19:00 Ballinrobe

Friday 12 September 2025

All15:5516:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 4m 50.00s

Metamorpheus¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey| T: R O'Brien| OR: 110| BF

4/1

Creditable effort when fifth in a big-field handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival in July. Shaped with promise on chase debut, fell when travelling well in contention 2 out in handicap chase at Downpatrick (7/2) 18 days ago. Should go well if none the worse for that.

Form: 809-50F

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Jack Holiday^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁴⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 108| D

14/1

Experienced handicap chaser who won over hurdles last November and ran well when second at Sligo in July. Fifth of 10 in handicap chase at Killarney (12/1) 22 days ago, going as if back in form but went too hard in headgear. Can be competitive but likely to face competition for the lead here.

Form: P-F8205

Drop The Anchor^v⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: H E Sexton⁽⁴⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 104

9/2

Won a 2m4f hurdle on latest jumps start in April but again finished well held on the Flat when 10th of 18 in handicap at Galway (50/1) 44 days ago. Hasn't shown much over fences to date.

Form: 9P7581-

Avec Espoir¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Kelly| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 103| C

22/1

Often ridden aggressively, as was the case when winning over hurdles here last August. Finished 10th of 14 after a break in a handicap hurdle at Wexford (25/1) 14 days ago. Needs to leave that run behind but could make more impact returned to fences.

Form: 1B14F-0

Itsalonglongroad^v²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Shane O'Callaghan| T: C Coakley| OR: 102| CD

7/1

Often ridden prominently, as was the case when winning a 9-runner handicap chase at Tramore (6/1) 26 days ago, keeping on well after being tackled two out. Won this race last year and ought to be competitive again in a change of headgear.

Form: 535-521

Finnians Row^t,v³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Niall Moore⁽²⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 101

10/1

Showed improvement after a period of poor form when winning a handicap chase (first of 11) at Wexford (8/1) 37 days ago with more positive tactics employed. Could be competitive if in similar form here.

Form: 1676-41

Saint Peregrine¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Clarke⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 100

16/1

Modest placed form over hurdles. Showed a bit on chase debut but faced a stiff task on second chase start, inherited remote third in a 4-runner novice chase at this course (50/1) 18 days ago. Handicaps may prove more his bag.

Form: 248P93

Howya Luveen³⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: John Shinnick| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 96

12/1

Mixed record in six starts. Fell when running well in a 13-runner handicap at Punchestown (24.3f) 301 days ago, may well have been placed. Drops markedly in trip on her return and market should guide expectations.

Form: 68U70F-

Warm In Gorey^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Tiernan Power Roche| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 96

9/2

Has been in consistent form, latest when fourth of 9 in handicap chase at Killarney (6/1) 22 days ago. Previous jumping issues have been less apparent of late and should be in the mix over this shorter trip if his jumping holds up.

Form: 732324

Kilashee⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 94| C

6/1

Ran well when third under an aggressive ride over hurdles at this course last month but fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (9/2) 7 days ago, fading after leading with untidy jumping. Could bounce back returned to this course but isn't one for maximum faith.

Form: 8-2F035

Sayitfirst¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Philip Donovan| T: D Collins| OR: 91

14/1

Showing little form in handicap hurdles this season, including when twelfth of 14 in a hurdle at Wexford (12/1) 14 days ago. Little impact in both chase starts to date and remains to be seen if she can do better in a handicap chase.

Form: 8-00030

Cottage Artist^p³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Gary Noonan| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 72

33/1

Failed to win in 27 career starts but ran well over hurdles here last season. Finished 13th of 18 in handicap hurdle at Cork (28/1) 39 days ago, looking rusty. Cheekpieces back on for return to chasing but remains with something to prove over fences.

Form: 36656-0

Non-Runners

Parkgarve³³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: Ian Donoghue J: J Smith

Forecasts

Metamorpheus (4/1), Warm In Gorey (9/2), Drop The Anchor (9/2), Parkgarve (6/1), Kilashee (6/1), Itsalonglongroad (7/1), Finnians Row (10/1), Howya Luveen (12/1), Sayitfirst (14/1), Jack Holiday (14/1), Saint Peregrine (16/1), Avec Espoir (22/1), Cottage Artist (33/1)

Plenty of pace on paper and it could be worth chancing METAMORPHEUS who was closing from the rear when falling 2 out on chase debut. He should go well again if that hasn't dented his confidence and is narrowly preferred to Warm In Gorey who has been consistent of late and would be a big threat if his jumping holds up over this shorter trip. Itsalonglongroad won this race last year and should be competitive again in a change of headgear.