Sligo - Sun 12 Jul 2026
MANOIR DE MIRANDE was robbed of an overdue success when all but carried out by a loose horse at Roscommon and compensation surely awaits. He looked to have been travelling best of all when very badly hampered at the third-last hurdle, losing all momentum and quickly dropping back through the field. He had plenty of form going into that race and he can now be fancied to come home ahead of the likes of Whats New, who ran well in a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown eight days ago, and Pebble Island, who showed up nicely in a novice hurdle on the same card.
RETURNING OFFICER might just score on his first try over hurdles after three bumper outings. He possibly ran his best race to date on his debut when sixth behind Copacabana in a bumper at Navan early last year. He was then off the track until running a nice race at Kilbeggan in May of this year before again showing some promise at Punchestown last month. Boo Radley has two bumper runs under his belt and he's back in action for the first time since taking fifth spot at Tramore in October, when he was far too keen. Nile Star has run in four maiden hurdles so far and his effort behind Newbrook Diamond at Wexford at the beginning of the month was certainly his best.
OUR LUCKY LADY goes back over timber after two quick wins on the Flat and perhaps she can add to her maiden hurdle success here last October. There are any number of dangers and among them is Splashing Out, who made much of the running for a clear-cut win at Tramore in late May. Albatala has yet to win over hurdles, but she certainly enters calculations on the back of her runaway victory over an extended 10 furlongs on soft ground at Down Royal. Conditions will be very different this time, perhaps more in favour of top-weight Kenisa Sport, twice a winner on good ground but running for the first time since September.
BRIDGEHEAD ran his best race since returning from a lengthy absence when runner-up to Malbay Madness at Downpatrick and that might just set the seven-year-old up for success. Tell Us This went well again when third to Bruant, also at Downpatrick, on his most recent start. The slight drop in distance should be a help to him and he could chase the selection home ahead of the veteran Grange Walk, who also comes back in distance after a nice run over fences at Ballinrobe.
It was a fair performance from THE EGGLER to win here in May and perhaps he can follow up. The five-year-old was running for the first time in almost seven months and battled well from the final hurdle to hold Love Like This, a winner since, by half a length. Mickey Cohen is the one with an absence to overcome this time. He held his form well throughout last summer, ending his year with a runner-up finish at Tipperary in October, and he's on the comeback trail now. Pourquoi Poi ran his best race since winning over hurdles at Punchestown in October when third over fences at the same track last month. He was brought down at halfway in a handicap hurdle at Bellewstown last weekend.
GO TO TOWN might be capable of giving weight away to all his rivals. His promising fourth at Clonmel was only his second start in handicaps, as well as being just his second outing after a break since joining Ross O'Sullivan. The Fracas gelding stayed on over an extended two miles, giving the impression that this longer trip would suit. Larkins Lane won over course and distance last month and is up a further 7lb as she bids for a hat-trick, plus her rider's claim has been reduced since that success. Poetic Focus had a good run at Galway last year and returned to form at Bellewstown on her latest start.
Point-to-point winner JE SUIS represents an in-form stable and was placed under Rules for the first time when third over C&D last month. The Champs Elysees mare is less exposed than the reopposing runner-up, Sphagnum, and can reverse the form with Philip Enright taking over in the saddle. Evans Secret was running for the first time since landing last year's renewal when narrowly defeated here in May. He has solid credentials. Smallcraftwarning stays well and was second to a stablemate of the selection at Limerick. With the Galway festival looming, dual point-to-point winner Justatan is another to monitor closely in the market with a first-time tongue-tie applied.
The locally-trained CIRCUS HILL has had two near-misses in bumpers here and might get her turn now. After a good comeback run over hurdles, she was strongly fancied when beaten a length at the latest meeting here in June and holds Moyneard and Clovelly Charm on that form. Churchfield Annie has been placed in three of her four starts, but was soundly beaten when odds-on at Downpatrick a month ago. The second has won since, though, and Emmet Mullins' runner has to enter calculations again. Gordon Elliott's newcomer Hill Of Ballyline is a half-sister to two winners, including a first-time-out bumper winner, and is another to note.
MANOIR DE MIRANDE is in danger of becoming frustrating but he was still travelling well in front when all but carried out last time so is given one final chance. He should get an easy lead here and is chosen to defeat Pebble Island who left his previous form behind when midfield in a decent novice last time. The consistent but quirky Whats New should also be thereabouts if completing.
RETURNING OFFICER shaped with promise on all of his bumper starts and is picked to make a winning hurdling debut in a weak contest. Boo Radley was a shade disappointing in bumpers given his market expectations but his top yard persists and he is likely capable of much better now hurdling. He can pose the biggest challenge ahead of Brother Hollie who will be a threat if back to the level of form he showed in the autumn.
OUR LUCKY LADY completed a double on the Flat recently and returns to hurdling off a potentially generous mark based on his maiden win over this C&D. She can defeat the inconsistent Beauforts Storm who is well treated on her Graded form and should appreciate the return to this discipline after a poor spell chasing. Albatala was an easy winner on the Flat last time and though he's yet to fire in this sphere the handicapper has relented so she also rates a threat.
A chance is taken on WOLF PRINCE who has proven he retains at least some of his ability on the Flat recently. He had been off for a couple of years prior to that but is thrown in on his old UK form and his small yard has been in good form this summer. Maxwell Smart's form has been franked at Graded level so he looks to have been given a lenient opening mark. He can fill the places with the largely consistent but frustrating Grange Walk.
Top weight Mickey Cohen leaps off the page as arguably the best handicapped in the race judged on his chase debut victory in the autumn. However he hasn't been seen in a while and may just need this so could be vulnerable. POURQUOI POI didn't get far last time but he had proven consistent over hurdles and fences prior to that. 2 1/2m on good ground suits ideally and he can gain a second victory over hurdles. Of those at bigger prices Andyourbirdcansing makes some minor appeal. She hasn't been in bad form recently despite being unable to dominate but is likely to get an easy lead here. The course winner has dropped to a dangerous mark and could be tough to peg back.
Hat trick seeker Larkins Lane is likely to prove popular with the form of her recent C&D victory boosted. However she has gone up a further 7lb so will need another career best. GO TO TOWN has been inconsistent in his short career but he has proven himself to be on a competitive mark and the way he finished his race off last time suggested that this step back up in trip would suit. He is picked ahead of the unexposed Papagei who hasn't built on a promising debut over hurdles but looks on a workable mark judged on his UK Flat exploits.
EVANS SECRET can follow up last year's success in this race. He's 8lb higher but ran a huge race back here on his return from nearly a year off last time and is entitled to come on for that outing. Smallcraftwarning is vulnerable to stronger stayers but he was only out-battled late by a progressive rival last time. He will be suited by the quick conditions and could gain a place along with the unexposed Wild Mandate who has produced some good efforts at this venue. She ran well for a long way on her first start since the autumn last time and could build on that now upped in distance.
CHURCHFIELD ANNIE has proven consistent when getting a sound surface in this discipline and can gain a first victory here. She is entitled to come on for her latest outing and her autumn form has been franked over hurdles. The experienced Moyneard sets the standard on form and looks the obvious danger while Circus Hill is also feared. She was hampered late when runner up over this C&D last time.
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