18:29 Downpatrick

Friday 22 May 2026

All17:2017:5218:2919:0019:3020:0020:30

Frank And Brian Fitzsimons Memorial Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 18:29 | Winning time: 5m 25.40s

Gangster Granny^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Sexton| T: C A McBratney| OR: 97| CD

11/1

33/1, career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle over C&D 14 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Annarubyrose. In the mix again.

Form: 08030/1

Bayonetta^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: Gerald Quinn| OR: 92

12/1

Back from 9 months off with a good fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Perth (27f) 9 days ago. Cheekpieces refitted and firmly in the picture in her bid for a maiden victory.

Form: 333P3/4-

Scary Askari¹⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: S McParlan| OR: 92

11/4

Thirteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (2m) 142 days ago. Significantly up in trip with more needed after a break.

Form: 620860/

Annarubyrose^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 91

8/1

33/1, first run since leaving Gavin Cromwell when very good second of 15 to Gangster Granny in handicap hurdle over C&D 14 days ago. Not out of things in refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 66389/2

Mercurial Sea¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paddy Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 89

7/1

Unreliable type but she turned in an excellent second of 12 in handicap hurdle here (2¼m) 14 days ago. Needs to back it up now stepping up in trip.

Form: 50P86/2

Joya Del Mar^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Ricky Doyle| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 88

12/1

Remains a maiden after 23 runs and only thirteenth of 15 to Gangster Granny in handicap hurdle over C&D 14 days ago.

Form: U8649/0

Game And Glory^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Dylan Robinson| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 87| D

66/1

Nineteen runs since her last win in 2024. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Thurles (23f) 78 days ago.

Form: P9P4FP/

Boston Queen²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 85

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f) 7 months ago. Goes up in trip.

Form: 9960/

Gortmore Lady^t1¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Eoin Walsh| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 83

14/1

Remains a maiden after 16 runs. Pulled up on her chasing bow at Tramore on her final run for Tony Martin. Tongue strap goes on for her yard debut back hurdling.

Form: 30357P/

Artic Chief¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 80

6/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o who posted a very good 1¼ lengths third of 15 to Gangster Granny in handicap hurdle over C&D 14 days ago, despite hanging badly left early in straight. Expected to be bang there nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 0P8P0/3

Lady Iseult^p,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 78

66/1

Twelve runs since her last win in 2022. Only eleventh of 15 to Gangster Granny in handicap hurdle over C&D 14 days ago.

Form: P040P/0

Phildante^t¹⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 78

11/1

Is 0-16 and she was a below-form sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f) 178 days ago. More required after a break.

Form: P52006/

Yoursimplythebest³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Mike O'Connor| T: G Keane| OR: 76

8/1

Remains winless and she came in a below-form seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f) 32 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 0332P7/

Milesfromthehonk¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: John Shinnick| T: G Elliott| OR: 75

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Fifteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (2½m) 160 days ago. Needs to take a major step forward.

Form: 700P0/

Toor Moon¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Niall Moore⁽⁵⁾| T: Ms M Flynn| OR: 75

14/1

Remains a maiden after 37 runs. 16/1, fifteenth of 21 in handicap hurdle at Cork (3m) 12 days ago.

Form: 94837/0

Non-Runners

Jimli's Cave¹⁴

Weight: 10-11| Age: 8

T: R K Watson J: Reserve 1

Jetstream Jeff⁵²

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: P McCreery J: Reserve 2

Cozone⁴⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 9

T: M J Smith J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Scary Askari (11/4), Artic Chief (6/1), Mercurial Sea (7/1), Annarubyrose (8/1), Yoursimplythebest (8/1), Cozone (10/1), Gangster Granny (11/1), Phildante (11/1), Joya Del Mar (12/1), Bayonetta (12/1), Toor Moon (14/1), Gortmore Lady (14/1), Milesfromthehonk (25/1), Boston Queen (25/1), Jimli's Cave (50/1), Jetstream Jeff (50/1), Game And Glory (66/1), Lady Iseult (66/1)

Not nearly as competitive as the numbers suggest and ARTIC CHIEF is taken to build on a very good recent C&D third and gain a breakthrough success off just a 2 lb higher mark here. Bayonetta is feared most on the back of a good Perth fourth after an absence, while Gangster Granny and Annarubyrose also need considering.