14:27 Naas

Sunday 9 November 2025

All12:2012:5013:2013:5214:2715:0215:3716:10

SIS Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 5m 13.04s

Staffordshire Knot^b²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

22/1

Useful hurdler returned to form when ninth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham but wasn't on a going day when well beaten in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse in April. Remains to be seen if he's in better heart on his return.

Form: 265099-

Backtonormal²⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 135

20/1

Winner of a valuable Punchestown novice on stable debut last year and better than ever when making a successful handicap debut over fences at Leopardstown in February, travelled well and had plenty in hand. One to consider racing off 8 lb lower hurdle mark.

Form: 31/5961-

Eagles Reign^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Shane Markey⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 130

66/1

Clear second behind a progressive winner at Fairyhouse on final start of last season and despite having gone well fresh in the past, he was beating a retreat when unseating (20/1) on return at Gowran last month. Worth a check to see if market expects him to be closer to form here.

Form: 67002-U

In Excelsis Deo^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E Bolger| OR: 130

100/1

Useful chaser at best for Harry Fry but hasn't shown much in two starts for Enda Bolger. Hard to fancy back over hurdles, unless betting hints at a revival.

Form: PU00-5P

Spillane's Tower¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: J J Mangan| OR: 130| C| D

6/5

Top-class chaser shaped better than he had in the King George when finishing a well held second behind Galopin des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April. Races off a 33 lb lower mark over hurdles and looks potentially thrown-in on his return.

Form: 211/252-

Sysko⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126

4/1

Confirmed hurdling debut promise when scoring at Punchestown in June and got back on the up when runner-up on handicap debut at Listowel in September. That form is working out well and he merits plenty of respect for top yard.

Form: 4-172

Sommesky²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125

7/1

Beat a useful type to get off the mark over hurdles at Limerick in December. Well held in graded company subsequently but could have more to offer sent handicapping for yard in terrific form. One to be interested in.

Form: 1/4176-

Pour Les Filles¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 124| BF

18/1

Useful in bumpers and made the most of a good opportunity to open his account over hurdles at Downpatrick (21.8f) last month. Took a keen hold and possibly found the emphasis too much on stamina when well held in a 3m Cheltenham novice last time. May do better back down in trip on handicap bow.

Form: 533/2-17

Digby^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 121| D

125/1

Landed a double in the spring but has finished well beaten in back-to-back handicap hurdles and has something to prove with tongue strap back on.

Form: 12U300

Linden Arden²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: D H Kelly| OR: 121| D

16/1

Has gone well fresh in the past and made a winning return on first outing since leaving Philip Fenton when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.2f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Still 5 lb lower than his chase mark and could hold his own in a better race.

Form: 13-F9P1

Catch The Beast^t1²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Eoin Walsh| T: E Cawley| OR: 119

80/1

Fairly useful novice hurdler was in the process of showing his first form over fences when falling in a novice chase at this course (20.1f, soft) in March. Returns to hurdles in first-time tongue tie and could be competitive if all is well on reappearance.

Form: P55/0PF-

Letos³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 119

11/1

Fairly useful maiden has finished runner-up in back-to-back maiden hurdles, finishing ahead of a next time out winner at Fairyhouse in April but proving vulnerable to an improver on return at Tipperary (16.5f) last month. Could progress stepping back up in distance on handicap debut.

Form: 37242-2

Positive Thinker³⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 113| D

33/1

Ran creditably on both starts last season, latest when second of 10 in handicap chase (11/2) at Cork (28f, good) in November. Respected racing off a 14 lb lower hurdle mark on his reappearance.

Form: 2324/32-

The Nagger Reidy¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁷⁾| T: Stephen Gerard Carey| OR: 111| BF

11/2

Winner on handicap debut at Listowel in September 2024 and was again well backed with cheekpieces on for first time when third at this track on final run last season. As good as ever when narrowly denied on comeback at Galway (2m) last month and should remain competitive back up in trip.

Form: 2U523-2

Forecasts

Spillane's Tower (6/5), Sysko (4/1), The Nagger Reidy (11/2), Sommesky (7/1), Letos (11/1), Linden Arden (16/1), Pour Les Filles (18/1), Backtonormal (20/1), Staffordshire Knot (22/1), Positive Thinker (33/1), Eagles Reign (66/1), Catch The Beast (80/1), In Excelsis Deo (100/1), Digby (125/1)

Top-class chaser SPILLANE'S TOWER is potentially thrown-in back over hurdles and he gets the vote. A case can be made for plenty of the others, Sommesky looks a very interesting handicap debutant for his bang in-form stable, while Backtonormal and Positive Thinker make plenty of appeal from their lower hurdle marks. Letos is another to note stepping back up in trip on handicap debut.