12:15 Down Royal

Friday 26 December 2025

All11:4012:1512:4813:2313:5814:3315:08

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 19.50s

Champagne Jury^t²⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| BF

13/8

Winner in bumper at Naas in January. Seemed held back by his inexperience above all second time up over hurdles when eleventh of 15 in minor event at Punchestown (19.3f, good to soft, 7/2) 8 months ago. Yard starting to fire so no surprise to see him feature under a promising conditional.

Form: P/2120-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Green Angel^t1²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: S R B Crawford

6/1

€40,000 3-y-o, Tirwanako gelding. Dam (b75), in frame in bumpers/well held over hurdles, sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 23f) Ballypoint. Made frame sole start in points (Apr 2025). Tongue tied for Rules bow.

Form: 4-

Los Blanco^t1⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 119| BF

5/4

Has made the frame all 4 starts over hurdles, latest when third of 10 on handicap debut at Gowran (16.1f, heavy) 7 weeks ago. Tongue strap on 1st time and could take some stopping returned to maiden company.

Form: P2/34-23

Large Steps

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins

18/1

€36,000 3-y-o. Second foal. Dam unraced half-sister to fair hurdler/useful chaser who became unreliable (stayed 33f) Major Malarkey and fairly useful hurdler/chaser (2½m-3m winner) Twin Plan.

Form:

Ballyvallagh^t1⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

25/1

€25,000 3-y-o, Westerner gelding. Brother to modest 2m hurdle winner Western Safire. Unplaced completed start in points, pulled up last time (Oct 26). Wears tongue strap.

Form: 6-P

Colin's Friend²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: P Downey

100/1

Tailed off in bumper/maiden hurdle 8 months apart. Best watched.

Form: 9-7

Live Your Dreams

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Byrnes| T: W Durkan

10/1

€10,000 3-y-o, Clovis Du Berlais gelding. Dam, 1½m winner on Flat in France, half-sister to prolific top-class chaser (stayed 21f) Un de Sceaux. Market check advisable.

Form:

Artic Chief⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 82

150/1

No impact in 3 maiden hurdles. Can only be watched.

Form: 90P

Dunleer Crystal¹¹

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

22/1

Down the field in maiden hurdle/bumper (too free latest). Significant improvement needed back hurdling.

Form: 70

Written In My Soul³⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁷⁾| T: E D Delany

50/1

40/1, showed more than first time up over hurdles when fourth of 7 in maiden at Thurles (19.8f, good) 11 months ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 254-

Non-Runners

All Night Revival³⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Los Blanco (5/4), Champagne Jury (13/8), All Night Revival (5/1), Green Angel (6/1), Live Your Dreams (10/1), Large Steps (18/1), Dunleer Crystal (22/1), Ballyvallagh (25/1), Written In My Soul (50/1), Colin's Friend (100/1), Artic Chief (150/1)

Having yet to finish outside the frame in 4 starts over hurdles, LOS BLANCO gets the vote to open his account returned to maiden company with a first-time tongue tie reached for. He can get the better of fellow 6-y-o Champagne Jury, who seemed held back by his inexperience when last seen in the spring but can build on his promising debut in this sphere at the second attempt. Green Angel can edge out All Night Revival for third.