16:30 Limerick

Thursday 16 April 2026

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Professor Maria Hinfelaar Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 2)

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 37.70s

Boola Times^t¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: D Budds| OR: 95

18/1

Much improved when third at Gowran earlier in the season, and while he didn't back that up at Fairyhouse in December, he's not discounted returning from a break with a tongue strap refitted.

Form: 80-5037

The Little Yank^b³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: John Aherne⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 94| D

33/1

Veteran has been pulled up on each of his 3 starts since winning at Clonmel in January.

Form: 681PPP

Wise Man¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: D Hassett| OR: 91

8/1

Showed improved form when (33/1) fifth of 13 on handicap debut at Clonmel (2m) and he's a player, with the step back up in trip expected to be in his favour.

Form: 549005

Orlando Spirit²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Power| OR: 88

5/1

Has proved a different proposition since handicapping, shaping well from a less-than-ideal position when third of 22 at Cork latest, and he's fancied to open his account back over a slightly longer trip.

Form: 050-023

Diamond Island^p1,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E Buckley| OR: 87

9/1

Stepped up on his maiden form when third on handicap bow here prior to finding 3m too much at Clonmel in late-February. High hopes he can bounce back tackling a more suitable test in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5P003P

Opposite Ends²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 87

4/1

Produced comfortably his best effort to date when 33/1, third of 11 at Clonmel (performance can be marked up) and shaped as if still in good form when brought down (keeping on with plenty to do) there last time. High on the shortlist.

Form: 5UB63B

Rebel Cowgirl⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Cian Quirke| T: M A Cahill| OR: 87

9/2

Front runner got off the mark when seeing out her race well at Punchestown in February and with that form working out well, she needs considering despite an 8 lb rise.

Form: P04351

Crafty Gael^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Markey⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 86

18/1

Plenty of creditable placed form in handicaps in 2023, though unsurprisingly shaped as if needing the run after 27 months off here last time.

Form: F2239/0

Le Fanu⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: Brendan Walsh| OR: 85

14/1

Solid third at this course earlier in the season but needs to bounce back following a break, having finished below form fifth of 12 here in early-February.

Form: 57-0355

Lizzymac⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: M Magnussen| OR: 84

40/1

Has shown little at long odds in maidens and as such, starts life in handicaps from a lowly base.

Form: 0806

Falcon Park^v²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 80

25/1

Inconsistent sort ran better than on his previous start, despite the run of the race being against him, when seventh of 16 in a handicap at Clonmel last time.

Form: 96P207

Shanroe Nelson³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Harvey| T: K Thornton| OR: 80

9/2

Improved for switch to positive tactics when third at Fairyhouse and shaped better than the result when fifth of 15 back over hurdles here last time. Return to slightly shorter a sensible move on that evidence, too.

Form: 9063P5

Ballingurteen³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: John Shinnick| T: T O'Brien| OR: 78

12/1

Runner-up sole start in points and having shown a bit at long odds in maidens, fared no better switched to a handicap here (12/1) last time.

Form: 2-609P7

Gerrymandering⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: W J McLernon| OR: 78

66/1

Has shown nothing in maidens and hard to be confident on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: PB-000

Non-Runners

Ask The Bookie¹⁰³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: G Scott J: Calum Hogan

Minority Interest²⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Tiernan Power Roche

Mickey Hulie³⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: D H Kelly J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Opposite Ends (4/1), Rebel Cowgirl (9/2), Shanroe Nelson (9/2), Orlando Spirit (5/1), Mickey Hulie (11/2), Minority Interest (13/2), Wise Man (8/1), Diamond Island (9/1), Ballingurteen (12/1), Le Fanu (14/1), Ask The Bookie (16/1), Crafty Gael (18/1), Boola Times (18/1), Falcon Park (25/1), The Little Yank (33/1), Lizzymac (40/1), Gerrymandering (66/1)

ORLANDO SPIRIT has been shaping well and can make it third time lucky in handicaps. Opposite Ends is entitled to go close, assuming he's none the worse for his Clonmel mishap, with Diamond Island likely worth another chance in a wide-open race.