16:30 Naas

Saturday 11 May 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Naas Racecourse Business Club Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:34 | Winning time: 1m 10.51s

(11)

Klute^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92

12/1

Kodiac colt who cost €120,000 as a yearling, and shaped well when beating Guaranteed at the Curragh in July. Form tailed off somewhat when immediately upped in class but encouragement in third at Cork over 7f on return and now merits respect.

Form: 1659-3

(7)

Blyton¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K J Manning| T: L Comer| OR: 91| D

25/1

Won three times in very busy juvenile campaign with Tom Dascombe. Well beaten in a Listed race on return but this altogether more reasonable so expecting much better.

Form: 22311-9

(8)

Empire Line²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Mike O'Connor⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 90| D

5/1

Yet to race anywhere but Dundalk where he has two wins and four seconds in seven races including a quite comfortable win latest. Not sure he's well handicapped enough for a race of this nature but is clearly improving.

Form: 2-22121

(15)

Andre Amar^b1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Shinnick⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 86

28/1

Won a Dundalk maiden on debut and ran with credit when 20/1 behind a smart sort in Listed class next time. Not really fired since however and after finishing 21st of 22 here latest it's no surprise Colin Keane prefers Erich Bloch.

Form: 1250-90

(13)

Erich Bloch¹⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 85| CD

8/1

Second in three consecutive races last season before winning a 20-runner C&D maiden latterly. In good hands to do well now handicapping and has the considerable assistance of Colin Keane.

Form: 02221-

(5)

Dragons Call²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 84

9/1

Winner on handicap debut over 5f at Navan (good) last September before running well here when fourth of 14 over C&D. Same mark here for first race this season and can go well if fully wound up for it.

Form: 52414-

(1)

Ferretti¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84

7/2

7f Dundalk maiden winner last month looks one of his stable's lesser lights based on earlier exploits and subsequent fourth in a 1m handicap. Not sure 6f will be the answer but mark not out of reach.

Form: 825-614

(4)

Lord Rapscallion¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 83| D

16/1

Curragh maiden winner at two ran well in first two handicaps but well held in subsequent pair including C&D return last month. Stable has better chance with So Familiar.

Form: 31420-0

(14)

Cityman⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 80| D

20/1

Placed three times including here over 5f before finally getting off the mark at Dundalk last time out. More depth to this race however and will need a marked step up.

Form: 4325-31

(3)

Hammersmith²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Leigh Roche| T: J Nash| OR: 80| D

20/1

6½f winner at the Curragh last season ran well enough the next twice before struggling when upped in class here over 7f the last time he was seen. Tall order on return from evidence to date.

Form: 451420-

(16)

So Familiar^b1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 80| D

25/1

6½f handicap winner at Cork last season struggled afterwards and although she's only managed seventh in both starts this season they were behind some fair yardsticks. Mark sliding and each-way potential in first-time blinkers.

Form: 2150-77

(17)

Chestnut Express^t¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 78| CD

20/1

C&D maiden winner at two but has a great deal to find based on poor ninth of 10 on return at Navan.

Form: 8421-97

(6)

Annabelle Rock²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: A McGuinness| OR: 75| D

14/1

Yet to run on turf but won three of her last five races, all at Dundalk. This will demand more in any case and that before taking into account the risks of her now on turf for the first time.

Form: 41-5112

(2)

Barend Boy^t³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Brien| OR: 75| D

10/1

6f Lingfield turf winner for Hugo Palmer kept on well for sixth of 18 latest in a 7f Leopardstown handicap in second race for this yard. Likable effort that but not one which suggested a drop to 6f would be ideal.

Form: 8075-06

(10)

Woody Creek¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 74

12/1

Four-race maiden showed potential in three of those four starts including fair fifth over C&D latest. Tough ask here against almost exclusively winners but interesting to see how she fares.

Form: 44-05

(9)

Sonaiyla¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 73| BF

13/2

Yet to win or run a bad race and latest fourth in a C&D maiden (Woody Creek) fifth was further evidence that she will be winning soon enough. Tough start to handicapping career but suspect this mark is lenient.

Form: 5-244

(12)

Syrena¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 71

16/1

Off the mark at the 13th time of asking latest in a 7f Dundalk maiden. Held before that in handicaps however so others preferred.

Form: 37-7491

Non-Runners

(18)

Gustavus Weston¹³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: J G Murphy J: Gary Carroll

Forecasts

Ferretti (7/2), Empire Line (5/1), Sonaiyla (13/2), Erich Bloch (8/1), Dragons Call (9/1), Barend Boy (10/1), Woody Creek (12/1), Klute (12/1), Gustavus Weston (12/1), Annabelle Rock (14/1), Lord Rapscallion (16/1), Syrena (16/1), Hammersmith (20/1), Cityman (20/1), Chestnut Express (20/1), So Familiar (25/1), Blyton (25/1), Andre Amar (28/1)

As difficult a three-year-old handicap as you could find with the vast majority either once winners on turf or multiple winners on AW. A chance is taken on ERICH BLOCH for the prolific Keane-Lyons combination based on his good win over C&D at the end of last season. Klute came back to something like form on return and should build on that to give a solid account as should one of the few maidens Sonaiyla who has shown plenty despite not winning just yet.