17:08 Killarney

Thursday 20 August 2026

All16:3517:0817:4318:1318:4519:1519:4520:15

GMIB Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:08 | Winning time: 4m 1.90s

Fiveonefive^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: C Collins| OR: 131| D

6/1

Proved as good as ever when winning 20-runner 17f Galway handicap hurdle last time by ½-length from Metamorpheus, staying on well to lead close home. An 8 lb rise looks fair given the strength of that contest and his previous wins off marks in the high-120s. One to consider.

Form: 00-8431

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Autumn Twist²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Daniel King| T: D Hogan| OR: 126| CD

7/2

Won twice over hurdles and once on the Flat last summer but took form up a notch when second of 16 to Putapoundinthejar in handicap hurdle at Bellewstown in July. That form has been franked by the winner since, and he wasn't disgraced back on the Flat at Galway last time. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 185P6-2

Feud²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 126| D

11/1

Useful performer at best but rather lost way over hurdles last season and makes debut for new yard on the back of a 7-month break. Difficult to make a case for him that doesn't require a notable leap of faith.

Form: 2P090F-

Hi Ho Idaho¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Gilligan| T: C Collins| OR: 120| C

9/1

Confirmed promise of his previous starts over hurdles when landing a 12-runner extended 2½m maiden at this course in May, beating Splendid Fellow by a ½ length. Drop in trip is a slight concern on handicap debut given his pedigree but he clearly remains open to improvement after just a trio of runs.

Form: 3332-1

Black Bamboo²¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J J Murphy| OR: 117

18/1

Confirmed himself a useful hurdler in 2024/25 but failed to replicate that form in a stint over fences and then also back over hurdles last season. Has been given a chance by the handicapper but a difficult one to fancy unless market speaks firmly in his favour.

Form: 80/4009-

Gino Bella^h,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁵⁾| T: P T Foley| OR: 115| D

7/2

Progressive hurdler who arrives on the back of 2 handicap wins at Cork, making all in an 11-runner event there on latter occasion (17 days ago) and beating Metamorpheus by 1¾ lengths. An 8 lb rise makes life harder but every chance she could get the run of things from the front. On the shortlist.

Form: 24P-311

Fast Felix^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 114| C

22/1

Improved when winning twice last season, including maiden at this track last summer. Returned from 5 months off with a good fourth in a handicap at this course in May and considerately handled on chasing debut here last time. Reverts to hurdling with yard back among the winners.

Form: 5P9-474

Moylussa^p⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Magnussen| OR: 109| D

9/2

Only has one win over hurdles but ran up to best when third of 15 in handicap at Ballinrobe (2m, good to soft) in May before showing aptitude for chasing in handicap chase at Roscommon the following month. Booking of O'Keeffe catches the eye now back over hurdles and any support should be noted.

Form: 4647-33

Lord Ffrench^p,t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling| OR: 106

14/1

Sole success came in a weak Sligo maiden this time last year. Creditable efforts both handicap starts following his return, latterly beaten 13 lengths in first-time cheekpieces at Galway (2¾m). Needs to step up to feature here, though.

Form: 176-867

Eye Contact^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: D Commins| OR: 104

9/1

Good efforts when runner-up in handicap at Ballinrobe and then a conditionals maiden at Cok this summer. Cheekpieces back on in place of blinkers worn last time, but a step forward probably needed. Races from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 00-4622

Forecasts

Autumn Twist (7/2), Gino Bella (7/2), Moylussa (9/2), Fiveonefive (6/1), Eye Contact (9/1), Hi Ho Idaho (9/1), Feud (11/1), Lord Ffrench (14/1), Black Bamboo (18/1), Fast Felix (22/1)

GINO BELLA is on an upward curve, having won her last two starts at Cork under positive rides, and she is taken to shrug off another rise and complete the hat-trick in a race lacking confirmed front runners. Autumn Twist is a C&D winner who chased home subsequent Galway Hurdle winner Putapoundinthejar at Bellewstown when last seen in this sphere and rates the main danger if able to reproduce that form, while Fiveonefive did well to win at Galway last time and should be thereabouts.