17-07-2025
The Banger Doyle has enough class to win at 13th attempt
Out with the Flat and in with the National Hunt in Killarney, and the nap on the track's first jumps card of the week goes to The Banger Doyle, in the Dr Ivo O'Sullivan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The John Queally-trained gelding remains a maiden over hurdles after 12 attempts but today's race can prove to be lucky 13 for the bumper and three-time chase winner.
Last time out, at Tipperary, he was unlucky in running when runner-up to Red Glory, but it confirmed that he remains more than capable of exploiting his hurdling mark, which is 29lbs lower than his chasing mark.
He has plenty of experience on the track and with Patrick O'Brien taking 7lbs off his back, he can gain that long, long overdue first win over timber.
The KPH Construction 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle has attracted a full field of 16 but Shadow Paddy is a young horse on the up and can complete his hat-trick.
Trained by Eoin McCarthy, he made his seasonal and handicap debut, off 95, in mid-May at Tipperary and duly obliged.
Upped to 103 for his next start, in another competitive race, at Limerick, he followed up in the style of a horse which had plenty more to give.
The handicapper saw fit to give him another 11lbs for that, resulting in a current mark of 114, but both races have worked out quite well and everything about the performances suggest he can improve beyond his new mark.
This is a competitive race, but it will take a nice performance to deny him this third win of the season.
The feature on Leopardstown's card is the Group 3 Boylesports Meld Stakes, and Purview can get back to winning ways following his runner-up finish to Delacroix in the Derby Trial here.
Winner of a Dundalk maiden in late 2024, he returned in the Group 3 and ran a superb race from off the pace. While he was no match for the winner, the form was shown in a great light when Delacroix overcame trouble to win the Eclipse at Sandown.
Purview hasn't been seen since that run, 67 days ago, but that shouldn't be a major concern, and if he is to justify his entries in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc, he will need to go very close here.
The most obvious danger is Galen, who comes here on the back of a huge effort in the listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Expanded has disappointed on both outings to date this season but would be a huge danger if returning to the form he showed when runner-up in last season's Dewhurst.
The drop back to seven furlongs can lead Vega's Muse to victory in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Apprentice Handicap.
Jessica Harrington's consistent three-year-old ran just three days ago, in Killarney, and found only all-the-way winner Vlhova too good.
That was over a mile, on yielding-to-soft ground, but back in trip, with a good draw, cheekpieces on for the first time, and Keithen Kennedy taking a couple of pounds off the filly's back, she can make the breakthrough for her career.
Tommy Lyons' picks
Killarney:
5:01 Son Of Anarchy
5:32 Cooke's Lass
6:02 Party President
6:37 Shadow Paddy
7:10 The Banger Doyle (nap)
7:42 Galileo Sand
8:15 Minella Supreme
Next best:
5:01 Oneinthewell
5:32 Belle The Lioness
6:02 Hees Dynamite
6:37 Queenofthelodge
7:10 Whispering Hopes
7:42 Maskarvel
8:15 Palpatate
Leopardstown:
4:45 Fairy Oak
5:15 Celestial Siren
5:45 Vega's Muse (nb)
6:20 Josh's Joy
6:52 Purview
7:25 Esherann
7:55 Walk The Highline
8:30 Miss Nifty
Next best:
4:45 Melismatic
5:15 Duke Of Cumberland
5:45 Clonmacash
6:20 Minerva
6:52 Galen
7:25 Dancing Teapot
7:55 Heiselectric
8:30 Tatum
