Opportunity knocks for Gentleman De Mee at Killarney
LENGTHY WAIT: Gentleman De Mee is winless since this success at Aintree 13 months ago. Picture: Healy Racing
A Grade One winner back in 2023, Gentleman De Mee might register his first win in 13 months in Monday’s Grade Three BOYLE Sports An Riocht Chase as Killarney’s May meeting resumes following Sunday’s Munster Football final.
The 10-year-old, trained for JP McManus by Willie Mullins, won the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in the spring of 2023 and registered his most recent win when landing the Topham, over Aintree’s Grand National fences, off 155, in April of last year.
A gelding who normally hits top form in the spring, Gentleman De Mee ran creditably when bidding for a repeat success in the Topham.
Racing off 158 this time, he performed creditably under a welter burden of 11-12, finishing fourth, eight lengths fourth behind Will The Wise.
Monday’s race looks a good opportunity for Gentleman De Mee, who will be ridden by Harry Cobden, on his first visit to Killarney. And he should prove more effective over trip and ground than fellow 155-rated Three Card Brag, one of three runners for Gordon Elliott, with Jack Kennedy, back from a flying and successful visit to Nashville, opting to partner Sa Fureur.
In double form at the track on Saturday, Henry de Bromhead might bag another brace with Splendid Fellow and Midnight Jet.
Rated 123 and boasting placed form behind Koktail Brut and Kazansky, Splendid Fellow sets a decent standard in the Park2Travel Maiden Hurdle.
And Midnight Jet, conqueror of subsequent dual-winner He Can’t Dance in Fairyhouse and apparently on the upgrade, appeals in the Killarney Town Retailers Association Novice Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Roscommon stages its first meeting of 2026, an eight-race Flat card. And Nil Bua Gan Dua, from Joseph O’Brien’s in-form Carriganóg yard, looks the banker bet, in the Irish EBF Median Auction race.
The 100-rated American Pharoah colt competed at a high level as a juvenile, finishing third to current Betfred Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini in a Group 2 at Leopardstown in September and fourth in the Eyrefield on the same track a month later.
Easy to back on his seasonal debut at Gowran Park last month, he finished third to Tashakour, beaten five and a half lengths and giving the impression that he would improve significantly from the outing.
Receiving 5lb from a trio of winners in the field, Nil Bua Gan Dua should take plenty of beating.
Earlier, Jim Bolger, on the mark with newcomer Sparan Nua in Naas on Saturday, might strike again with Lan De Ghaire in the opening two-year-old maiden.
This Dawn Approach filly made a hugely encouraging start when third, beaten a length, behind Immortal Guard at the Curragh last week.
She was staying on late on that occasion, should be suited by this longer trip and is expected to put her experience to good use.
4.35 Samba Train
5.05 Splendid Fellow
5.37 Midnight Jet
6.07 My Gaffer
6.37 Gentleman De Mee (NB)
7.07 Oneforgonzo
7.37 Journey With Me
8.07 Airds Moss
4.35 Early Bird
5.05 Glenroyal
5.37 Columbus
6.07 Maxios Prime
6.37 Jesse Evans
7.07 Iamagetaway
7.37 Lifetime Ambition
8.07 Boombox
4.53 Lan De Ghaire
5.23 Kitty Bear
5.53 Sun Soldier
6.23 Personified
6.53 Running Point
7.23 Nil Bua Gan Dua (Nap)
7.53 Kakori
8.23 Marazion
4.53 Seven Nation Army
5.23 Brains
5.53 Chester Nimitz
6.23 Cisterna
6.53 Substance
7.23 Dial Me In
7.53 Radar Ahead
8.23 Harana
