14:55 Naas

Monday 26 April 2021

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

Blackwater Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 1m 42.4s

(5)

Fourhometwo³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 99

10/1

Lightly-raced winner. Good third of 11 in handicap (18/1) at the Curragh (7f, soft) 36 days ago, never nearer. Can give a good account.

Form: 2184-3

(4)

Eylara^h1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 94| BF

11/1

Thrice-raced winner. 5 lengths sixth of 8 to Epona Plays in Park Express Stakes (7/4) at this C&D (heavy) 29 days ago. Hood on first time. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 21-6

(12)

The Blue Panther^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 91

66/1

25/1, thirteenth of 15 in handicap at Cork (5f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Something to find on form.

Form: 6026-80

(8)

Rebel Step^p1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 90| D

12/1

Respectable second of 11 in minor event (9/1) at Dundalk (8f) 31 days ago, no match for winner. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 6318-42

(2)

Allez Barza¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 87

125/1

First run since leaving K. J. Condon when last of 6 in minor event at Gowran (8f, soft, 66/1) 18 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 63165-6

(9)

Hms Seahorse¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86| BF

1/1

7/4, second of 12 in maiden at Leopardstown (8f, good to soft) 15 days ago. That looks solid form and he's expected to be bang there from a fair opening mark.

Form: 4-52

(6)

Let Me Pass¹³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 86| BF| D

33/1

Winner at Dundalk in November. Good fourth of 10 in minor event (5/4) at Dundalk (8f). Off 131 days.

Form: 220134-

(3)

Alex D¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84

14/1

Winner at Limerick in October. 10/1, creditable tenth of 18 in handicap at Leopardstown (7f, good to soft) 12 days ago, never nearer. Yard in good form.

Form: 42710-0

(1)

Skilled Warrior^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 84

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 10/3, creditable second of 15 in maiden at Gowran (8f, soft) 18 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 32-352

(13)

Eastern Voice²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 82

25/1

Thirteenth of 17 in handicap (11/1) at this course (5.9f, heavy) 29 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 20594-0

(7)

Grid¹⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 81

13/2

Promising sort. Fourth of 14 in maiden (13/2) at Leopardstown (8f, soft). Off 6 months. Makes handicap debut and has a bigger performance in him.

Form: 434-

(10)

Snowy Owl^t1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: K J Leonard| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 79| D

50/1

20/1, thirteenth of 16 in handicap at Gowran (8f, soft) 18 days ago. Tongue strap on first time. May well do better.

Form: 52146-0

(11)

Cocobanana³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 77

25/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Sixth of 18 in maiden at Navan (10f, heavy, 11/1) 30 days ago. Trainer going well. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 94-6

Forecasts

Hms Seahorse (1/1), Skilled Warrior (5/1), Grid (13/2), Fourhometwo (10/1), Eylara (11/1), Rebel Step (12/1), Alex D (14/1), Eastern Voice (25/1), Cocobanana (25/1), Let Me Pass (33/1), Snowy Owl (50/1), The Blue Panther (66/1), Allez Barza (125/1)

This is almost certain to prove strong 3-y-o handicap form, with HMS SEAHORSE appealing as the pick at the weights having split next-time-out improvers when runner-up in maiden company at Leopardstown a fortnight ago. Grid and Skilled Warrior are just a couple of potential threats.