Intense Approach (2019) Horse
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About
Intense Approach is a seven-year-old chestnut gelding, sired by Jack Hobbs and out of Intense Tango. He races under the care of J C McConnell and belongs to Ms Caroline Ahearn. In 24 career starts he has secured seven victories and placed second four times, accumulating $130,762 in earnings. His most recent outing took place at Punchestown on 13 October 2026, where he finished 2nd of a 5 runner field. The latest win was achieved at Galway on 1 August 2025.
Raced At
Down Royal • Punchestown • Tramore • Kilbeggan • Galway • Bellewstown • Cheltenham • Navan • Musselburgh • Perth • Chepstow • Kelso • Downpatrick • Wexford • Listowel • BallinrobeRace Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Down Royal 01-Nov-26 4828m GOOD R4 Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Handicap Chase, SP: 10.00 | Conor Smithers | 1 (12) |
| Punchestown 13-Oct-26 4714m GOOD Hurdle, SP: 14/1 Led, three lengths advantage at halfway, jumped slightly left 7th, mistake 3 out, pushed along when pressed after 2 out, headed before last, ridden run-in, kept on but not match winner | Conor Smithers 69.9kg 4 1/2l | 2 (5) |
| Tramore 16-Aug-26 4426m GOOD Chase, SP: 11/2 Mid-division, not fluent 3rd and 10th, 3rd halfway, not fluent 13th, ridden along and dropped to rear after 3 out, pulled up before last | Alex Harvey 76.2kg | UPL (10) |
| Kilbeggan 09-Aug-26 4060m SOFT R6 HcpCh $818 (of $40,894), Winning Time: 04:56.400, SP: 11.00 1st Rexem ( J Williamson 156 , Cd 151 ) 2nd Jasko Des Dames ( M O'connor 166 ) 0.50L 3rd Mickie Angel ( J J Slevin 156 ) 5.25L 6th Intense Approach ( A Harvey 159 ) 8.55L See full results | A Harvey 72.1kg 8.55L | 6 (8) |
| Galway 01-Aug-26 4527m SOFT R3 HcpCh (of $78,907), Winning Time: 05:40.800, SP: 17.00 1st Kings Hill ( J J Slevin 153 ) 2nd A Penny A Hundred ( B Hayes 151 ) 3.75L 3rd Rising Dust ( D Meyler 150 ) 3.25L 13th Intense Approach ( A Harvey 153 ) 46.00L See full results | A Harvey 69.4kg 46kgL | 13 (22) |
| Bellewstown 03-Jul-26 2479m GOOD R7 Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker, Crockafotha (Q.R.) Race $793 (of $15,857) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 02:44.270, SP: 7.50 1st Lark In The Mornin ( P W Mullins 164 ) 2nd Can Happen ( G Benson 154 ) 0.50L 3rd Weston ( L P Shanahan 154 ) 1.75L 5th Intense Approach ( L A Byrne 154 , Cd 147 ) 9.00L See full results | L A Byrne 69.9kg, Cd 66.7kg 9.00L | 5 (7) |
| Cheltenham 13-Mar-26 4139m SOFT R2 CL1 NvHcpCh (of $126,002), Winning Time: 05:10.840, SP: 81.00 1st Meetmebythesea ( B Jones 153 ) 2nd Gold Dancer ( S Cleary-farrell 166 ) 4.75L 3rd Regent's Stroll ( H Cobden 159 ) 2.25L 16th Intense Approach ( A Harvey 151 , Cd 148 ) 58.70L See full results | A Harvey 68.5kg, Cd 67.1kg 58.7kgL | 16 (20) |
| Navan 01-Mar-26 3219m HEAVY R5 CL1 NvCh $1,742 (of $34,843), SP: 51.00 1st Jacob's Ladder ( J Kennedy 155 ) 2nd Lovely Hurling ( M Walsh 155 ) 1.25L 3rd Port Joulain ( P Townend 155 ) 4.50L 5th Intense Approach ( D O'keeffe 155 ) 47.75L See full results | D O'keeffe 70.3kg 47.8kgL | 5 (5) |
| Musselburgh 01-Feb-26 4086m GOOD TO SOFT CL3 Chase, SP: 11/2 Led, blundered and unseated rider after 1st | Alex Harvey 74.4kg | UPL (6) |
| Cheltenham 25-Oct-25 5029m GOOD (GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES) CL2 Chase, SP: 2/1 Prominent, led 2nd, headed 11th, ridden final bend, soon outpaced, 4th and no extra before bypassed last, weakened flat | Alex Harvey 73kg 13l | 5 (7) |
