17:15 Naas

Sunday 21 May 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 1m 38.43s

(3)

Blues Emperor²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 84| D

2/1

Matched best form, on return from 6 months off, when second of 14 in handicap at Limerick (8f, soft, 6/1) 29 days ago. 1 lb rise fair and holds strong claims.

Form: 4/317-2

(12)

Belharra²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 83

16/1

First run since leaving Francois Rohaut when ninth of 14 in handicap at Limerick (8f, soft, 17/2) on IRE debut 29 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 912-129

(2)

Flaming Moon²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: M J Smith| OR: 83| D

33/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. 18/1 and hood on for 1st time in this code, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Limerick (8f, soft) 29 days ago. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 300/09-0

(7)

Laughifuwant¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: J A Heffernan| T: G Keane| OR: 83| D

12/1

Twenty one runs since last win in 2020. 16/1, seventeenth of 19 in handicap at Leopardstown (10f, heavy) 14 days ago, not clear run. Chance on old form.

Form: 05-0550

(11)

Red Heel²⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 82| D

22/1

Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap (13/2) at Fairyhouse (7f, good). Off 8 months. First run for yard after leaving Michael Mulvany. Others more persuasive.

Form: 91U984-

(5)

Comfort Line^p,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 80| D

14/1

Tenth of 11 in handicap (18/1) at Cork (8f, soft) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Work to do.

Form: 96-0700

(14)

Plume Noire²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: B Duffy| OR: 80| D

10/1

20/1, respectable fourth of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, heavy). Off 7 months. Remains low mileage and warrants respect on return.

Form: 219/074-

(10)

Redstone Well¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: D W O'Sullivan| OR: 80| D

10/1

13/2, good third of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f), suited by increase in trip. Off 165 days. Back down in trip. Can make presence felt.

Form: 510023-

(9)

Navagio^t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: R P Cody| OR: 79

14/1

Seventeenth of 19 in handicap at Cork (7f, soft, 20/1) 16 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Others more appealing.

Form: 5200-30

(1)

Facethepuckout⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 77| D

13/2

Won back-to-back handicaps (at up to 8.3f) in October and shaped well when third of 12 in handicap at this course (7f, heavy, 14/1) on return 56 days ago. Respected.

Form: 03110-3

(8)

Rick Dalton^b1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: James Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 76

11/1

9/2, creditable eighth of 16 in handicap at Limerick (8f, soft) 29 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time. Not discounted.

Form: 3228-28

(6)

Independent Expert²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A J Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 75

9/1

Returned to form when creditable third of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, soft) 20 days ago. Just 1 lb higher now and is one for the shortlist.

Form: 576-403

(13)

Ms Eagleton²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Chris Hayes| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 72

12/1

Tenth of 13 in handicap at Punchestown (9f, good to soft, 15/2). Off 8 months. Fairly treated on return.

Form: 221360-

Non-Runners

(4)

Crystal Black⁴³

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: G Keane J: Gary Carroll

Forecasts

Blues Emperor (2/1), Facethepuckout (13/2), Independent Expert (9/1), Plume Noire (10/1), Redstone Well (10/1), Rick Dalton (11/1), Laughifuwant (12/1), Ms Eagleton (12/1), Navagio (14/1), Comfort Line (14/1), Belharra (16/1), Red Heel (22/1), Flaming Moon (33/1), Crystal Black (33/1)

Preference is for BLUES EMPEROR, who made an encouraging reappearance at Limerick last month and remains low mileage. Facethepuckout and Independent Expert head the list of dangers.