12:25 Down Royal

Saturday 1 November 2025

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4015:1515:50

Tayto Group Maiden Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 12:26 | Winning time: 4m 18.1s

Diaduit Buachaill⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: Gary McGill

125/1

Inexpensive purchase is bred more for speed than stamina in jumps terms but shaped in contrast when fifth of 9 in novice hurdle (10/1) at Sligo (20f, good to soft) on NH debut 8 days ago, struggled with the pace. Drop back in trip suggests he's being campaigned with handicaps in mind.

Form: 5

Flash The Badge¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell

250/1

Again well beaten when eleventh of 16 in novice hurdle at Limerick (16.3f, good to soft, 300/1) 14 days ago. Makes little appeal this side of handicaps.

Form: 000

Goin'²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin

25/1

Listed placed in Germany last year but only a fair performer on Flat for current yard (stays 16.5f). Ran better than for a while when fifth of 12 in handicap at Thurles (16.3f, good to soft) 23 days ago, for all he looked a tricky ride. Market should guide expectations on hurdle debut.

Form:

Jony R²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

16/1

Well held in a strong bumper on debut but did much better when third on hurdle debut at Ayr (2m) in January. Too free at Navan next time and likely to be more competitive if settling better on reappearance.

Form: 0/37-

Kalypso'chance¹⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

1/5

British point winner looked an exciting prospect when making it 2-2 in a listed bumper at Navan. Beaten favourite when ninth in a Champion Bumper that has produced plenty of winners and clearly wasn't himself at Punchestown in April. The one to beat on hurdles debut.

Form: 1/1106-

Ledger⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr W R Hamilton⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Traynor

300/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 9f) and has been well held of late. Doesn't look an obvious type on hurdle debut.

Form:

Let's Go Mans¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzsimons⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

250/1

Fared no better than on debut 33/1, last of 16 in juvenile hurdle at Cork (17.3f, good) 175 days ago. In good hands but clearly a longer-term project.

Form: 0-0

Lips Freedom^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Kinirons

22/1

Useful on Flat (stays 1½m), won listed event at Merano (Italy) in 2024 for previous connections. Given a considerate introduction to hurdles at Naas in April and should be fit following two (below-par) outings on the Flat. Hood on for hurdle return and likely to be capable of better at some stage.

Form: 0-

Maxwell Smart¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| C

80/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (likely to stay 2m) and was tailed off in juvenile maiden at Naas on hurdling debut. Creditable effort sixth of 23 in handicap at Navan (14f, soft) 10 days ago but plenty to prove back in this sphere.

Form: 0-

Sept Etoiles

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

15/2

€150,000 3-y-o, Doctor Dino gelding. Dam, French hurdle/chase winner up to 2¾m, closely related to useful French hurdler/chaser (2m-19f winner) Jazz In Montreux. Interesting newcomer but likely to be the yard second-string.

Form:

The Guinness Boys¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

18/1

Better for debut and looked a staying handicapper in the making when fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft, 66/1) 17 days ago. Probably one for another day.

Form: 04

Dameauscottlestown^t1²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

€42,000 3-y-o, Mastercraftsman mare. Sister to a winner and half-sister to fair (temperamental) 1¼m-14.5f winner Can Can Girl. Last of 2 finishers on sole completed start in points, pulled up last time (Feb 2025). Wears tongue strap for Rules debut and likely competing for minor honours.

Form: P2P-

Jukebox Jolene

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: Tom Dreaper

300/1

Jukebox Jury filly. Dam (h112), bumper winner (stayed 23f over hurdles), half-sister to useful hurdler on balance (stayed 21f) Mischievous Milly and useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 3½m) Jersey Bean. Debutante will probably need further than this.

Form:

Marions Diva

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: S Crawley

200/1

Kalanisi mare. Sister to fairly useful hurdler Sassy Diva, stayed 2½m. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/fairly useful chaser (stays 2¾m) Dressedtothenines and useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 2½m) Pay The Piper. Makes some appeal on paper and worth a market check on debut.

Form:

Stepdance¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

15/2

Progressive when landing a Flat hat-trick this summer and built on promising hurdle debut when fifth of 16 in novice hurdle at Thurles (15.8f, good to soft) 16 days ago. That form has been franked and she's likely to improve again.

Form: 55

Forecasts

Kalypso'chance (1/5), Sept Etoiles (15/2), Stepdance (15/2), Jony R (16/1), The Guinness Boys (18/1), Lips Freedom (22/1), Goin' (25/1), Dameauscottlestown (66/1), Maxwell Smart (80/1), Diaduit Buachaill (125/1), Marions Diva (200/1), Flash The Badge (250/1), Let's Go Mans (250/1), Jukebox Jolene (300/1), Ledger (300/1)

KALYPSO'CHANCE was sent off favourite for a Champion Bumper that has produced multiple winners and this looks a good opportunity to make a successful start over hurdles. Stepdance was progressive on the Flat this summer and is improving over hurdles, she may prove next best, while Jony R looks capable of hitting the frame again if settling better on reappearance.