17:07 Killarney

Thursday 21 August 2025

All16:3217:0717:3718:0718:3719:0719:3720:07

GMIB Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 4m 8.10s

Bowensonfire^h1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| BF| D

6/1

Won twice in handicap hurdles this season, including at Bellewstown by 4½ lengths when patiently ridden. Change of tactics when fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Wexford 13 days ago, shaped better than position suggests, doing best of those close up. Remains one to be interested in with hood added.

Form: 2-131U4

Prairie Dancer^b⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130| D

12/1

Dual chase winner last year and has been mixing it over hurdles and fences this year without getting his head in front, below form finishing third of 6 in conditions hurdle at Cork (24f) 41 days ago. Is coming down the weights but needs to recapture his best dropped markedly in trip.

Form: 1F4-723

Relieved Of Duties^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Finn Brickley⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

14/1

Maiden hurdle winner who placed in novice graded company in January but was running poorly following 5 months off when fell at the last in a 19-runner handicap at Galway (22/1) 21 days ago. Remains to be seen whether he can translate the best of his novice form into handicaps.

Form: 21304-F

Miss Fourie²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jake Coen| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 122| CD

13/2

Won this race off 9 lb higher last year but hasn't stood much racing since, seventh of 16 at Galway (11/1) 22 days ago, looking a hard ride with cheekpieces. Can be competitive if on a going day but clearly isn't one for maximum faith with cheekpieces now removed.

Form: 2614-77

Come On The Lads^h¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 121| D

9/2

Respectable third of 9 in decent handicap hurdle at Cartmel prior to winning a 15-runner 16.8f handicap hurdle at Galway 19 days ago, coming from last to lead in dying strides after being badly hampered. Did well to win under the circumstances and he has solid claims to follow up off 5 lb higher.

Form: 46-3231

Zoffman^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 120

5/2

Useful winner at 12f on flat but yet to get close to that level over hurdles, disappointed on handicap debut at Ballinrobe last month. Latest eighth of 20 in flat handicap at Galway (18/1) 24 days ago, shaped as if still in good form. Still has improvement to find back over hurdles.

Form: 214-8

Red Glory¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 115| CD

9/1

C&D winner who returned to form with Tipperary success in July. Fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (5/1) 13 days ago, performed better than finishing position suggests, only headed last as effort told late on. Should remain competitive returning to this track.

Form: 2189-15

Spy^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 113

9/2

Remains a maiden over hurdles but is consistent in this sphere, finished 4th of 8 in Novice Hurdle at Sligo (11/4) 14 days ago with cheekpieces refitted. Hasn't looked entirely straightforward so no surprise to see headgear retained but losing run is mounting up.

Form: 6224-24

Non-Runners

Impero¹⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: C Collins J: Jordan Gainford

Wholelotofbusiness¹⁷

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: E McCarthy J: Gary Noonan

Forecasts

Zoffman (5/2), Spy (9/2), Come On The Lads (9/2), Bowensonfire (6/1), Impero (6/1), Miss Fourie (13/2), Red Glory (9/1), Prairie Dancer (12/1), Relieved Of Duties (14/1), Wholelotofbusiness (16/1)

COME ON THE LADS has been consistent over hurdles and did well in the circumstances when winning at Galway, surging from last to lead in the dying strides having been badly hampered. He's taken to follow up at the expense of Bowensonfire, who has won twice in handicaps this season and shaped better than his recent fourth suggests. Red Glory, a course and distance winner, remains in good form since winning at Tipperary in July and completes the shortlist.