Le Coq Hardi tipped to continue rich vein of form at Wexford Novice Chase

The seven-year-old has bundles of chase form and, while he has triumphed only once in this sphere, he possesses rock-solid placed form, much of it against stern opposition

Le Coq Hardi and Mike O'Connor won for trainer Henry de Bromhead at Kilbeggan. Pic: Healy Racing

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026 - 13:30

John Ryan

Le Coq Hardi should continue the rich vein of form being enjoyed by Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe in Wexford’s Brendan Cullimore Electrical Rated Novice Chase.

The seven-year-old has bundles of chase form and, while he has triumphed only once in this sphere, he possesses rock-solid placed form, much of it against stern opposition.

His only chase triumph came at Kilbeggan in mid-June, his penultimate start, when he outpointed the versatile Londonofficecallin.

That win was sandwiched between a second, admittedly well beaten, behind the exciting Shadow Paddy at Limerick and a fourth to Eoin McCarrthy’s progressive gelding in a Grade 3 at the Galway festival.

His form also includes a second to subsequent Aintree Grade 1 winner Gold Dancer at Tipperary (in May of last year) and a fourth behind Spanish Harlem in last year’s Guinness Kerry National in Listowel.

Le Coq Hardi’s jumping is sound, although he sometimes seems to lose concentration. So it’s not surprising that he’ll wear blinkers for the first time today, replacing the cheekpieces worn in Galway.

And, rated 133, he should prove too strong for his four rivals, including Femme Magifique, up 9lb. for a handicap win in Killarney.

Earlier on the Wexford card, the 108-rated, fourteen-race maiden Game Point might earn the reward for consistency by opening his account for the Codys in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

Placed in all four starts overt flights, he’s been a beaten favourite the last twice, most recently when third to Highland Realm over this course and distance. But he’ll hardly get a better opportunity than this.

Reverend Hubert and Philip Enright triumphed in Cork. Pic: Healy Racing

In Down Royal, the Charles Byrnes-trained Reverend Hubert might be capable of upstaging higher-rated Rocky’s Diamond in the three-mile Denny Hurdle.

Winner of a Curragh handicap off 88 before landing a conditions hurdle in Cork, beating Mousey Brown, he failed to make an impact when reverting to chasing in the Galway Plate.

But he makes more appeal than Rocky’s Diamond., winner of the 2025 Galmoy Hurdle (Grade 2) in Gowran Park and fourth to Bob Lolinger in the 2025 ‘Stayers’ at Cheltenham.

Declan Queally’s charge was successful over hurdles in Kilbeggan three weeks ago before being turned over in a chase, over an inadequate trip, in Tramore.

He’ll wear cheekpieces for the first time today and, on ratings, sets the standard. But Reverend Hubert, a dour stayer, might have his measure.

Paul Nolan might be on the mark with Ballinrobe winner Nicky Larson, the only penalised runner, in the opening Coca-Cola HBC Ireland 3-Y-0 Hurdle while his Only For Our Man, third to Arcland in Killarney last time, has solid each-way claims in the Golden Cow Handicap Hurdle.

Selections for Wexford

3.40 Game Point (n.b.)

4.15 Cool Summer

4.50 Mahler’s Best

5.25 Sekakarma

5.57 Queen Of The Gales

6.32 Le Coq Hardi (Nap)

7.07 Farrokh

7.38 Fr Gilligansvoyge

Next Best

3.40 Faerie Tales

4.15 Room For One More