We go jumping for the first time this week at Killarney on Thursday as the July meeting moves on to day four. We’ve got eight selections for the card. Reading this on Wednesday? We’ve also got seven selections for today.
- 16:30 Early Dawning
- 17:05 Birdie Or Bust
- 17:35 Illtakehimmyself
- 18:10 Koeur A Prendre
- 18:45 Tuche De Houelle
- 19:20 Secret Rock
- 19:55 Inishtearaght
- 20:30 Flashy Fred
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16:30 2m4½f Maiden Hurdle
A decent maiden hurdle gets the National Hunt action underway at Killarney on Thursday. Tyson Fury will be looking to land a knockout blow back over obstacles, having run on the flat the last twice. A Dundalk claiming race winner in March, Tyson Fury was a runner-up in maiden hurdles at Tramore and at Killarney in April and May respectively.
Darragh O’Keeffe has picked up where he left off last season and sits top of the fledgling jockey championship standings. He rides point-to-pointer winner Dunaird, but this may go the way of Paul Townend, who rides Early Dawning for the first time.
The Turkish-bred gelding has some strong bumper form to his name, despite not winning in that sphere. He finished behind I’m Slippy on debut at Fairyhouse, with the winner going on to pick up some black type with placed efforts in graded and listed hurdles races. The runner-up, Look Me, a stablemate, was second in the graded bumper at Aintree’s Grand National Festival, while several subsequent winners finished behind Early Dawning, who finished third.
Disappointing in another bumper at Fairyhouse since, Willie Mullins has had plenty of time to school the five-year-old over obstacles, and he may make a winning start over hurdles.
Selection: Early Dawning
17:05 2m4½f Irish EBF Mares Hurdle
Harry Cobden is in town for one ride and one ride only. The British jockey, now serving as JP McManus’ retained rider, takes the mount of Listed hurdles winner Birdie Or Bust. The mare, trained by Henry De Bromhead, has been out of form over fences of late but she’s proven over the trip unlike her chief threat Murcia, who capitalised on a drop in class to win at Listowel last time.
Birdie Or Bust hasn’t been seen over hurdles since finishing third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, but the form of that race has worked out incredibly well since, with the winner Golden Ace going on to take the Champion Hurdle twelve months later, while the runner-up Brighterdaysahead is now one of the best mares in training with Gordon Elliott.
Selection: Birdie Or Bust
17:35 2m4½f Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)
Illtakehimmyself arrives in a consistent vein of form with recent form figures of 223, so is entitled to be there or thereabouts again. Clone Cross bounced back from being pulled up on handicap debut to finish a 6-length third at Bellewstown last time, and is worthy of consideration from an unchanged mark.
Ancient Myth struggled at big prices in three maiden hurdles after joining his new stable, but won off 72 on the flat for David O’Meara in Britain and has been given a mark of 92 for his handicap debut over hurdles. One to keep an eye on.
Uptaurintop has struggled over fences recently for the O’Sullivan’s but looks to be in with a chance reverting to the smaller obstacles.
Selection: Illtakehimmyself
18:10 2m4½f Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)
Inchidaly Copper won off 8lb higher over fences at Tipperary last year and has winning form over hurdles around here, but there are risks attached after a stinking run at Limerick just a fortnight ago.
Koeur A Prendre is dangerously unexposed and won’t be far away if building on an excellent effort on handicap debut at Clonmel last time. Things haven’t gone to plan for Boston Queen of late, but it’s early days for her under Gordon Elliott’s watch.
Tedworth was in the process of running another big race at Tramore last time when unseating two out and is considered. Pleasureofpressure is a consistent type but remains a maiden of 14 and will need to pull out a tad more to break his duck.
Selection: Koeur A Prendre
18:45 2m4½f Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Dual French winner Tuche De Houelle is entitled to come on bundles for his first start in almost 14 months at Limerick last time. Sitting second with just three to jump, Tuche De Houelle faded badly in the closing stages. The step up in trip and the fact he’ll be stripping fitter could unlock a return to his French form.
Now trained by the very shrewd Eric McNamara, he appeals as one who could be primed to scoop a big pot for a yard that thrives off these valuable handicaps.
Selection: Tuche De Houelle
19:20 2m1f Handicap Hurdle
Secret Rock scored on his stable debut for Cian Collins last time out and may be able to follow up despite a 7lb rise. A Wexford maiden hurdle winner and twice a winner on the flat, he may be able to progress further.
Lips Freedom may prove the big danger. A listed winner on the flat in Italy, he’s rated 90 on the flat and races off just 104 here, having been given a hefty 11lb rise for winning over hurdles at Downpatrick last time.
Selection: Secret Rock
19:55 2m1f INH Flat Race (4yo)
The first of two bumpers on the card. Six of the eight runners will be making their debut. Caislen Gear sets the standard having finished second to a Willie Mullins-trained winner on debut in June. However, he ran below that level when a beaten favourite at Limerick since.
As a result, we’ll side with one of the newcomers here. Former Champion Bumper-winning jockey John Gleeson scored in this race last year, and the amateur is booked by Emmett Mullins to ride Inishtearaght. The son of Poet’s Word is a half-brother to AW bumper and useful 2m-3m hurdle/chase winner Golden Taipan and represents a stable with a respectable record in bumpers.
Selection: Inishtearaght
20:30 2m1f (Ladies Pro/Am) INH Flat Race
Cast A Cold Eye is a half-sister to Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever and may improve from her mid-division finish on debut at Ballinrobe for Willie Mullins. Well Bud is arguably the standard setter bumper-wise after finishing third on rules debut over the C&D in May.
However, Flashy Fred doesn’t have much to find on form after going close on rules bow at Downpatrick and is representing a stable (Conor Houlihan, Waterford) that is running at a level-stakes profit in such races this season (+€5.50).
Selection: Flashy Fred
Thursday’s Killarney Selections
- 16:30 Early Dawning
- 17:05 Birdie Or Bust
- 17:35 Illtakehimmyself
- 18:10 Koeur A Prendre
- 18:45 Tuche De Houelle
- 19:20 Secret Rock
- 19:55 Inishtearaght
- 20:30 Flashy Fred
