16:15 Gowran Park

Saturday 15 February 2025

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4216:1516:50

O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 35.05s

So Des Flos^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: K C Sexton| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

50/1

Pulled up in handicap chase (20/1) at Cork (28f, good) on reappearance 104 days ago, dropping away before 4 out. Back down in trip.

Form: 74412-P

Dutch Schultz⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129| C

22/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. 18/1, running well (disputing third) when unseating 2 out in handicap chase at Limerick (19.4f, soft) 49 days ago. Needs to eliminate errors.

Form: 2117PU

Better Times Ahead²⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Simon Torrens| T: R Tyner| OR: 127| BF

18/1

Good second of 12 in handicap chase (4/1) at Punchestown (24.5f, soft) when last seen in May. Should go well if ready to roll after 9 months off.

Form: 841/622-

Invictus Machin^h⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 121

28/1

Latest win in chase at Kilbeggan in August. 14/1, eighth of 12 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, good to soft) since. Bounce back needed.

Form: F42-618

Noble Talent⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 115| CD

9/2

Won a C&D maiden in November. Bit disappointing when only fifth of 9 in handicap chase at Punchestown (19.7f, soft, 7/2) since but capable of bouncing back.

Form: 5-52415

Battle Of Ridgeway^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 114

9/1

Off 9 months, respectable fifth of 10 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (17.1f, soft, 10/1) 21 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Considered with that run behind him.

Form: 2574-55

Hands Of Gold²⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ricky Doyle| T: A L T Moore| OR: 114| CD

10/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, possibly amiss when pulled up in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Punchestown (23.5f, good to soft) in May. Off since. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 59688P-

Soloman Lane^t1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: R A Berry⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 110| D

11/1

Good third of 10 in handicap chase (66/1) at Fairyhouse (17.1f, soft) 21 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. One of 2 solid contenders for his stable.

Form: 02P1-P3

Baldur's Gate²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 109

17/2

Creditable third of 19 in handicap chase (10/1) at Fairyhouse (26f, soft) 21 days ago. Back down in trip. Can make presence felt.

Form: 2725-43

Petit King²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 108

25/1

Fairly useful winner at 19f over hurdles but yet to reach the same level over fences, finishing a distant sixth of 11 in handicap chase (33/1) at Naas (20.1f, heavy) 20 days ago.

Form: 543-706

Prince Zaltar^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 107| D

9/4

Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. Off 13 months. best effort over fences when second of 8 in handicap chase at Punchestown (22.7f, heavy) 34 days ago. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: 15462-2

Midweek Voices³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 105

4/1

9/2, career best when winning 7-runner handicap chase at Punchestown (19.4f, heavy) 34 days ago, easily. An 8 lb rise demands another career best.

Form: 465521

Non-Runners

Cleatus Poolaw²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Danny Gilligan

Forecasts

Prince Zaltar (9/4), Midweek Voices (4/1), Noble Talent (9/2), Cleatus Poolaw (6/1), Baldur's Gate (17/2), Battle Of Ridgeway (9/1), Hands Of Gold (10/1), Soloman Lane (11/1), Better Times Ahead (18/1), Dutch Schultz (22/1), Petit King (25/1), Invictus Machin (28/1), So Des Flos (50/1)

BATTLE OF RIDGEWAY gets the vote to build on an encouraging comeback run at Fairyhouse last month. His stablemate Soloman Lane was ahead of him in third at Fairyhouse and should go well again. Baldur's Gate and the returning Better Times Ahead also make the shortlist.