Holycross Maiden Hurdle – Thurles

Thurles

15:55

Holycross Maiden Hurdle

Date 2026-01-29

Distance 2m6f126y

Class

Going Heavy

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize €5,900

Weather Light Drizzle

Temp 6°C

Wind 15mph SE

Rain 88%

Winning Time 6m 26.30s (slow by 58.00s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Blow Wind Blow (IRE) Mark Walsh · E Bolger	3/1	Won
2nd	Not Leaving Yet (IRE) Dylan Whelan · Robert Murphy	33/1	13
3rd	Private Policy (IRE) Paddy Cleary · Nigel Thomas Slevin	33/1	5.5
4th	Albus (IRE) Jordan Gainford · Gordon Elliott	12/1	19

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
P.U.	Ballingurteen (IRE) John Shinnick · Terence O'Brien	18/1
P.U.	Danalii (IRE) Jack G Gilligan · Paul John Gilligan	50/1
P.U.	Eliodam (FR) Paul Townend · W P Mullins	4/9F
P.U.	Matilauna (IRE) Phillip Enright · Gillian Scott	18/1
P.U.	Sacramental (IRE) Thomas O'Connor · J R Finn	80/1
P.U.	Shuil Swift (IRE) Mr A D Bustin · C Byrnes	18/1

Runners (11)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
4	Eliodam Chestnut J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	166	—	0-F	-	-	-	40d	—	—	-40	20	0.11/1	4/9 69%
Flopped in a valuable bumper, fell on hurdling debut after running green, may make amends
2	Blow Wind Blow Grey J:Mark Walsh T:E Bolger	J:Mark Walsh T:E Bolger	166	—	650	104	100	87	20d	—	—	-3	20.8	0.69/1	11/4 27%
Has shown enough in maidens of a higher standard to suggest he will be competitive here
1	Albus Bay J:Jordan Gainford T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jordan Gainford T:Gordon Elliott	166	—	98	-	94	80	17d	—	—	-5	1.9	3.50/1	14/1 7%
Unfancied on first two starts, probably capable of making a more telling impression now
7	Ballingurteen Bay J:John Shinnick(3) T:Terence O'Brien	J:John Shinnick(3) T:Terence O'Brien	159	—	2-609	-	71	22	21d	—	—	+1	4.6	8.25/1	33/1 3%
Placed in a point-to-point, weak form over hurdles, possibly one for handicaps later on
8	Matilauna Bay J:Phillip Enright T:Gillian Scott	J:Phillip Enright T:Gillian Scott	159	—	0666	83	89	28	31d	—	—	+4	9.7	5.50/1	22/1 4%
Not a bad run at Limerick on latest, 83-rated mare would be more at home in a handicap
10	Shuil Swift Brown J:Mr A D Bustin(7) T:C Byrnes	J:Mr A D Bustin(7) T:C Byrnes	159	—	00-00P	92	82	54	31d	—	—	+7	11.7	7.00/1	28/1 3%
Failed to distinguish herself in two outings at Limerick last month, place chance at best
5	Private Policy Bay J:Paddy Cleary(7) T:Nigel Thomas Slevin	J:Paddy Cleary(7) T:Nigel Thomas Slevin	166	t	P/55/	-	-	-	650d	—	—	-2	0.7	12.50/1	50/1 2%
Career has been punctuated by long absences, unlikely to feature on reappearance
9	Not Leaving Yet Bay J:Dylan Whelan(7) T:Robert Murphy	J:Dylan Whelan(7) T:Robert Murphy	159	—	60607U	-	76	54	14d	—	—	-2	0.7	16.50/1	66/1 1%
300-1 when unseated at the first at Fairyhouse three weeks ago, no apparent chance
3	Danalii Bay J:Jack G Gilligan(5) T:Paul John Gilligan	J:Jack G Gilligan(5) T:Paul John Gilligan	166	—	90-F	-	-	-	14d	—	—	-2	0.6	20.00/1	80/1 1%
Soundly beaten in two bumpers, out of contention when falling two out at Fairyhouse
6	Sacramental Bay J:Thomas O'Connor(7) T:J R Finn	J:Thomas O'Connor(7) T:J R Finn	166	t	0P-0	-	71	3	14d	—	—	-2	0.6	25.00/1	100/1 1%
Nothing of merit in his three runs over hurdles, tongue-tie fitted after a poor recent run
NR	Supreme Axel Bay J:Josh Younge(7) T:James Andrew Fahey	J:Josh Younge(7) T:James Andrew Fahey	159	t	5P-P0	-	68	37	33d	—	—	—	0	—	—
Struggled in two outings in points, same story in maiden hurdles at Tramore and Limerick

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Eliodam	4/9	2/5	4/9	2/5	4/9
Blow Wind Blow	11/4	5/2	5/2	5/2	5/2
Albus	12/1	14/1	12/1	11/1	14/1
Ballingurteen	28/1	28/1	28/1	22/1	33/1
Matilauna	22/1	18/1	18/1	16/1	18/1
Shuil Swift	28/1	25/1	22/1	22/1	25/1
Private Policy	50/1	50/1	50/1	40/1	50/1
Not Leaving Yet	66/1	66/1	50/1	50/1	50/1
Danalii	66/1	80/1	66/1	50/1	80/1
Sacramental	100/1	66/1	66/1	50/1	66/1
Supreme Axel	-	-	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Blow Wind Blow

20.8

OR: 13.5 Form: 0 Odds: 7.3

11/4

2nd

Eliodam

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 20

4/9

3rd

Shuil Swift

11.7

OR: 10.5 Form: 0 Odds: 1.2

28/1

Matilauna

9.7

OR: 8.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.5

22/1

Ballingurteen

4.6

OR: 0 Form: 3.5 Odds: 1.1

33/1

Albus

1.9

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 1.9

14/1

Private Policy

0.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

50/1

Not Leaving Yet

0.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

66/1

Danalii

0.6

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.6

80/1

Sacramental

0.6

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.6

100/1

Supreme Axel

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Blow Wind Blow	104	100	87
Shuil Swift	92	82	54
Matilauna	83	89	28
Eliodam	—	—	—
Albus	—	94	80
Ballingurteen	—	71	22
Private Policy	—	—	—
Not Leaving Yet	—	76	54
Danalii	—	—	—
Sacramental	—	71	3
Supreme Axel	—	68	37

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Not Leaving Yet	14d ago	Fit
Danalii	14d ago	Fit
Sacramental	14d ago	Fit
Albus	17d ago	Fit
Blow Wind Blow	20d ago	Fit
Ballingurteen	21d ago	Fit
Matilauna	31d ago	Fit
Shuil Swift	31d ago	Fit
Supreme Axel	33d ago	Fit
Eliodam	40d ago	Fit
Private Policy	650d ago	Long break