| Galway 01-Aug-25 4527m GOOD Chase, SP: 13/2 Soon led, headed briefly 6th, joined 8th and headed 5 out, remained prominent and led again early run-in, soon ridden, kept on well inside final furlong | Alex Harvey 75.3kg | 1 (16) |
| Perth 23-Apr-25 4816m GOOD TO SOFT CL1 Hurdle, SP: 9/1 In touch, not fluent 1st, tracked leader after 2nd, jumped left 6th, not fluent 2 out, soon lost second, ridden and weakened approaching last | James Bowen 72.1kg 5 1/2l | 8 (14) |
| Cheltenham 14-Mar-25 4822m GOOD TO SOFT CL1 Hurdle, SP: 14/1 Midfield, chased leaders 3rd, lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up | S Bowen 73kg | UPL (20) |
| Musselburgh 01-Feb-25 4791m GOOD TO SOFT CL2 Hurdle, SP: 5/4 Made all, ridden after 2 out, went clear run-in | James Bowen 73.5kg | 1 (5) |
| Cheltenham 26-Oct-24 4817m GOOD CL2 Hurdle, SP: 2/1 Led 1st, clear before last, edged right flat, stayed on well, comfortably | Harry Cobden 73.5kg | 1 (5) |
| Chepstow 11-Oct-24 3914m SOFT (GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES) CL1 Hurdle, SP: 11/2 Led, ridden and headed before last, kept on, no match for winner | Harry Cobden 69.9kg 7 1/2l | 2 (7) |
| Kelso 18-Sep-24 4196m GOOD CL4 Hurdle, SP: 1/3 Not always fluent, prominent, disputed lead before 2nd, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, good jump to lead 6th, travelling best before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on approaching last, pushed out run-in | Alex Harvey 73kg | 1 (7) |
| Downpatrick 26-Aug-24 4389m GOOD Hurdle, SP: 4/6 Rear of mid-division, 5th halfway, 3rd 4 out and headway to lead 2 out, pushed along and drew clear early run-in, kept on well, easily | Alex Harvey 75.3kg | 1 (7) |
| Downpatrick 11-Aug-24 4389m GOOD Hurdle, SP: 11/8 Towards rear, bumped by rival 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway to go prominent after 4th, chased leaders from 2 out, every chance when bumped by rival last, briefly dropped back to fourth, soon recovered and went second home turn, chased winner run-in, kept on but always held towards finish | Alex Harvey 75.3kg 1 3/4 length | 2 (11) |
| Bellewstown 06-Jul-24 3456m GOOD Hurdle, SP: 11/4 Led, headed after 1st, 2nd halfway, regained advantage after 4 out, pushed along and headed after 3 out, rallying on inner when fell 2 out | B W Harvey 75.3kg | UPL (13) |
| Kelso 02-Mar-24 3644m GOOD TO SOFT CL1 Hurdle, SP: 22/1 Raced wide, close up, pushed along and weakened 4 out, pulled up next | Ben Harvey 72.1kg | UPL (12) |
| Wexford 17-Nov-23 4023m HEAVY Hurdle, SP: 6/5 Led and disputed, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight, dropped to 3rd 2 out, eased and no impression in 4th when fell last | B W Harvey 73kg | UPL (12) |
| Listowel 23-Sep-23 3219m YIELDING TO SOFT NH Flat, SP: 11/8 Chased leader, disputed after 7f, definite advantage over 4f out, pushed along entering straight, joined over 1f out, soon ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, all out | Alex Harvey 75.3kg | 1 (6) |
| Bellewstown 08-Jul-23 3391m GOOD (GOOD TO FIRM IN PLACES) NH Flat, SP: 1/4 Raced mainly in 2nd, improved to lead over 4f out, went clear from 2f out, kept on well and increased advantage inside final furlong, easily | Alex Harvey 71.2kg | 1 (8) |
| Ballinrobe 30-May-23 3255m GOOD (GOOD TO YIELDING IN PLACES) NH Flat, SP: 3/1 Led and disputed, ridden over 2f out, narrow lead entering straight, joined again inside final furlong, just denied close home | Alex Harvey 73.5kg Head | 2 (15) |