15:30 Naas

Monday 23 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Naas Racecourse Business Club Madrid Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 33.58s

(2)

Fan Club Rules²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 102

40/1

Trained in France last year, sold for 70,000 gns in October. Won a maiden on soft. Fourth in Group events at about 5f on last three starts, including the Molecomb at Goodwood when last seen. Today's 7f slog asks a major new question.

Form: 219444-

(9)

Real Appeal¹⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95

16/1

3-5 when trained in France in first half of 2019, including a 5f Listed win on good in first-time blinkers. Failed to match that form in three runs for Jim Bolger and has been gelded since latest. Dam was a 7½f winner.

Form: 210745-

(14)

Camachita¹⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 92| D

12/1

Late foal. Won a 7f AW maiden on the fifth of her six starts as two-year-old and fourth of five in a 7f Group 3 at Leopardstown (soft-heavy) on final outing was her best form. Looks effective under the conditions and could still improve.

Form: 428214-

(5)

Hong Kong^b¹⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 88| C

3/1

Half-brother to high-class sprinter Caravaggio. Blinkered in the mud on last two starts in the autumn, showing improved form to win 6f maiden here before below form from the front in a 7f Group 3 at Newmarket. Could still have more to offer.

Form: 78217-

(6)

The King Of Kells¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 86

13/2

11 starts already, the latest a good effort when close third of six at Dundalk ten days ago. Had ended 2019 with handicap wins from the front at the Curragh (6½f, soft) and Dundalk (6f); disappointed on sole attempt at 7f.

Form: 12011-3

(12)

Elusive King¹⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: N G McCullagh| T: K J Condon| OR: 85| C

8/1

Late foal who was not seen out until October and won a 22-runner maiden here (6f, heavy) at the second attempt. That was by a nose, with late bid, and it looks as if this extra furlong will suit him very well. Big player.

Form: 51-

(13)

The Peckhampouncer²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: D Broad| OR: 85

22/1

His win in a Tipperary nursery came on soft but over 5f in just a four-runner race. Well held in a 6f nursery five days later last August. Gelded since. Others are a bit more convincing.

Form: 342317-

(1)

Lustown Baba¹⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 84| CD

5/1

Made the running for wins on testing ground at 6f and 7f last October, latterly at this track. Good third in a nursery on final start. Each-way claims.

Form: 76113-

(10)

Justina²³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 80| BF| D

15/2

Won a 7f maiden at Roscommon on debut and finished close up in his other two starts last summer, in a nursery on final outing. All three runs on good. Not seen for nearly eight months but she needs a market check.

Form: 124-

(8)

In From The Cold¹⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: M Mulvany| OR: 79| CD

8/1

Had 13 starts as a two-year-old, winning one nursery in August and another in November on final outing. The latter was over C&D on heavy going and he is one to consider despite being more exposed than many of today's rivals.

Form: 642421-

(11)

Cardinal Rule^p1¹³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: C P Hoban| T: F J Flood| OR: 77

66/1

Not far away in his three maidens last autumn for Pat Murphy, including over 1m on soft on debut. Stoutly bred, so is likely to be suited by further than this before long.

Form: 557-

(4)

Wild Cherry¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 77

14/1

Fair form over 6f at this track in the first and last (on soft-heavy) of her three maidens last autumn. Below form trying 7f in between but she is bred to stay and shaped on final outing as if she'd get the trip.

Form: 504-

(3)

Bella Brazil⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74| BF| D

25/1

Won at Redcar last May but failed to build on that in five later starts for David Barron. Nearly won twice this winter for new yard over 7f on AW, before a lesser show over 1m at Dundalk. Unraced on softer than good and needs to resume improvement.

Form: 8571-20

(7)

Varna Gold⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 70

50/1

Fair maiden after six starts, all on Dundalk AW over 7f/1m. Gelded since bit below form in January on latest outing, when he was tried in cheekpieces. Needs to improve with this switch to turf.

Form: 7363-89

Forecasts

Hong Kong (3/1), Lustown Baba (5/1), The King Of Kells (13/2), Justina (15/2), In From The Cold (8/1), Elusive King (8/1), Camachita (12/1), Wild Cherry (14/1), Real Appeal (16/1), The Peckhampouncer (22/1), Bella Brazil (25/1), Fan Club Rules (40/1), Varna Gold (50/1), Cardinal Rule (66/1)

Several above him in the weights, including Camachita and Hong Kong, have been seen in Group races but it may well prove best to side with the clear promise of ELUSIVE KING who stayed 6f in the mud so well at Naas in his two maidens last autumn. In From The Cold and Lustown Baba have already won over C&D on similar ground, which earns plenty of respect, while several of the others are unexposed and could have more to offer.