18:30 Navan

Monday 23 April 2018

All16:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Blackwater Handicap

Off time: 18:32 | Winning time: 1m 49.30s

(2)

Lethal Steps¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 98| BF| D

5/2

Distance winner who was beaten favourite last time out in a Dundalk Listed contest on the AW when last seen in October. Won on first two career starts last season.

Form: 11254-

(3)

Platinum Warrior¹⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: C O'Donoghue| T: M Halford| OR: 96| D

8/1

Improved with every run last term winning a competitive maiden at Dundalk over 1m on the AW when last seen in November. Would not have had to improve much to land a blow here.

Form: 821-

(5)

Band of Outlaws¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87| BF

9/2

Beaten favourite last time out but has not been disgraced in two seasonal starts so far both at Naas. Improvement likely and place claims.

Form: 2151-43

(6)

Poetic Light¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 83| BF| D

12/1

Distance winner of a Bellewstown maiden in August on good ground. Beaten favourite at the end of the season but should make his presence felt in this contest.

Form: 0315-

(1)

Spiorad Saoirse²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 81

14/1

Made a positive start to his career in handicaps but has regressed since and was well-beaten on his last three starts. Tough ask.

Form: 51480-7

(4)

Caffe Macchiato^b1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Shane Foley| T: A Keatley| OR: 79

9/2

Not disgraced in three career starts including on season debut in a Naas maiden over 1m last month when finishing fourth of 15. Place claims at best.

Form: 35-4

(9)

Sebastiano Ricci⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 78| BF

7/2

Just a maiden win to his name from 10 starts, though did run well enough in a stronger handicap at Naas last month before improving at Leopardstown last week. Not easy to discount.

Form: 0276-57

(7)

Lisard Lady¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: T Cooper| OR: 78| BF

16/1

Backed when sent off favourite on his final start of the season at Leopardstown in October following a heavy defeat earlier at Naas. Market likely to be informative.

Form: 174-

Non-Runners

(8)

Quizical¹⁸³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: S Lavery J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Lethal Steps (5/2), Sebastiano Ricci (7/2), Caffe Macchiato (9/2), Band of Outlaws (9/2), Platinum Warrior (8/1), Quizical (10/1), Poetic Light (12/1), Spiorad Saoirse (14/1), Lisard Lady (16/1)

Quizical and Poetic Light could be the pair vying for the lead here as the gates open with Lethal Steps and Band Of Outlaws racing in behind. The Mick Halford-trained PLATINUM WARRIOR can take advantage of the early speed as he did when staying on strongly inside the final furlong at Dundalk in November going on to win by 7½L.