15:21 Downpatrick

Friday 19 September 2025

All14:1114:4615:2115:5616:2617:0117:35

Tennents NI Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 5m 22.5s

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Selected odds by:

Rodney Bay²³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: R J Tumilty| OR: 100| C

13/2

Fair hurdlers at best but struggled in most recent starts including when well beaten on final start for Joseph Anthony Murray in 8th of 11 in claimer hurdle at Limerick (12/1) 234 days ago. Good record here and market should reveal whether he's expected to bounce back on return/stable debut.

Form: 40/0788-

Only One Plan¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: M Flannery| OR: 99| CD

12/1

Has course and distance win and showed good form to win at Ballinrobe in July, but followed a below-par effort with an even worse one when eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (25/1) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces removed today and not totally dismissed given course record.

Form: 702198

Chasing Crowns^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paddy Cody⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 94

66/1

Best form when fifth of 14 in maiden hurdle at Wexford (200/1) 42 days ago but that remains a standout effort, most recently eighth of 13 in 24f maiden at same course (33/1) 21 days ago. Interesting to see if market hints at improvement now handicapping in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: PP-8588

Morell River³¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: C Bowe| OR: 91

22/1

Showed minor promise in one maiden hurdle, but that remains a standout effort. Up in trip making handicap debut on first run for new trainer and one to note for support.

Form: 0760-

Tir Og³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: E Seymour| OR: 93| D

4/1

Showed promise when placing second at Sligo in May and went one better to land a 9-runner handicap hurdle at Sligo (6/1) 30 days ago, showing improved form with effective front-running tactics. Could go well again with similar approach at this trip.

Form: 3F-2851

Silent Dawn^p,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 88

9/2

Bounced back to form when a head second of 9 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (8/1) 25 days ago, nearly opening account with patient tactics readopted. Could face slower ground here but this should be run to suit and he remains one to be interested in.

Form: F35-P62

Eastern Blue Bird³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 89

25/1

Limited ability in bumpers but showed a bit over hurdles, finishing fourth of 11 in maiden hurdle at Tramore (25/1) 36 days ago. May be more competitive making handicap debut.

Form: 6786-04

Blackberry Jack¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J C Gainford| T: D Leahy| OR: 85

10/1

Creditable second of 14 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft) in August 2023 but has been campaigned on the Flat of late, well held at Galway 10 days ago. Remains to be seen if he can make more of an impact returned to hurdles.

Form: 65F029/

Syosset²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Alex Harvey⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 87

16/1

Showed little in maiden hurdles before finishing 11th of 15 in handicap at Bellewstown (50/1) 23 days ago, showing slight improvement. May improve for that recent experience.

Form: 700-0

You Make Me Smile⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 81

14/1

Won a mares' handicap at Clonmel earlier in the season but has struggled recently, finishing 8th of 13 in a Flat handicap at Sligo (9/1) 44 days ago where raced off the pace and never landed a blow. Returns to hurdles after disappointing Flat efforts but in the mix if back to her best.

Form: 0P/951-8

Centaq⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 80

7/2

Has shown gradual improvement in recent Downpatrick runs. Finished fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (8/1) 40 days ago, staying on after the second last. Could produce a bigger effort if this becomes more of a test of stamina.

Form: 8-90674

Marvellous Margo⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: I Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: Conor Maxwell| OR: 82

40/1

Shown little hurdle starts and was sixth of 11 in novice hurdle at Bellewstown (200/1) 76 days ago where tailed off. Hard to be confident on handicap debut unless market hints at improvement.

Form: 7-76

Lily's Choice⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Cian Quirke| T: D H Kelly| OR: 78

9/1

Has shown ability in handicap hurdles with a third-place finish on heavy ground. Sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (22/1) 42 days ago, shaped better than on belated return but did too much too soon over 24f. Could be interesting if the rain arrives now dropped markedly in trip.

Form: 8636/06

Boston Bongo^b1,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: P Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 75

28/1

Winless after 18 starts and fared little better than previous starts this season finishing ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (40/1) 42 days ago, making no impression. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces but needs to improve.

Form: 0F4-079

King Bob²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 77

20/1

Little impact in three quickfire runs in maiden hurdles, finishing 10th of 13 at Wexford (66/1) 21 days ago. Handicap debutants from this yard can often improve and he may well have more to offer.

Form: 0080

Non-Runners

Leroy Leroy²¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: J J Hanlon J: Reserve 1

Rock Ya Boy Ya¹¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: Francis Casey J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Centaq (7/2), Tir Og (4/1), Silent Dawn (9/2), Rodney Bay (13/2), Lily's Choice (9/1), Blackberry Jack (10/1), Only One Plan (12/1), You Make Me Smile (14/1), Syosset (16/1), King Bob (20/1), Morell River (22/1), Eastern Blue Bird (25/1), Boston Bongo (28/1), Marvellous Margo (40/1), Chasing Crowns (66/1)

The forecast strong pace should suit strong-travelling SILENT DAWN who came within a whisker of breaking his maiden when a close second over C&D 25 days ago and he may go one better under similar tactics. Tir Og showed improved form when making all at Sligo recently and may go well again. Lily's Choice could be interesting if the rain arrives now dropped markedly in trip, while Centaq might have more to offer if this becomes a test of stamina. Rodney Bay and King Bob are worth a market check.