Got a hangover? Too much Guinness? Don’t tell us you went for the Jameson or the Tullamore D.E.W. Last weekend’s Irish tour de force at Far Hills sent the American-based steeplechase horses home without a win on the year’s biggest day.
But that’s how it goes sometimes. Irish-based horses got blanked in 2024, and they came back stronger than ever to win five hurdle races in 2025. You want reasons? They got their ground as the turf (despite early designations as firm) was good and softer than that in places; all ran on Lasix for the first time; the American contingent in the Grade 1 American Grand National left a little to be desired beyond 2024 champion Snap Decision; and – most importantly – they’re legitimate top-class horses.
- Chortal won the Harry Harris Stakes for 4-year-olds, leading throughout to defeat new German-bred import Naturally Nimble by 3 1/2 for Pennsylvania’s Erdenheim Farm, Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. American-bred Starlifter finished third in a solid effort.
- We’re Back Again won the McDynamo maiden for Elliott, Kennedy and Green Valley Construction as Irish-breds swept the first four placings. Grey Pharoh, Lewins Gully and Arturo Toscanini were no match for the winner, but have futures.
- Emily Love (Elliott, Kennedy, James Reilly) took a couple of punches but saw out a 1-length score under 160 pounds in the Peapack for fillies and mares. Anoint, in receipt of 16 pounds, wound up second with Anador third. Timetoshine made a run, but faltered late and settled for fifth.
- British-bred 4-year-old Coutach (Elliott, Danny Gilligan, Paul Byrne) ousted his elders in the Foxbrook for novice hurdlers as Cyber Ninja rallied for second and Batman Girac (who ran off halfway through the race) held on for third. They left Pure Courage, For The Parish, China Beach, Smart Uncle and Hidden Path in the wake.
- Zanahiyr (Elliott, Kennedy, Bective Stud) nearly lost his jockey with a mistake at the second fence, but picked his way into contention under patient handling and ran down fellow Irish invader Ballysax Hank to win by a head. Howyabud finished third, despite pulling up with an injury, and was a nose in front of 2024 U.S. champion and defending race winner Snap Decision. The 11-year-old saved ground throughout and was in with a shout on the turn before jockey Graham Watters had to check behind horses. The move cost him lengths and momentum as the top pair rallied around the outside. Still questioning the going? Final time for the 2 5/8 miles was 5:20; Snap Decision edged Galvin and High Definition in 5:02.80 last year and five of the last 10 winners did it in less than 5:00.
- Irish-bred but now trained in America by Barry John Foley, Fleetfoot lived up to his favoritism with a 9-length score in the John Forbes Memorial flat stakes for jockey Danny Mullins. Imported by Molly and Paul Willis, the 5-year-old Teofilo gelding came in off a second in a Group 3 at Leopardstown, a start in the Ebor at York in August and two summer wins. The connections were pondering Aqueduct’s Red Smith next month.
- And just to keep you (sort of) up to speed, Chortal, We’re Back Again, Coutach and Fil Dor (fifth in the Grand National) join American jump stables while Ballysax Hank also stayed behind for a potential start in November. And if you’re trying to keep track of the race for the steeplechase Eclipse Award, good luck. Seven Grade 1 jump races have yielded seven winners, six of them based in the U.S. Jimmy P, Cool Jet and Swore are the only active ones in that group. Cool Jet is the only horse with two unrestricted hurdle stakes wins this year as he won a Grade 1 at the Virginia Gold Cup in May and a Grade 3 at Foxfield this month. He’s expected to try the Grade 3 Noel Laing next week and perhaps the Grade 1 Colonial Cup in November. Abaan leads the earnings board but he’s out with an injury. Snap Decision beat Abaan in an April Grade 2 but was second to him in the Iroquois.
The TIHR handicappers found a few winners. Sean led the way with four – Chortal, Emily Love, Zanahiyr, Fleetfoot. Joe had three – Chortal, Emily Love, Fleetfoot. Tom came up with Chortal. Miles was blanked, but lost a tough one with Ballysax Hank in the Grand National. The standings read: Sean (15), Joe (14), Tom (7), Miles (6).
Everybody gets back to work Saturday with the International Gold Cup meet at Great Meadow in Virginia. The eight-race card starts at noon and you can bet on-site and via Twinspires. Watch the live stream via the NSA website. Find out more at the race meet website.
First race (12:00). $45,000 maiden hurdle, 2 1/2 miles. The distance will matter to a few, especially first-timers. Yes Sir Jack was third at Foxfield, and can improve. Alpamayo had solid flat form in France last year. Leipers Fork Steeplechase owns all or part of three runners – Yes Sir Jack, Sea The Ocean and Keys To Court. Point Me By is expected to scratch.
- Sean: Thomas Aquinas, Alpamayo, Yes Sir Jack.
- Joe: Alpamayo, Sea The Ocean, Nobel Speaker.
- Tom: Alpamayo, Nobel Speaker, Thomas Aquinas.
- Miles: Sea the Ocean, Alpamayo, Thomas Aquinas.
Second race (12:40). $20,000 Steeplethon cross-country timber, 3 miles. I Can Only Imagine, Fashion Line, Minella Plus, Anzio and Walk The Warrior meet again in a field of seven after a similar race at Virginia Fall. This one is longer and takes more jumping. Solid hurdlers Sultan Pierji and Icandothat join the fray.
