Killarney, Saturday 9 May 2026 — Tips & Selections
Killarney on good ground in May is one of the more enjoyable fixtures on the Irish calendar, and today's card has genuine interest across three featured races. The going is described as good throughout, which is a key factor in assessing several runners whose form profiles lean heavily on sound surfaces. Willie Mullins has two runners in the big handicap chase, Gordon Elliott fields runners in multiple contests, and there are some genuinely appealing each-way angles at bigger prices. Here is where the value lies.
2:25 — MD O'Shea's Tourist Attraction Mares Hurdle (Listed)
Selection: Dunsy Rock Each-Way — 9/1 Boyle Sports
Break My Soul is the obvious starting point at 2/1. She brings Listed and Grade 1 form, her fourth behind Lossiemouth at Aintree in 2025 is blue-chip form, and she won a chase at this yard before that Fairyhouse pull-up. She is clearly the class act reverting to hurdles. The question is whether she comes here fully wound up, and a horse pulled up last time in first-time headgear today is a flag both ways.
The value angle is Dunsy Rock at 9/1. Gordon Elliott's mare has run just twice and both runs have been eyecatching. She built on a promising Down Royal debut to bolt up by six lengths in a big Fairyhouse field on heavy ground in February. She was withdrawn at Perth last month because the ground was deemed unsuitable, which tells you the team want better conditions, and today they get them. Good ground at Killarney is exactly what they were waiting for. She is only a third-career start and is lightly raced enough to outrun her current rating. In a race where the jolly has questions to answer, this 5-year-old at 9/1 each-way is the play.
- Dunsy Rock Each-Way — 9/1 Boyle Sports (SP Betfred, 9/1 LiveScore Bet) — 3 places at 1/5 odds
3:00 — Kelly Bros Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)
Selection: Cappa Hill — 5/1 Boyle Sports
This is a competitive ten-runner handicap but the going angle narrows it considerably. Several of these horses have form profiles loaded with soft or heavy ground and may be taken out of their comfort zone today.
Cappa Hill won back-to-back handicaps at Cork on good ground and at Tipperary on good to yielding. His form fell away on soft to heavy at Punchestown, which was not his ground, and he came back to do a respectable piece of work at Cork last month on yielding. Today's good ground at Killarney is bang in his wheelhouse. He won over the same trip and similar conditions and, at 5/1, he looks the standout value selection on the card.
Becasse is interesting at 2/1 having run a big race at Wexford on return, but he has never raced on good ground and that is a genuine unknown. Wholelotofbusiness won a C&D novice on yielding and knows the track, but the Cork run last time was moderate and he is only 1lb lower than when he last scored here. Cappa Hill's going form is the decisive edge.
- Cappa Hill — 5/1 Boyle Sports (5/1 Betfred, 9/2 LiveScore Bet)
4:45 — Tote Killarney National Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Selection: Pride Of Place Each-Way — 12/1 Boyle Sports
Thirteen runners, four places, and a big-field staying chase that is tailor-made for each-way punting. O'Moore Park with Paul Townend in the plate is the obvious bogey horse. He ran respectably at Aintree in the Topham, this is a step down in class, but he is unproven over today's distance and his chase record still reads 0-from-everything. Happy Jacky at 7/2 has a solid record at the track and goes well fresh, so he is the most honest favourite in the race. But at that price there is not a lot of room for error.
The each-way play is Pride Of Place at 12/1. Jim Bolger's 7-year-old won twice over fences last season at Tipperary and Listowel, both times on a sound surface up to 3m. He struggled off higher marks when the ground softened significantly, but today he gets good ground back and steps up to 3m2f, a trip that should suit given his jumping style. Charlie O'Dwyer claims 5lb, keeping the weight competitive at 151lbs. He is young enough to still be improving and at 12/1 in a four-place market, this is a live each-way investment.
Caesar Rock is the other name worth noting. He has been placed at Limerick and Wexford consecutively and goes off an unchanged mark. At 8/1, he is a viable saver if you want coverage.
- Pride Of Place Each-Way — 12/1 Boyle Sports (12/1 Betfred, 12/1 LiveScore Bet) — 4 places at 1/5 odds
Today's NAP
Odds: 5/1 — Boyle Sports (others: 5/1 Betfred, 9/2 LiveScore Bet)
Good ground is the critical factor here and Cappa Hill has won twice on it, including over course and distance at Cork. His soft-ground failure at Punchestown was predictable and should not be held against him. Back on a surface he handles, over a trip he has won at, and with an each-way position available if needed, this is the most confident selection on the card. At 5/1 he represents genuine handicap value.