19:22 Down Royal

Friday 28 August 2026

All16:3017:0517:3718:1218:4719:2219:56

Tayto Group Limited Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

4YO plus | 3m | Good (Good to Firm in places) | 19 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 100

Low-mileage 6-y-o. Switched to a powerful owner prior to decisively making all in beginners chase at Tramore (2¾m). Wasn't seen to best effect reverted to patient tactics at Galway. Could make more impact than previously off lower hurdle mark.

Form: 078-619

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Charlie's Dilemma^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 99

12/1

Fallen a long way in the weights since his handicap debut and shaped as though back in form with creditable efforts at Limerick/Wexford. Showed his jumping problems haven't been completely ironed out when falling at the latter track earlier this month, however, he looks on a potentially handy mark.

Form: 78-845U

Knocknagoran Lady^b1,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: Cian Hughes| OR: 99| BF

8/1

Strong-travelling mare. Shaped as if still ahead of her mark when bidding for a hat-trick at Roscommon last time, not enjoying the clearest of passages/hampered prior to finishing with running left. May well make a bold bid to resume winning ways in a change of headgear.

Form: 83-6114

Midleton Rare^p,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Erin Dunseath⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 99| D

33/1

Notched his third win of last season for Ian Patrick Donoghue at Bellewstown in April. Sent off at 33/1 when meeting trouble on first start for new yard at Wexford (3m) last time. Could still be competitive off this sort of mark.

Form: 041P-90

Astley^t1¹¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Byrnes| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 94

10/1

Maiden who placed in a bumper prior to offering little at long odds in maiden/novice hurdles. Did run to a fairly useful level first 2 starts over fences in the spring (well held latest). Switches to handicap hurdle/longer trip on return (tongue strap also added). On a potentially lenient mark.

Form: 07535-5

Bayonetta^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Slevin| T: Gerald Quinn| OR: 94| D

9/1

Long-standing maiden who continued a fine run of in-frame finishes when 6¾ lengths third of 14 at Wexford (2½m) last time. Return to 3m/switch to more severe headgear could eke out some improvement.

Form: 3-42243

Matter Of Opinion^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ms L A Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: William Harvey| OR: 92

16/1

On a workable mark based on the best of his effort in maidens last season, however, he hasn't shown his form over this sort of trip to date (well-held fifth of 13 at Wexford latest).

Form: P579-75

Schiehallion^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 92

25/1

Veteran hasn't taken to fences recently. Reverts to hurdling off 5 lb lower than when second in this corresponding race last year. Weighed to make a serious bid for an elusive first win.

Form: FP2-P5P

Brandt^t⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Harvey| T: C Collins| OR: 91| BF

16/1

Borderline fairly useful stayer over fences in 2024/5. Shaped with a bit more encouragement than of late when 6½ lengths sixth of 16 on return to hurdling at Sligo (3¼m, soft) in June. Interesting if he can build on that 10 weeks on.

Form: P/0667-6

Georgia Celena¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Halford⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 90| BF

14/1

Form of last month's close second at Wexford has taken a knocks. Denied the chance to enhance her fine Downpatrick record behind Sneddy Eddie last time, meeting trouble at a vital stage. Still looks on a reasonable mark.

Form: 20-3U25

Sneddy Eddie^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 90

11/2

Fair winning handicapper (1m) at best on the Flat. Improved for the longer trip when off the mark over hurdles at Downpatrick (2¾m). Caught the eye with how he moved through the race on that occasion and there could be even more to come now tried over 3m.

Form: 0-05541

Fire Coral^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: S Curling| OR: 88| BF| CD

9/2

Completed a double in this corresponding race off 6 lb lower mark 12 months ago. Benefits from good-value claimer taking over this time, and confirmed herself in good nick when third on the Flat at Tramore earlier this month.

Form: 115-P38

Technology^h,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Shane Fitzsimons⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 82

20/1

Long-standing maiden ran poorly at Kilbeggan 7 weeks ago. Yard has better-fancied runners in the race.

Form: 4290-F0

Moonshine Girl¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 80

11/1

Still seeking first win but posted solid runner-up efforts at Limerick/Roscommon prior to again doing little wrong in the finish when 6 lengths fourth of 16 at Ballinrobe (23f, good). Smooth-travelling mare could well be in the shake-up.

Form: P8-7224

Clever Court^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Tiernan Power Roche| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 77

40/1

Vastly improved when gaining first success in 15-runner handicap hurdle at Bellewstown (2½m) in July but unable to replicate that level in pair of starts at this trip since.

Form: P-PP179

Whatyouwant^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: Gerard Kyne| OR: 77

16/1

Has popped up with a handicap win in the previous 2 calendar years. She's blown more cold than hot from a falling mark this summer, though.

Form: 1P-7590

Gypsy Poet⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Josh Williamson⁽³⁾| T: Liz Doyle| OR: 75

8/1

Lightly-raced maiden who showed more than previously when sixth over C&D last autumn. Didn't build on that when well beaten at Kilbeggan last time, though he had been off for 8 months prior.

Form: 96876-0

Sekifi^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Ethan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 72

40/1

Inconsistent performer who wasn't on a going day at Sligo in early-July. Something to find at the weights, even with good-value claimer taking over. Cheekpieces go back on.

Form: 086-05P

Le Grand Vert^p,t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Kevin Sexton| T: N C Kelly| OR: 82| D

28/1

Nearly bagged a third chase win of the year at Cartmel in late-June. Wasn't disgraced reverted to fences at Galway last time. Hasn't previously shaped as though ready to capitalise on lower hurdles mark, though. RESERVE.

Form: P-412P6

Non-Runners

Jonny Carrol²¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: M McCabe J: Miss Ella Herbison

Grace Faraday⁹⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: A McCann J: James Smith

My Policy³⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: P Rooney J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Sneddy Eddie (9/2), Moonshine Girl (6/1), Bayonetta (13/2), Charlie's Dilemma (8/1), Knocknagoran Lady (8/1), Jonny Carrol (12/1), Fire Coral (12/1), Georgia Celena (12/1), Le Grand Vert (14/1), Brandt (14/1), Grace Faraday (14/1), Journey So Far (14/1), Matter Of Opinion (14/1), Whatyouwant (16/1), Astley (16/1), Sekifi (25/1), Midleton Rare (25/1), Gypsy Poet (25/1), Clever Court (25/1), Technology (25/1), Schiehallion (25/1), My Policy (33/1)

KNOCKNAGORAN LADY shaped as if still ahead of her mark at Roscommon last time and could be the answer in a fiendishly difficult handicap. Sneddy Eddie heads the dangers, along with last year's runner-up Schiehallion. Charlie's Dilemma and Astley are also potentially well treated.