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4 18:13 Killarney (IRE) 20 Aug 2026

Thorn Plant Hire Beginners Chase (4YO plus)

2m 7f 100y Good

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Josh Williamson (3)
J C McConnell
Star rating: 2
84/410-4 8 11-12  - 
G
Darragh O'Keeffe
H De Bromhead
Star rating: 4
418- 5 11-12  -  t
Michael Kenneally (5)
W J Burke
Star rating: 1
30-6P58 6 11-12  -  p1
G
Joshua Halford (7)
G Elliott
Star rating: 2
482342/ 6 11-12  - 
D G BF
Kevin Healy (7)
G Elliott
Star rating: 4
336-132 5 11-12  -  p
G HG
Phillip Enright
E M O'Sullivan
Star rating: 1
1066-66 6 11-12  - 
G
Brian Hayes
W P Mullins
Star rating: 2
060P-00 7 11-12 122
C G
Danny Gilligan
C Collins
Star rating: 5
62/10-22 6 11-5 124
C D G
Verdict

AFFINITY ROCK is rated just 105 over hurdles but this summer has shown better form over fences and has winning course form. Successful here in May 2025, the selection again ran well here in May when finishing ahead of subsequent winner La Note Verte, and backed up that effort with another useful runner-up placing at Limerick. She stays well and likes good ground. French import Fort Dino scored smartly at Auteuil in May 2025 but was absent nearly a year prior to his return at the Punchestown Festival. He should improve from that effort but notably wore a tongue-tie then and now tries a longer distance on chase debut. Previous Galway Festival winner Ballystone wasn't beaten too far at that same course last month.

Previous Winners
Year Going Ran Winner Draw Age Weight OR Form Last run Trainer (Distance) Jockey SP Time
2025 Good 5 What's Up Darling 8 11 12 - 35B3-04 20 days G Elliott (215 miles) Jack Kennedy 9/ 4 5:52.70
2024 Good - Yielding 8 Nt Field Minnesota 6 11 5 - 1251-0P 18 days W P Mullins (148 miles) Paul Townend 12/ 1 6:07.00
2023 Soft 6 Hubrisko 6 11 12 - 40-3229 19 days W P Mullins (148 miles) Paul Townend 4/ 5 5:59.03
2022 Good - Yielding 8 Jon Snow 7 11 12 - 0118-23 24 days W P Mullins (148 miles) Sean O'Keeffe 11/ 10 5:54.20
2021 Yielding 8 Karl Der Grosse 7 12 0 - 13PP-3P 235 days W P Mullins (148 miles) Paul Townend 17/ 2 5:52.20
2020 Soft 8 Anything Will Do 5 12 0 - 111330 160 days J P O'Brien (128 miles) J J Slevin 15/ 8 6:09.20
2019 Yielding 7 Movewiththetimes 8 11 12 - 3PUF8-F 22 days E Bolger (69 miles) Mark Walsh 7/ 4 5:52.60
2018 Good 8 Cap D'Aubois 6 11 12 - 104273 208 days W P Mullins (148 miles) Ruby Walsh 5/ 4 5:49.40
2017 Good 14 Dont Tell No One 9 11 12 - 13F93-2 21 days J E Kiely (122 miles) A Lynch 7/ 2 5:38.20

Race Favourite Stats
Year Favourite Finish Position Winner Market Position
2025 2 2
2024 7, 4 6
2023 1 1
2022 1 1
2021 DNF 5
2020 1 1
2019 6 2
2018 1 1
2017 DNF 2

Race Record
Distance Record Time
2m 7f 100y 5:51.40