15:42 Listowel

Thursday 24 September 2026

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:5217:25

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 4m 4.70s

Ephesus^p,t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: Conor Clarke| T: D Hogan| OR: 115

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler but doubts were creeping in over his attitude in that sphere at the end of 2025 and arrives on the back of unpromising efforts on the Flat and over fences.

Form: 0460-79

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Churchwarden^b⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Dylan Whelan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 108| BF

5/1

Comfortably opened his account on the Flat in first-time blinkers in July before running up to his best in this sphere when 2¼ lengths second of 6 to Rightfolksplease in handicap at Tramore following month. Has run well back on the Flat since and claims if still in same form.

Form: 21PP/02

Metamorpheus⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell| T: A McNamara| OR: 108| BF| D

9/2

Enjoying a resurgence for current yard, finding only a single rival too good on 3 of his last 4 starts, chasing home Gino Bella in 11-runner event at Cork on latest after just 2 days off. Up 5 lb now and should continue to give a good account, but others preferred.

Form: 83-2422

Lenjoleur De Palma¹⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Kelly| T: E McNamara| OR: 107| BF| D

6/1

Enjoyed a fruitful handicap campaign last season, winning 2m handicap at Limerick and placed at that same course a further 3 times. Still only 5, he may have more to offer as a hurdler, though his best form to date has come on soft/heavy going.

Form: 463123-

Beckistine¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paddy Cody| T: M A Molloy| OR: 105

12/1

Fair hurdler who has proven more miss than hit to date but wasn't seen to best effect when 17 lengths eighth of 20 to Inthenickoftime at Galway last time, having hopeless task from position.

Form: 4996P-8

Kilt^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Sugrue⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 97

9/1

Left previous efforts behind when winning 14-runner handicap at Wexford in May. Has looked summed up by his revised mark since, though, and usual hold-up tactics may not suit around this sharp track.

Form: 0-14546

Superficial³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Healy| T: A McNamara| OR: 98

14/1

Recent Flat efforts are uninspiring, but he did show improvement in that sphere in the spring, landing a handicap at Roscommon in May from a next-time-out winner. Little impact in a trio of maiden hurdles, though, and needs to both bounce back and brush up his jumping if he's to do better.

Form: 78-0

Jaadil¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Smithers| T: E McNamara| OR: 93

12/1

Off the mark at Cork last season and unlucky to bump into an improver at Sligo (2¼m, good to soft) next time. Yet to fire this time around but has joined yard with good record at this meeting over the years and is one to consider for all the trip looks on the sharp side.

Form: 212-PF9

Rene's Gold¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Shane Markey⁽²⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 92

66/1

Unpromising in points and only minor encouragement in 3 maiden hurdles in recent weeks, though should do better now tackling a handicap.

Form: P/7-898

Dream Shaper^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Anna McGuinness| T: I Madden| OR: 91

33/1

Allowed to establish a huge lead when finally getting off the mark in 16-runner handicap at Kilbeggan in July. Disappointed next time and was let down by jumping at Sligo last month. Dangerous if allowed too much rope.

Form: F9-318F

Kilbrin Rocco^t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas O'Connor| T: E McCarthy| OR: 90| D

11/4

Dual winner over fences last season, including at Tramore in April. Runner-up here the following month and possibly needed the outing when down the field at Galway in July. Potentially very well treated now reverting to hurdles for yard that target this meeting and won this race in 2025.

Form: 1951-29

Sayitfirst¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Evan Nugent⁽²⁾| T: D Collins| OR: 86| D

33/1

Veteran who won a novice handicap chase at Sligo last season but hasn't shown anything of note over hurdles since 2024.

Form: 229P-80

Ahellofaman^h⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Sexton| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 85

25/1

Modest maiden handicap hurdler who hasn't been seen since unseating over fences at Wexford in June. Hood back on.

Form: 20756-F

Non-Runners

Acheron⁸⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J J Hanlon J: Josh Younge

Mc Swagger⁷⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: E McCarthy J: Luke Burke Ott

Forecasts

Kilbrin Rocco (11/4), Metamorpheus (9/2), Churchwarden (5/1), Lenjoleur De Palma (6/1), Kilt (9/1), Beckistine (12/1), Jaadil (12/1), Ephesus (12/1), Superficial (14/1), Ahellofaman (25/1), Sayitfirst (33/1), Dream Shaper (33/1), Mc Swagger (50/1), Rene's Gold (66/1), Acheron (66/1)

KILBRIN ROCCO returns to hurdling from a potentially lenient mark on recent chase form and is fancied to give the McCarthy yard a second successive win in this race. Jaadil hasn’t fired this season and is ideally suited by further, but a switch to a yard with a strong record at this meeting could spark a revival. Churchwarden returns to hurdles in good heart and is also respected.