15:05 Naas

Sunday 25 March 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Naas Racecourse Launches The 2018 Flat Season Handicap

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 1m 18.33s

(8)

Downforce¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 109| D

5/1

Placed in a Group 3 last campaign over further, but also goes well over this trip (ran well in a Group 2 last year). Goes on all types of ground and runs well fresh, so should be thereabouts.

Form: 742529-

(7)

Son Of Rest¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 108| BF

4/1

Progressed last season and ended the year placing in Group 2 and Listed contests. Potentially well-treated off this mark following those highly encouraging performances, and won't mind the ground.

Form: 181532-

(4)

Smash Williams²⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 96| D

14/1

Very promising juvenile back in 2015, but restricted to one run in 2016 and not at his best last year. Needs to run up to his very best to have a say on this seasonal debut.

Form: 135/486-

(6)

G Force¹⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: A Keatley| OR: 95| D

12/1

Much better than this level of competition at his best, but hasn't won since taking the Haydock Sprint Cup in 2014, and very difficult to make a case for now.

Form: 004070-

(3)

Medicine Jack³⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94| D

5/1

Fifth in a Group 2 on his only start last season, but had previously shown promise including when winning at that level back in June. Holds claims here on that sort of form but has clearly had some issues.

Form: 11337/5-

(2)

Gymkhana¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93| CD

4/1

Wasn't quite up to Listed level when tried a few times last season but has potential as a handicapper. Still 4lb above his last winning mark, but has won a conditions race since and has a good draw.

Form: 960170-

(9)

George Bowen^p¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

7/1

Useful handicapper who isn't too far above his last winning mark and has won on seasonal debut in the past. Has looked a way below this level in the past couple of years, however.

Form: 066030-

(10)

Sors²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 81| D

8/1

Has shown he can perform in top quality handicaps, including when taking the 2016 Rockingham, but his form tailed off last year when he drew a blank.

Form: 285096-

(5)

Art Nouvelle³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80| D

20/1

Not the most consistent of fillies, and needs to step up to compete at this level (especially off this mark), and she shouldn't mind the ground.

Form: 80881-6

Non-Runners

(1)

Bluesbreaker⁹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 6

T: D English J: Rory Cleary

Forecasts

Gymkhana (4/1), Son Of Rest (4/1), Medicine Jack (5/1), Downforce (5/1), George Bowen (7/1), Sors (8/1), G Force (12/1), Smash Williams (14/1), Art Nouvelle (20/1), Bluesbreaker (20/1)

Several of these are better than this level of competition, including SON OF REST. He's clearly progressing, unlike most of these, and finished off last season with a pair of fine efforts in Group 2 and then Listed company. There's no reason he shouldn't improve again off a fair mark and in conditions which should suit to use this a stepping stone to tougher races. Downforce is another who ran well in Group races last season, while Medicine Jack is one to consider on his best form.