best alternative is Spanish Maid, who is coming off an improved effort at Wexford, while fellow mare La Tene has slowly worked her way back to form after an absence and could do better still now chasing.
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