15:10 Sligo

Friday 23 October 2026

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 4f 142y | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B Lawless⁽²⁾| T: M Fahey

Easy winner on third start in points and looked an above-average jumper in the making when also landing 9-runner bumper at Clonmel (2½m) in April, scoring in clear-cut fashion. One to note as he goes hurdling after 6 months off.

Form: U211-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Baldilou¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J W Hendrick| T: M M McNiff

€27,000 3-y-o, €24,000 5-y-o, Saintgodrel gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler in France A Choeur Joie (2m winner). Dam ran once over hurdles. Placed on last 2 of 3 starts in points in April.

Beeverstown Boy²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D Allen| T: M A Cahill

Making a belated debut, showed ability when sixth of 17 in maiden hurdle at Gowran 3 weeks ago, form boosted by the third winning next time. Could take a step forward with that first outing behind him.

Form: 6

Geashill Poet¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J P Collins⁽⁴⁾| T: A Murray

Has offered little in 2 maiden hurdles so far, again tailed off at Fairyhouse (2m) 18 days ago. Now tried over further but looks to be up against it.

Form: 00

Gunnery Sergeant^p,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr T A Halford⁽²⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 102

Fair form when runner-up in maiden hurdles at Fairyhouse and Downpatrick early last year. Failed to match that level in 3 chase starts, but after 3 months off he ran better back hurdling when third of 10 in maiden at Fairyhouse 18 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 25-8553

How Decc¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss H Heffernan⁽²⁾| T: J Fahey| OR: 77

Long-standing maiden, but after a further 13 months off he showed that he retains ability when fourth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown 10 days ago. Has plenty to find in this contest, though.

Form: 4430/P-4

Monard Flyer⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr F Colleran⁽⁴⁾| T: V T O'Brien

Little impact in a pair of bumpers, never on terms when tenth in 16-runner event at the Galway Festival (2¼m) 12 weeks ago. Faces a difficult task as he makes hurdling debut.

Form: 80

The Bossman About²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr F R Buckley| T: N Slevin

Looked in need of the experience on debut, but didn't appear to have learnt anything when tailed off in maiden hurdle at Gowran 3 weeks ago.

Form: 00

Wild Ridge³⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R M McParland⁽²⁾| T: V Wilson

Not much encouragement in a pair of maiden hurdles almost 2 years apart, pulled up over this C&D last summer. Well-beaten fifth of 6 in bumper at Down Royal in November and absent another 11 months since.

Form: 0/P5-

Tonightsagoodnight¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D McGill| T: N C Kelly

Feel Like Dancing gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful staying chaser Movethechains. Departed late both starts in points, fourth when slipped up after 2 out on second occasion in May.

La Muleta¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr S Cotter⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell

Runner-up sole start in points and built on promise of hurdling debut effort when narrowly denied in mares maiden at Fairyhouse 18 days ago, well clear of the rest. The one to beat with further improvement to come.

Form: 232

Theboss'sdaughter¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr C A Bowman⁽⁴⁾| T: A McNamara

Well held only start in bumpers and hasn't fared any better in 2 mares maiden hurdles, tailed off at Fairyhouse (2m) 13 days ago.

Form: 000

Forecasts

High Kick Kev (7/4), La Muleta (9/4), Gunnery Sergeant (5/2), Beeverstown Boy (12/1), Tonightsagoodnight (16/1), Baldilou (16/1), How Decc (20/1), Geashill Poet (100/1), Wild Ridge (100/1), Theboss'sdaughter (100/1), The Bossman About (150/1), Monard Flyer (150/1)

LA MULETA has made a promising start to her career, only just edged out by a well-backed hurdling debutant at Fairyhouse last time, and she could be ready to get off the mark. High Kick Kev was successful in a Clonmel bumper on Rules debut and is feared most, ahead of Gunnery Sergeant.