Race Preview – 19:50 Killarney, Tuesday 13 May 2025FEXCO Handicap2m 182y | Turf | Good to Yielding | €9,600 | 4yo+ | Rated 0–90 | 16 runnersPace Forecast: EvenDraw Bias: Not applicablePace Hint: Hold-up horses are not especially favoured at this venue. ZANAHIYR is expected to be better positioned than LORD ERSKINE under normal race conditions.

·


Leading Contenders and Ratings (based on Timeform Adjusted Ratings and Race Profile)

ZANAHIYR (Gordon Elliott) – Timeform Adjusted Rating: 103
Class act over jumps. Potentially thrown in from 77 on the Flat. Should be well suited to conditions and prominent placement. Off 63 days but trainer can ready them.
Rating: 8/10

MORDOR (Gordon Elliott) – Adjusted Rating: 100
Returned well when third at Navan over shorter. Lightly raced on the Flat and open to more. Step up in trip looks positive.
Rating: 7.5/10

MON COEUR (J.G. Murphy) – Adjusted Rating: 101
Returned to form over hurdles recently. Fair Flat stayer and drawn well. Off 42 days but figures suggest competitiveness.
Rating: 7.5/10

BUSSELTON (Joseph O’Brien) – Adjusted Rating: 97
Strong staying type who won the La Touche Cup over cross-country fences last time. Flat rating looks stiff but trainer has won three of last seven renewals.
Rating: 7/10

LORD ERSKINE (Harry Rogers) – Adjusted Rating: 102
Won a Listed hurdle last time. Fair Flat form, though pace map suggests he may be caught further back than ideal. Monitor support.
Rating: 7/10

MO GHILLE MAR (Mrs Harrington) – Adjusted Rating: 95
Consistent type. Creditable recent efforts. Trip looks right but yard currently quiet.
Rating: 6.5/10

ROBBIES ROCK (Gavin Cromwell) – Adjusted Rating: 94
Decent juvenile hurdler turned staying handicapper. Better judged on Navan win.
Rating: 6.5/10

THE BANGER DOYLE (John Queally) – Adjusted Rating: 97
Versatile stayer who ran well at Tipperary and can go forward. Has Flat, hurdles and chase form.
Rating: 7/10

JERANDME (Kevin Prendergast) – Adjusted Rating: 94+
Old stager who has shown recent promise on AW. Best Flat form gives him a squeak.
Rating: 6.5/10

REVEREND HUBERT (Charles Byrnes) – Adjusted Rating: 93
Returns from 185 days off. Useful over hurdles but fitness must be taken on trust. Market will be the guide.
Rating: 6/10

CRASSUS (Noel Meade) – Adjusted Rating: 97
Back from a 542-day absence. Proven stayer but a big ask first time back.
Rating: 5/10

GOIN’ (A.J. Martin) – No confirmed Timeform Rating
Ex-German. Stays well and shaped fairly in Listed company. Interesting on debut for this yard.
Rating: 6/10

SIGN FROM ABOVE (Peter Fahey) – Adjusted Rating: 95
Improved over hurdles last year. Bolted up on the Flat in June 2024 and worth keeping on side.
Rating: 6.5/10

CURIOUS BRIDE (Eamonn O’Connell) – Adjusted Rating: 95
Solid stayer but has been off for 90 days. Can go well fresh but draw not ideal.
Rating: 6/10

DARK NOTE (Andrew Slattery) – Adjusted Rating: 96
Mixed codes and form. On a fair mark if bouncing back. Back from a break.
Rating: 5.5/10

JABBAR (G. O’Leary) – Adjusted Rating: 91
Capable but lacks the same upside as others. Would need to bounce back.
Rating: 5.5/10


Trainer Trends

  • Joseph O’Brien has won three of the last seven runnings of this race.
  • Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand with two well-fancied runners.
  • Charles Byrnes’ horses often attract market attention when returning from absence, so watch Reverend Hubert.

Outsiders to Note

  • GOIN’: German import, may be underrated on domestic debut.
  • THE BANGER DOYLE: Capable stayer, strong recent third in a decent race.
  • LORD ERSKINE: Well-handicapped on recent hurdles win; could be a player if positioned handier than usual.

Each-Way Considerations

With 16 runners declared, there is each-way value. THE BANGER DOYLE, MON COEUR, and LORD ERSKINE look like the more reliable types to fill the frame behind the market leaders.


Tissue Price Estimate

  • ZANAHIYR – 5/1
  • MORDOR – 6/1
  • BUSSELTON – 8/1
  • MON COEUR – 10/1
  • THE BANGER DOYLE – 11/1
  • LORD ERSKINE – 12/1
  • ROBBIES ROCK – 12/1
  • MO GHILLE MAR – 14/1
  • JERANDME – 14/1
  • SIGN FROM ABOVE – 14/1
  • GOIN’ – 16/1
  • CURIOUS BRIDE – 18/1
  • DARK NOTE – 20/1
  • JABBAR – 25/1
  • REVEREND HUBERT – 25/1
  • CRASSUS – 33/1

Leave a comment

Get updates

From art exploration to the latest archeological findings, all here in our weekly newsletter.

Subscribe