Killarney, Monday 11 May 2026: Tips and Selections

Killarney, Monday 11 May 2026: Tips and Selections

Killarney on a May evening is one of Irish racing’s great pleasures, and tonight’s card has genuine quality at the top end. The ground is Good to Yielding throughout, which suits horses with a touch of class rather than mud-lovers. Eight races on the card, three featured below, with a Grade 3 chase headlining. Gordon Elliott’s yard is ticking over rather than flying (6/81 in the last 14 days), but the numbers hide some good individual horses. Willie Mullins, as ever, has a live one in the feature.

6:07 — Killarney Oaks Hotel Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)

Selection: My Gaffer — 11/2 Boyle Sports and Betfred

Fifteen runners makes this a proper puzzle, but My Gaffer cuts through the noise. This horse won this very race 12 months ago, which counts for plenty at a track where course knowledge matters. He comes here on the back of a narrow victory at Clonmel over 2m7f, so he’s fit, he’s in form, and he’s been proven to handle this trip. The Good to Yielding surface here is not a concern for a horse rated lower over hurdles than fences, suggesting he’s operating off a workable mark. Jockey Liam McKenna claims 5lb, which stretches the value a little further.

At 11/2 in a 15-runner handicap, this is the race to get stuck in on. Four places at 1/5 the odds makes each-way a sensible play, but the win case is strong enough to go straight.

4:35 — Easy Clean Mares Maiden Hurdle (2m6½f)

Selection: Samba Train Each-Way — 11/4 Boyle Sports and Betfred, 5/2 LiveScore Bet

Nineteen runners in a mares maiden hurdle on a May evening in Kerry. The market has this as a two-horse race, and it basically is. Samba Train has the stronger case of the two principals. A dual bumper winner on both good and yielding ground, she’s not going to find the surface an issue tonight. Her hurdling debut came in a Listed mares novice, which is a tough intro, and she finished fourth. That experience counts. Edd Bolger’s yard has been in decent nick (2/6 in 14 days), which is a sharp strike rate for a smaller operation.

Early Bird at 3/1 is the obvious danger, a horse progressing well and placed on good to yielding, but Samba Train’s bumper class and pedigree for staying suggest she has upside at this trip. In a 19-runner field with three places on offer, each-way is the play at 11/4.

6:37 — BoyleSports An Riocht Chase, Grade 3 (2m4½f)

Selection: Sa Fureur — 5/1 Boyle Sports and Betfred

Jack Kennedy takes the ride on Sa Fureur and, crucially, Kennedy has three Gordon Elliott runners in this race and he picks this one. That tells you everything. Sa Fureur is a classy individual who ran as well as he was entitled to behind Energumene at Fairyhouse last month, a Grade 2 beating that should be worn as a badge of honour. His second to Impaire Et Passe in February was close to a career best. The Good to Yielding surface suits a horse with genuine class, and this shorter trip over a park track is a different proposition from a deep-ground slog.

Gentleman De Mee at 7/4 is the obvious market leader and Harry Cobden clearly fancies his chances. The Topham run at Aintree was smart enough, and Willie Mullins’ yard continues to fire with 19 winners from 126 runners in the past 14 days. But 7/4 for a horse whose form figures read /4634 requires a lot of faith. Three Card Brag is the highest-rated in the field and the form pick on ratings, but he hasn’t raced over a trip this short since 2023 and came ninth in the Grand National last time out. Coming back to 2m4f on the quick side of good asks questions.

At 5/1, Sa Fureur represents the value in the race. Kennedy’s pick, a horse hitting form, and a track where class horses perform.

Today’s NAP