15:30 Naas

Sunday 27 February 2022

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Naas Racecourse Business Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 3m 52.90s

Calvados²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 118

7/2

Hooded for 1st time, creditable 5½ lengths third of 7 to Impulsive One in juvenile hurdle (7/1) at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft) 21 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 133263

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Black Sirius¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 117

14/1

Latest win in hurdle at Toulouse in October. Last of 7 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 7/1) 18 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and market likely best guide now.

Form: 77157

Justicialism²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Hamilton| OR: 112

11/2

Career best when winning 7-runner juvenile hurdle (9/2) at Punchestown (16f, soft) 27 days ago by neck from Doctor Churchill. Fancied to go well again now he's off the mark.

Form: 4901

Sand Drift^t⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 108

18/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, seventh of 20 in juvenile hurdle at Punchestown (2m) in November. Room for improvement in his jumping but type to progress now handicapping.

Form: F57

Chacha Dancer¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Hassett| OR: 104

9/1

Fair on Flat. Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. 28/1, eighth of 14 in juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m) 18 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 398

Magic Word²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: J M Moore| T: A McCann| OR: 104

7/4

Fair maiden on the Flat. Thrice-raced maiden. Second of 18 in juvenile hurdle at this course (15.7f, good to soft, 10/1) 28 days ago. Can play a part with a repeat now handicapping.

Form: 772

Great Realisation²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 99

11/2

Fair maiden on the Flat. Thrice-raced maiden. Sixth of 18 in juvenile hurdle (50/1) at this course (15.7f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Entitled to hold more chnce now handicapping.

Form: 096

Grand Revival^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 98

20/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Thirteenth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (18.9f, heavy, 16/1) 10 days ago, shaping like a non-stayer. Blinkers back on and return to shorter a plus.

Form: 66830

Non-Runners

Doctor Churchill²⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: L Page

Forecasts

Magic Word (7/4), Doctor Churchill (9/4), Calvados (7/2), Justicialism (11/2), Great Realisation (11/2), Chacha Dancer (9/1), Black Sirius (14/1), Sand Drift (18/1), Grand Revival (20/1)

A competitive 4-y-o event with the narrow vote in favour of MAGIC WORD. She readily surpassed her previous exploits over hurdles when runner-up in a juvenile event at this venue 4 weeks ago and may well be up to backing up the improvement shown now handicapping. Doctor Churchill and Justicialism are a couple of others expected to feature.