16:02 Thurles

Thursday 5 February 2026

All13:0713:4214:1714:5215:2716:0216:37

William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 6m 29.70s

Empire Walk⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁵⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 99

7/1

Lightly raced gelding who has shown steadily progressive form in maidens. Caught the eye when runner-up in field of 16 at Naas (7/1) 52 days ago, making up 6 places on the run-in. Handicap debut and looks capable of better.

Form: 54/752

The Little Yank^b²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: John Aherne⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 98| C

28/1

Veteran course winner who returned to form when successful in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (14/1) 28 days ago, losing ground halfway before going prominent from 4 out and all out to hold on. Up 5lb and unlikely to follow up.

Form: 555681

Roc My Haarth³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam Quinlan| T: R Hackett| OR: 94| BF

15/2

Ran well when second of 12 at Limerick in November (third Milanaway won next time) but followed that with a below-par effort when tenth of 16 in handicap hurdle at the same track (7/2 favourite) 39 days ago. Bit to prove back down in distance.

Form: 330/720

Snow Punt^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: Brendan Walsh| OR: 93

10/1

Solid hurdle form when second at Limerick and has shown promise since switching to fences, finishing third at Tramore on his second chase start. Second of 11 in maiden chase at Cork (9/2) 33 days ago, travelled well. One to be interested in back up in trip on return to hurdles.

Form: 2F95/32

Aine's Lad¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 92

5/1

Made return from 11 months off in late December and bounced back to form when second of 13 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (10/1) 10 days ago, seeing off all bar a thorough stayer. Yet to break his duck but ran much closer to his best latest.

Form: 0790/02

Justicialism^p1,t1⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: N C Kelly| OR: 92

33/1

Tailed off in both starts since returning from 17 months off, most recently eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (33/1) 93 days ago. Without a win in 18 races since 2022. Only considered if backed on first run for new trainer in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 0030/08

Milanaway¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 92

22/1

Broke her maiden at the 27th attempt at Punchestown 8 weeks ago when retried in headgear but pulled up in handicap hurdle at Gowran Park (20/1) 14 days ago after clouting 3 out. Will need to recapture her winning form from December but again without cheekpieces here.

Form: 08316P

Hello Johnjoe²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McNamara| OR: 90

10/1

Third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (12/1) 28 days ago in best effort to date, took a strong hold and made headway out wide approaching the home turn before keeping on. Up 3lb but lightly-raced and should stay this far.

Form: 600553

Kanog Bay²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 90

11/4

Lightly raced gelding who finished gambled-on fourth at Limerick and found improvement to win decisively on his handicap start at Fairyhouse (8/1) 21 days ago, showing a good attitude under pressure and staying on well. Up 10 lb but looks open to further progress.

Form: 4/90941

Walkmethroughit³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Abbie Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 90

40/1

Lightly raced gelding who has achieved little in maidens and was seventh of 15 in maiden hurdle at Limerick (33/1) 38 days ago, showing more than previously but taking a keen hold and left behind 2 out. Worth a market check on handicap debut (yard also saddle Empire Walk).

Form: 78/0987

Island Mccoo⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: John Shinnick⁽³⁾| T: D Duggan| OR: 89| D

28/1

Has shown little since leaving Darren Collins last autumn and pulled up in handicap chase at Thurles (25/1) 47 days ago, not fluent and always behind. Returns to hurdles but plenty to prove with tongue strap removed.

Form: 16/F79P

Cordal Boy¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Gary Noonan| T: E McCarthy| OR: 84

28/1

Winless from 6 starts and out of sorts since leaving Darren Collins, finishing last of 12 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (5/1) last October when supported but said to have bled. Worth a look in betting on first run for new stable but something to prove off 4-month break.

Form: 0/59090

Rebel Cowgirl¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Cian Quirke| T: M A Cahill| OR: 80

15/2

Has shown improvement on recent form in her last two starts after returning from 11 months off, third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (6/1) 10 days ago where she led before being headed early in the straight and kept on one paced. Could be competitive back over further.

Form: 00/P043

He Fitz In^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Dylan O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 79| D

25/1

Veteran who hasn't won in nearly 2 years (18 races) and was sixth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (28/1) 35 days ago where he was again below form. Hard to fancy on recent efforts.

Form: 366676

Mister Rockefeller^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: F Costello| OR: 78

66/1

Lightly raced with little to show from five starts over three years, most recently seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (125/1) 28 days ago. First-time cheekpieces need to spark improvement but has capable conditional aboard first time for further step up in trip.

Form: 0/0P7

Blossom De Mai^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 76

16/1

Out of sorts since finishing third at Listowel last September (when poorly placed) and pulled up in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (18/1) 21 days ago when back in headgear. Handicapper has given her a chance if she can bounce back.

Form: 4F385P

Fortunate Outcome¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 72

12/1

Has pulled up twice since returning from a lengthy absence in November but back on track when sixth of 13 in 23f handicap hurdle at Punchestown (heavy, 33/1) 10 days ago in first-time hood, effort flattened out. Needs to prove she can back that up.

Form: 09/7PP6

Non-Runners

Monroes Hollow⁴¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: Peter Fahey J: Danny Mullins

Nakassama¹⁰⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: N C Kelly J: Reserve 1

Saunton Surf²⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Gary McGill J: Reserve 2

Anodandawink²⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: Ciaran Murphy J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Kanog Bay (11/4), Aine's Lad (5/1), Empire Walk (7/1), Rebel Cowgirl (15/2), Roc My Haarth (15/2), Hello Johnjoe (10/1), Snow Punt (10/1), Fortunate Outcome (12/1), Blossom De Mai (16/1), Saunton Surf (20/1), Monroes Hollow (20/1), Milanaway (22/1), He Fitz In (25/1), Anodandawink (25/1), Cordal Boy (28/1), Island Mccoo (28/1), The Little Yank (28/1), Justicialism (33/1), Nakassama (33/1), Walkmethroughit (40/1), Mister Rockefeller (66/1)

SNOW PUNT returns to hurdles after showing promise over fences and looks well-treated on best form. Empire Walk caught the eye when runner-up in a field of 16 at Naas 52 days ago and looks capable of better on his handicap debut, while there could be more to come from Fairyhouse winner Kanog Bay.