13:55 Listowel

Wednesday 23 September 2026

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:4717:22

McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 0.00s

Approval^h,t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara

15/2

Fairly useful Flat winner for Owen Burrows. Caught the eye on this qualifying run after 12 weeks off when third of 16 in maiden hurdle at Killarney (2m, good to soft) but looks the type to do better in handicaps.

Form: 053

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bud Fox²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

13/2

Made a promising start in bumpers and has shown ability on all 3 starts over hurdles, most recently in a first-time hood when fourth of 14 in maiden at Kilbeggan (2m, good) just under 3 weeks ago (not given at all a hard time). Open to further improvement.

Form: 1/367-54

Individualism^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

66/1

Fairly useful on Flat up to 11f for Charlie Johnston. Little encouragement to glean from his 3 starts for current connections and handicaps after this likely more suitable.

Form: 66

Jules Winfield^t⁴⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin

14/1

Made a winning debut in a Ballinrobe bumper in April 2025 and took a step forward the following month when runner-up at Haydock. Ran too badly to be true when last seen in June that year and makes his hurdling debut after 15 months off. Worth a market check.

Form: 1/29-

Kilmond Knight⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: David Barry

300/1

Pulled up sole outing in points and well held all 3 completed starts over hurdles (reported to have made a noise in running last time). Unlikely to be of interest until handicapping.

Form: P-U078

Kingston Silver²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan

300/1

Well held both starts in recent weeks.

Form: 09

Talking Tough⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: S M Duffy

300/1

One-time fair Flat performer but out of sorts at present. Best watched on hurdling debut.

Form:

Tyson Fury^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D Hogan| OR: 115| BF| D

10/3

Useful at best on the Flat, returning to winning ways at Dundalk (10.5f) in March. Yet to score over hurdles but again ran well when second of 13 in maiden at Kilbeggan (19f, good) just over 6 weeks ago. Reapplied cheekpieces could be just what are needed to open his hurdling account.

Form: 02-2232

Born De Ceres²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan

300/1

For Fun gelding who showed nothing when tailed-off last of 6 in bumper at Punchestown (17f, heavy) back in February. Makes hurdling debut.

Form: 6-

Love Me Tender³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

4/9

Sent off favourite and shaped encouragingly on his first outing since leaving Peter Schiergen (for €180,000) when tenth of 22 in the Ebor at York (1¾m, good to soft) last month, inexperience showing on just his fourth start yet sticking to his task. Of obvious interest now hurdling.

Form:

Magna Gee Gee⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Kelly| T: P J Flynn

200/1

Turned in best effort of the season to end a lengthy losing run by a narrow margin at Limerick on penultimate start in July. Tailed off at Gowran a fortnight later and now has a second start over hurdles (ran out having been distracted early on first occasion).

Form: R

Messire Des Bordes¹³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: G P Cromwell

300/1

Not knocked about when eighth of 16 in juvenile hurdle at Bellewstown on debut in April but finished tailed off at Killarney (17f, good to soft) the following month.

Form: 8-0

Thepoetslodge¹⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell

300/1

All his 3 runs so far have been short on promise and he makes minimal appeal this side of handicaps. Returns from 6 months off.

Form: P00-

Omakase⁴⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Cian Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Fahey| D

50/1

Notched up a second career success on what was just her second race at 2m+ at Gowran back in May 2025. Ran well when third at Navan (13f, good) the following month and hasn't been seen since. Makes hurdling debut.

Form:

Faerie Tales²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Fahey

125/1

Uninspiring Flat record but made a decent go of it on her first go over hurdles when third at Tramore (2m) last month. Went backwards from that at Wexford since so needs to quickly get back on track.

Form: 34

Midnight Reign

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: P Nolan

100/1

Berkshire gelding. Dam (h99), 2½m hurdle winner, closely related to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser (stayed 3m) Aviewtosea. RESERVE.

Form:

Non-Runners

Euro Agent²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Thyer²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: Maurice Ahern J: Darragh O'Keeffe

John Gun²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: K Purcell J: Non Runner

Liath Mor

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 1

Down After Dark²⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: S Curling J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Love Me Tender (4/9), Tyson Fury (10/3), Bud Fox (13/2), Approval (15/2), Euro Agent (10/1), Thyer (12/1), Jules Winfield (14/1), Omakase (50/1), Liath Mor (50/1), Individualism (66/1), John Gun (66/1), Midnight Reign (100/1), Faerie Tales (125/1), Magna Gee Gee (200/1), Kilmond Knight (300/1), Born De Ceres (300/1), Kingston Silver (300/1), Messire Des Bordes (300/1), Thepoetslodge (300/1), Talking Tough (300/1)

LOVE ME TENDER may not have rewarded favourite backers in the Ebor last month, but Willie Mullins' German recruit shaped encouragingly and now with attentions quickly switched to hurdling, he gets the vote. Bud Fox is progressing gradually in this sphere and clearly with much more to come given his bumper form, he heads up the opposition, with Tyson Fury and Jules Winfield completing the shortlist.