17:35 Naas

Saturday 7 May 2022

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:35

Irish Racing Writers Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 17:36 | Winning time: 1m 13.99s

(3)

Thunder Eclipse¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Danny Gilligan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 95| CD

11/1

C&D winner. 40/1, ran creditably after 6 months off when 4¾ lengths fifth of 7 to New York City in listed race at Navan (5.8f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: 38128-5

(9)

Dairerin^p¹¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93| D

20/1

3/1, failed to improve making handicap debut after 5 months off when third of 4 at Newcastle (7.1f) back in January. First run for yard after leaving Michael Bell. Remains early days but this is very competitive on first start on these shores.

Form: 24128-3

(4)

Drombeg Banner³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 93

10/3

Well-backed 3/1, showed improved form to get off the mark in handicaps after 7 months off when winning 10-runner event at Cork (5f, good to soft) 34 days ago, keeping on well. 10 lb rise to contend with but he remains unexposed.

Form: 510-1

(11)

Mudamer³⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Halpin| T: K Prendergast| OR: 90| D

22/1

16/1, much improved from debut when won 10-runner maiden at Fairyhouse (6f, good) back in July. Not seen since but he's open to improvement heading into handicaps.

Form: 91-

(14)

Magniffico³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 85| D

5/1

Not seen to best effect when 3¾ lengths third of 10 to Drombeg Banner in handicap (7/1) at Cork (5f, good to soft) 34 days ago, needing stiffer test. Will be suited by this return to 6f and he has solid each-way claims.

Form: 95213-3

(12)

Speedacus^p1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: K P Cotter| OR: 84

33/1

10/1, seemed unsuited by the track after 7 months off when sixth of 11 in minor event at Bellewstown (5f, good) 17 days ago, no extra over 1f out having hung right. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 24316-6

(10)

Band Width⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A Oliver| OR: 82| D

7/1

Confirmed debut promise dropped in trip when won 7-runner maiden at Sligo (5.9f, good to soft, 85/40) 6 days ago, staying on to lead close home. Makes handicap debut. Open to further improvement.

Form: 41

(6)

Ano Syra¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: K J Manning| T: J Feane| OR: 80| CD

6/1

2 wins from 3 runs this year. 11/1, career best when winning 13-runner handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 12 days ago, staying on to lead close home. Up 7 lb but has to enter calculations in her hat-trick bid.

Form: 42-211

(8)

Heart To Heart³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 79| D

18/1

Ran no sort of race back down in trip after 5 months off when 9½ lengths last of 10 to Drombeg Banner in handicap at Cork (5f, good to soft, 12/1) 34 days ago. Something to prove at present but she's in top hands.

Form: 02816-0

(16)

Joyous Moment²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: J Davison| OR: 77| D

9/1

Clearly learnt plenty from her debut 6 months prior when winning 18-runner maiden (12/1) at the Curragh (6f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Open to further improvement starting life in handicaps.

Form: 9-1

(2)

Shoebox King³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: James J Doyle| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 77

28/1

16/1 and gelded, below form after 7 months off when 6¼ lengths eighth of 10 to Drombeg Banner in handicap at Cork (5f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 72345-8

(5)

My Eyes Adore You³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Slattery| T: J A Stack| OR: 75| BF

13/2

Thrice-raced maiden. 2/1, matched debut effort at the second attempt when fifth of 14 in maiden at Cork (7f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 27-5

(1)

It'll Do My Day¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: W Joyce⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 74

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Rare poor effort when ninth of 11 in minor event at Bellewstown (5f, good, 5/1) 17 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 00-5549

(15)

Messa Concertata¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Tom Kiely Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 74

25/1

Barely had to improve when winning 11-runner maiden (7/2) at Tipperary (5f, soft) 16 days ago, leading over 1f out and sticking to task. Back in handicap company here and others make more appeal.

Form: 5333-1

(13)

Poppy Petal^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J A Powell⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 73

25/1

6/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, seventh of 11 in minor event at Bellewstown (5f, good) 17 days ago. Probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 3326-97

Non-Runners

(7)

Neo Soul¹⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: G M Lyons J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Drombeg Banner (10/3), Magniffico (5/1), Neo Soul (11/2), Ano Syra (6/1), My Eyes Adore You (13/2), Band Width (7/1), Joyous Moment (9/1), Thunder Eclipse (11/1), Heart To Heart (18/1), Dairerin (20/1), Mudamer (22/1), Poppy Petal (25/1), Messa Concertata (25/1), It'll Do My Day (25/1), Shoebox King (28/1), Speedacus (33/1)

A competitive closing affair which can go the way of DROMBEG BANNER. Ken Condon's charge was highly tried last year and, despite not yet looking the finished article, he improved to get off the mark on handicap debut at Cork last month. He can defy a 10 lb rise in the weights and follow up. Band Width, Ano Syra and Neo Soul are just a handful of others who can also be considered.