- Sean: I Can Only Imagine, Fashion Line, Anzio.
- Joe: I Can Only Imagine, Fashion Line, Sultan Pierji.
- Tom: Fashion Line, I Can Only Imagine, Sultan Pierji.
- Miles: I Can Only Imagine, Walk The Warrior, Fashion Line.
Third race (1:20). $50,000 allowance (NW1X) hurdle, 2 1/2 miles. Like the maiden, the distance will have a say at some point. Perdominate won at Colonial and flopped at Shawan. Risk Taking broke through to win Virginia Fall maiden, his seventh try over jumps. That experience will help. Ready To Wear gets off the bench and won his most recent in May 2024. Two Past Eight has won three times over hurdles. Dynamite Dan has run well six times with a win, two seconds and three thirds over hurdles. Chosen Judge exits a win at Virginia Fall. Moonshine Time gets major class relief. Modern Science could improve at a price.
- Sean: Dynamite Dan, Risk Taking, Ready To Wear.
- Joe: Risk Taking, Dynamite Dan, Modern Science.
- Tom: Moonshine Time, Chosen Judge, Dynamite Dan.
- Miles: Chosen Judge, Moonshine Time, Risk Taking.
Fourth race (2:00). $100,000 William Allison Stakes-G2, 2 1/8 miles. A few of these could have helped represent the U.S. in the Grand National for two and a half times the purse last week. Jimmy P brings the best form, but he’s clearly better at Saratoga than elsewhere. Prepping for Grade 1 Colonial Cup. Rampoldi Plan won over the course in 2024. Welshman was second that day and just missed in the Lonesome Glory last time. Faster pace might help him settle. At 12, Decisive Triumph is pretty cool to watch and comes off a second at Foxfield. Foxy Walk looks like pace and could be tough to catch at 2 1/8 miles. Belfast Banter has loads of class. Can he summon it once more while making first jump start since May? Cool Jet, Active Duty and Noble Anthem are expected to scratch.
- Sean: Rampoldi Plan, Jimmy P, Welshman.
- Joe: Welshman, Belfast Banter, Foxy Walk.
- Tom: Jimmy P, Welshman, Rampoldi Plan.
- Miles: Welshman, Jimmy P, Little Trilby.
Fifth race (2:40). $50,000 International Gold Cup timber stakes, 3 1/2 miles. Keys Discount rides a four-race – and 13 5/8-mile – winning streak and he’s won the last five races he’s finished. Pick against the 6-year-old Medal Count gelding at your risk. The Hero Next Door was a stakes horse over hurdles and won his timber debut by 20 lengths at Shawan. Can he step forward over stiffer course and competition? Animal Kingston and Queens Empire tried the favorite at Shawan. Track And Trace looked good this spring. If he moves forward off Shawan, he’s not out of it. Shootist is plenty capable, though his last win came in 2022.
- Sean: Keys Discount, The Hero Next Door, Queens Empire.
- Joe: Keys Discount, Track And Trace, Queens Empire.
- Tom: Keys Discount, Queens Empire, Animal Kingston.
- Miles: Keys Discount, Queens Empire, Animal Kingston.
Sixth race (3:15). $40,000 handicap hurdle (115 or lower), 2 1/2 miles. The mid-range handicappers get a stamina test. Take Your Seats jumps in after a starter maiden win at Virginia Fall, Garrison Forest gets seven-pound apprentice Luke Carberry so starts at 147 instead of 154. Artistic Choice has been close multiple times. Dante’s Fire hits hard every time, but is winless in his last nine albeit with six seconds). L’Avvocato will appreciate the trip. The Insider gets top weight and some class relief. He looked good at Colonial. Holey Moley makes his handicap debut.
- Sean: Dante’s Fire, Artistic Choice, Take Your Seats.
- Joe: Dante’s Fire, L’Avvocato, Artistic Choice.
- Tom: Dante’s Fire, L’Avvocato, Artistic Choice.
- Miles: The Insider, Artistic Choice, Dante’s Fire.
Seventh race (3:45). $30,000 starter maiden hurdle, 2 1/2 miles. Who wants the extended trip? Big George looked good at Shawan, terrible at Virginia Fall. Maybe the clunker helps the price. Love Shaq was second at Foxfield. Laker Mamba placed in his last four. Fenwick ran in the 2022 Preakness and makes his hurdle debut. Starforce finished third twice in May.
- Sean: Big George, Starforce, Love Shaq.
- Joe: Laker Mamba, Love Shaq, Big George.
- Tom: Fenwick, Starforce, Laker Mamba.
- Miles: Big George, Starforce, Love Shaq.
Eighth race (4:15). $30,000 starter maiden/optional claiming hurdle, 2 1/2 miles. A second starter maiden with British Royalty (who won the 2021 Breeder’ Stakes at Woodbine and placed in graded turf stakes for trainer Barbara Minshall) and Dancing Deb taking the $25,000 claiming price option. Fouroneohsmokeshow nearly got it done at Virginia Fall. King Of Tsavo was also second there. Getting’downonit drops out of maiden-special company.
- Sean: Fouroneohsmokeshow, Gettin’downonit, King Of Tsavo.
- Joe: Fouroneohsmokeshow, Gettin’downonit, British Royalty.
- Tom: Fouroneohsmokeshow, King Of Tsavo, Gettin’downonit.
- Miles: Foreoneohsmokeshow, Gettin’downonit, King Of Tsavo.
