19:00 Downpatrick

Friday 22 May 2026

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

Down Royal Corporation Of Horsebreeders Beginners Chase

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 4m 53.10s

Art Of Silence^t²²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Keane

66/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m) 7 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running on his chase debut.

Form: 41887P/

Coolboy Christy¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tiernan Power Roche| T: P J Rothwell

10/1

Fair hurdler who comes here on the back of a good fourth of 15 in handicap at Cork (19f) 12 days ago. Much respected chasing debut.

Form: 80645/4

Double Power^p,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: Ian Donoghue

28/1

Has failed to kick on over hurdles, only eleventh of 16 in novice at Bellewstown (17f) 34 days ago. More required now starting out over fences.

Form: 5P6600/

Driveonwill^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 87

9/1

Fair maiden hurdler. Showed some promise on his chasing bow when fourth at Thurles in March but unseated rider 4th in handicap chase over C&D 14 days ago. Remains with potential in this sphere.

Form: 86444/U

Giant Haystacks^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 100

11/2

Fair winner over hurdles. Built on his chasing debut when fifth of 16 in handicap chase at Thurles (2¼m) in February. Capable of better still after a break.

Form: 835075/

Jerisk Star^h,t¹⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Liz Doyle

11/1

Got off the mark over hurdles at Gowran in October and has shaped well despite failing to complete on both chase starts, in second when fell 2 out in novice at Tramore (21f) in November. Hood/tongue strap go back on now. Likely player.

Form: 00P1UF/

King Gris^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 68| D

9/1

Fair form when a winner of handicap hurdles around 2½m at Ayr and Hexham in December. Respectable fifth of 15 in handicap hurdle here (2¾m) 14 days ago. Not ruled out now going over fences.

Form: 59115/5

Pourquoi Poi²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P W Flynn| OR: 97

15/2

Lightly-raced sort who scored at Punchestown (2½m) in October. Off 5 months before a fading eighth of 16 in handicap at Kilbeggan (19f) last month. Should strip sharper for his chasing bow here.

Form: 005158/

Auntie Lacey^t1²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan

16/1

Maiden hurdler. Not discredited when sixth of 11 in novice at Thurles (2¼m) on her debut over fences 6 months ago. Tongue tied for her return and can make her presence felt if ready to roll.

Form: 005386/

Grace Faraday^h¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann

25/1

Scored over hurdles at Galway in October but off since a below-form sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (21f) 101 days ago. More required now going chasing.

Form: 021456/

Jampot Lane^t²⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Kelly⁽³⁾| T: G O'Loughlin

25/1

Fair form shown in 3 runs over hurdles, seventh of 16 in novice at Galway (2¾m) 9 months ago. Has her fitness to prove now going over fences.

Form: 007/

Massabielle^t¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin

50/1

Visored for 1st time, seventeenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (2½m) 160 days ago. Makes her chase debut with plenty more required.

Form: 0086P0/

Saunton Surf⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 99

7/2

Fair hurdler. Cheekpieces on for 1st time when a good fifth of 14 in handicap here (2¾m) 54 days ago. Not ruled out starting out in this sphere.

Form: 549P55/

Whispering Willow⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

4/1

Maiden hurdler for Paul Gilligan. Proved a different model for new yard after 7 months off when readily landing 19-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown last week. Big player quickly sent chasing.

Form: 86086/1

Forecasts

Saunton Surf (7/2), Whispering Willow (4/1), Giant Haystacks (11/2), Pourquoi Poi (15/2), Driveonwill (9/1), King Gris (9/1), Coolboy Christy (10/1), Jerisk Star (11/1), Auntie Lacey (16/1), Jampot Lane (25/1), Grace Faraday (25/1), Double Power (28/1), Massabielle (50/1), Art Of Silence (66/1)

Not a great deal of chasing form to go on and WHISPERING WILLOW looks the way to go now starting out over fences on the back of a ready hurdling success at Punchestown on her debut for Gavin Cromwell recently. Jerisk Star rates the pick of those with fencing experience and is next on the list ahead of other chasing newcomers King Gris, Saunton Surf and Coolboy Christy.