17:10 Wexford

Thursday 23 July 2026

All16:0016:3517:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:05

Wexford Racecourse Ladies Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 59.60s

An Peann Dearg^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Georgie Benson⁽⁴⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 110

18/1

Largely disappointing since back-to-back wins at Leopardstown a couple of winters ago, pulled up here the last twice. Hopes pinned on a return to hurdling sparking a revival.

Form: 6077-PP

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Jonny Carrol^t1⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ms E L Herbison⁽⁴⁾| T: M McCabe| OR: 103

50/1

Showed more when third of 5 in maiden hurdle at Punchestown (20.8f, heavy) in November but pulled up on handicap debut at Cork the following month. No show on return/yard debut over C&D just over 8 weeks ago and a first-time tongue tie is applied.

Form: 3/53P-7

Harpy Eagle^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss E Cody⁽⁴⁾| T: R P Cody| OR: 102

10/1

More miss than hit since finishing runner-up in soft-ground handicap at Galway last October, failing to justify support in first-time cheekpieces after 4 months off when sixth of 11 at Limerick (2m, good) recently.

Form: 92540-6

Midleton Rare^p,t⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Erin Dunseath⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 101| D

33/1

Had a productive 2025/26, adding to his tally back at 3m at Bellewstown in April. Quick turnaround may have caught him out at Kilbeggan 6 days later but took a step back in the right direction when ninth of 13 at this course (3m) just under 10 weeks ago. Has moved yards since.

Form: 7041P-9

Costanuci¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss O M Queally⁽⁷⁾| T: J Queally| OR: 100| D

6/1

Without a win since 2023 but looks to be working her way back to form, fifth of 16 in at Cork (2½m, good) just under a fortnight ago. Well treated if able to build on that.

Form: P45P-85

Sean Mc^p1⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁴⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 100| CD

6/1

C&D winner in April and has continued to be in good heart, third of 18 at Listowel (2½m, good to soft) most recently. First-time cheekpieces go on and fancied to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 22715-3

Coolboy Christy^p1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss P Elvin⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 98

11/1

Fair hurdler who offered something to work on sent chasing when eighth of 14 in maiden at Downpatrick in May. Let down by his jumping back there the following month and quickly returns to hurdling. Not taken lightly in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 645-484

Empire Walk⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss J Townend| T: J Motherway| OR: 98| BF

3/1

Lightly-raced Walk In The Park gelding who resumed his progress with third of 21 in handicap hurdle at Cork (3m) in May. Shaped as if still in form when fourth of 15 at Ballinrobe later that month and expected to be bang there having been freshened up since.

Form: 752P-34

Double Power^t,v¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁴⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 96

22/1

Has one standout effort over hurdles, the longer trip/change of headgear backfiring on handicap debut at Roscommon (25f, good) earlier in the month.

Form: 6600-97

Matter Of Opinion^p,t²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ms L A Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: William Harvey| OR: 96

12/1

Showed little in points and hasn't won in 13 runs in bumpers/hurdles under Rules, most recently ninth of 17 in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, struggling early final circuit. Hard to fancy with any conviction on return.

Form: 96P579-

Je Suis^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss N Lockhead Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling| OR: 93

7/1

Maiden who stepped up markedly on her reappearance run with headgear back on when third of 16 at Sligo last month. Rather predictably followed that with a below-par fifth back there 11 days ago. May bounce back returned to 2½m.

Form: 966-P35

Ladiam^t⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ms E C Costello⁽⁴⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 92

20/1

Won at Sligo last summer. Fair fifth on reappearance at Sligo in May but failed to build on it when a remote fifth of 15 at Ballinrobe (2¾m, good to soft) just over 8 weeks ago. Handicapper given her a chance.

Form: 5237-55

Ocean Murphy^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss J Walton⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 92

9/1

No impact in maidens around 2m but was much improved sent handicapping over a longer trip when fourth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (2¾m, soft) in March. Possibly in need of his recent Limerick return so could well get back on the up here.

Form: 0F574-9

Stumblin In²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ms A M Connolly⁽⁷⁾| T: Jack Doyle| OR: 87

17/2

Failed to meet expectations in a first-time tongue strap when tenth of 18 at Limerick (23f, good) 3 weeks ago, finding little. Tongue tie quickly discarded and didn't show much more at Ballinrobe on Tuesday.

Form: 070-600

Non-Runners

Larkins Lane¹¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 1

China Grill¹⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: Miss E McCutcheon J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Empire Walk (3/1), Larkins Lane (4/1), Costanuci (6/1), Sean Mc (6/1), Je Suis (7/1), Stumblin In (17/2), Ocean Murphy (9/1), Harpy Eagle (10/1), Coolboy Christy (11/1), Matter Of Opinion (12/1), An Peann Dearg (18/1), Ladiam (20/1), Double Power (22/1), Midleton Rare (33/1), Jonny Carrol (50/1), China Grill (66/1)

Cases can be made for several, but preference is for EMPIRE WALK, who shaped well in a couple of handicaps in the spring and this drop to 2½m may well elicit further progress. Costanuci looks to be working her way back to form so she could be the one to offer most resistance, with Coolboy Christy and Ladiam another couple worthy of a mention, too.