14:17 Limerick

Monday 29 December 2025

All11:3012:0012:3213:0713:4214:1714:5215:27

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 26.30s

De Jour En Jour²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Byrnes| T: W J O'Doherty

14/1

Unpromising in points but showed a lot more at a massive price on hurdling debut, weakening when left in well held third in 19-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16.9f, soft, 125/1) 22 days ago. Will need to build on that.

Form: PP3

No Hard Feelings³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

125/1

Didn't trouble the judge in a handful of maiden points and was well held in a Taunton bumper on first start under Rules. Plenty to prove with hood removed on hurdle debut.

Form: 46-558

Burning Ability¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Gary Noonan⁽³⁾| T: E McCarthy

5/2

Isn't bred to be much but finished fifth in solid 2m maiden on hurdle debut and has placed in both bumper starts since, shaping as if in need of more of a test when third at Naas (16f, heavy) 14 days ago. Makes appeal now back hurdling over a longer trip.

Form: 523

Loyal Praetorian²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr L M Kelleher⁽⁷⁾| T: G Kelleher

14/1

Modest form in bumpers but well-backed dropped in trip for second start over hurdles, finishing second of 14 in a mediocre maiden (7/2) at Clonmel (16.5f, heavy) 27 days ago, clear of rest. This is a better race but interesting to see if money comes again stepping back up in distance.

Form: 16-5P2

Happy Me²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: W J Burke| OR: 99

13/2

Has hit the frame on multiple occasions in maiden hurdles but couldn't build on the promise of his reappearance when below form eighth of 24 in handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, soft) 22 days ago. Can be more competitive if back on song.

Form: 230-048

Raise You Up¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Gilligan| T: R O'Sullivan

15/8

Runner-up sole outing in points and well held on bumper debut. Suited by greater test of stamina when second of 20 in novice hurdle (50/1) at Naas (19f, heavy) on hurdles bow 14 days ago, no match for winner. Should give another good account.

Form: 2-42

Strange Currency³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Harvey| T: G O'Loughlin

80/1

Maiden pointer, last of 5 finishers latest start last month. Only considered if backed on hurdle debut.

Form: 4-U5

Two Pair³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan

3/1

Made an encouraging debut over hurdles (following 7 months off) when runner-up to fairly useful Carry On Heidi but could only match that form in much more testing conditions when fifth of 16 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.4f, heavy, 10/3) 38 days ago. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 64-25

Naught But Nice

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

80/1

€3,000 3-y-o, Maxios filly. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 2¾m) Notarfbad. Yard had good season but cheap purchase is likely a longer-term project, unless betting suggests otherwise.

Form:

Non-Runners

Awordinyourear

Weight: 11-12| Age: 4

T: T O'Brien J: John Shinnick

Forecasts

Raise You Up (15/8), Burning Ability (5/2), Two Pair (3/1), Happy Me (13/2), De Jour En Jour (14/1), Awordinyourear (14/1), Loyal Praetorian (14/1), Strange Currency (80/1), Naught But Nice (80/1), No Hard Feelings (125/1)

BURNING ABILITY's debut fifth has worked out well and he looks a likely improver back over hurdles following a couple of encouraging placed efforts in bumpers. He gets the vote. Two Pair remains one to be interested in given her promising hurdle debut, while Raise You Up showed much more on hurdles bow and looks sure to give another good account.