Mullins' Gaucher a fascinating prospect for Dundalk two-mile handicap

Gaucher has registered his hurdle wins at Tipperary (twice), Naas and Punchestown, most recently when landing the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle in Tipperary last month

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025 - 06:00

John Ryan

Having his first run on the flat for Willie Mullins, Gaucher, a classy hurdler, is a fascinating prospect in the two-mile BAR 1 Casino Handicap in Dundalk tonight.

The six-year-old Frankel gelding triumphed twice on the flat in France back in 2022, over nine and ten furlongs, and has established himself as a smart hurdler since arriving in Closutton, notching up four wins, including three at Grade 3 level.

Often a keen-goer, Gaucher has registered his hurdle wins at Tipperary (twice), Naas and Punchestown, most recently when landing the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle in Tipperary last month in fortuitous circumstances as Glen Kiln had mastered the selection when blundering and unseating Brian Hayes at the final flight.

Prior to that lucky win, the Closutton gelding had finished a creditable fifth behind the subsequently disqualified Helvic Dream in the Guinness Galway Hurdle, when racing off 149 and carrying 11-11.

Gaucher is currently rated 150 over hurdles and is set to race off 90 here, with Shane Foley a significant booking.

It remains to be seen how he’ll cope with two miles on the level but, if he settles and sees out the trip, he should be tough to beat.

Back on the flat, Tony Martin’s Alphonse Le Grande looks an obvious threat to Gaucher, along with the fascinating, Joseph O’Brien-trained French import Cornelienne, runner-up at listed level in France well worth watching off 94 on her Irish debut.

Although 8lb. higher than when landing a gamble here at the Halloween meeting, Paul Flynn’s Moyassr make plenty of appeal, stepping-up in trip, in tonight’s finale, the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.

This Mehmas gelding is racing off the same mark as when opening account, for the Kielys, here a year ago and has proven his current well-being in recent outings.

He got up late when beating Smaoineamh Sile on his penultimate start and, raised 6lb., was pipped by Notforalongtime last time.

Moyassr is up another 2lb. for that last effort. But, in the belief that this step-up from a mile to an extended ten furlongs will bring improvement, Nathan Crosse’s mount is expected to return to winning ways.

Earlier, the Ado McGuinness-trained Coincidental Glory, a beaten favourite when fifth behind Back To Me in a course and distance maiden last time, should appreciate the drop into claiming company and might defy top-weight in the opener.

Selections

4.50 Coincidental Glory (n.b.)

5.25 Steel Magnolia

6.00 Beijinho

6.30 Glen And Tonic

7.00 Mr Kobe

7.30 Rappell

8.00 Gaucher

8.30 Moyassr (Nap)

Next Best

4.50 Manifest Destiny

5.25 Just Jump