15:13 Naas

Sunday 23 March 2025

All13:2814:0314:3815:1315:4816:2316:5817:30

DAR Golf Handicap

Off time: 15:14 | Winning time: 1m 38.66s

(8)

Chicago Fireball¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 92

16/1

Dual 1m winner during first half last season and hard to knock his efforts in defeat thereafter, best effort yet when second of 16 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, good to soft) in September. Respected on return to action.

Form: 113272-

(6)

En Or^t⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Ryan⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 92

40/1

Versatile sort who tasted success twice on the Flat at up to 2m last year and best effort yet over hurdles when second in 17-runner Limerick maiden (2m) in December. This trip may well be on the sharp side however back from 85 days off.

Form: 641071

(12)

Hurricane Ivor^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: S T McCullagh⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 91| D

20/1

Stepped up markedly on his comeback run in this race 12 months ago when successful at the Curragh (7f) in May. Exploits mixed during a light campaign thereafter and this run may well bring him on.

Form: 010206-

(9)

Love Billy Boy⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S Foley| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 87

11/8

First run since leaving Richard Hannon/off 6 months when good second of 12 in handicap at the Curragh (6f, soft, 5/1) 7 days ago, having to weave through and unlucky not to win. One to be interested in turned out quickly.

Form: 93236-2

(10)

Fast Tara²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Luke McAteer| T: P W Flynn| OR: 84

33/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. 8/1, twelfth of 16 in handicap at Galway (7f, soft) in August. Changed yards ahead of return to action and worth noting she has gone well fresh previously. Not discounted.

Form: 57/5380-

(4)

Sara Valentina¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 84| D

18/1

Lightly-raced winner. 11/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at this C&D in October, losing place around 2f out. Returns with yard amongst the winners and surprise where she not capable of better this season.

Form: 9/1430-

(5)

Mercurial¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Alan Casey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Nallen| OR: 83

14/1

12/1 and blinkered for 1st time, ended last season with a creditable third of 26 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, good to soft) in November, keeping on. Headgear left off for seasonal bow and this run may well bring him on.

Form: 255253-

(13)

Quatre Bras^h1²¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 83| D

20/1

All-weather winner (at 7f) who proved consistent without getting his head in front for Jane Chapple-Hyam last season. returns from 7 months off with a hood fitted on stable debut and the betting can prove a useful guide.

Form: 902354-

(15)

Money Dancer⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 82| D

9/1

7f maiden winner on debut this time last year. Struggled upped in class thereafter but back on track with placed efforts in pair of juvenile maiden hurdles around the turn of the year. May have more to offer returned to this sphere.

Form: 1900-

(11)

Facethepuckout¹⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: J A Powell⁽³⁾| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 80| BF| CD

14/1

Successful on seasonal return over C&D last July before a good third at Galway a week later. Mixed bag in 3 starts thereafter but record at this venue is a positive one, so he's not dismissed out of hand back from 5 months off.

Form: 0/13050-

(2)

Heart Of Darkness⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 80

40/1

Creditable third of 7 in handicap at Dundalk (7f, 28/1) 53 days ago, ridden when short of room over 1f out. Likely needs to pull out more if she's to open her account on turf here.

Form: 4166-43

(3)

Gerrit's Gem¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: K P Cotter| OR: 79

5/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win at Cork in October. Bit below form fourth of 8 in handicap (6/1) at Leopardstown (8f, heavy). Off 154 days.

Form: 010314-

(1)

Una Matata^t¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Coen| T: C Timmons| OR: 75| D

125/1

Lightly-raced sort, off the mark at Fairyhouse (7f) in September. Hooded for 1st time, last of 8 in minor event at the Curragh (7f, good to soft, 22/1). Off 140 days. Others more persuasive.

Form: 0/4178-

(7)

Storm Averted²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: W Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 73

12/1

Lightly-raced filly who shaped as if better for the run after 4 months off when sixth of 13 in maiden (12/1) at Dundalk (6f) 23 days ago. Likely to be sharper now and switch to handicaps in her favour. Betting can guide.

Form: 73282-6

(14)

Secret Magician^p,t²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: M W Hassett⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 69| BF| CD

14/1

C&D winner back in August who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 17 in handicap (10/3) at the Curragh (6f, good) on final start later that month. No forlorn hope from this sort of mark back from 6 months off for all this is tougher than company he usually keeps.

Form: 077125-

Forecasts

Love Billy Boy (11/8), Gerrit's Gem (5/1), Money Dancer (9/1), Storm Averted (12/1), Facethepuckout (14/1), Secret Magician (14/1), Mercurial (14/1), Chicago Fireball (16/1), Sara Valentina (18/1), Hurricane Ivor (20/1), Quatre Bras (20/1), Fast Tara (33/1), Heart Of Darkness (40/1), En Or (40/1), Una Matata (125/1)

LOVE BILLY BOY looked an unlucky loser starting out for present connections when just touched off at the Curragh last week and, with the step back up in trip in his favour, he can confirm the promise of that run and come out on top. Facethepuckout goes particularly well here and he's a threat with Chicago Fireball another to note. Fast Tara also commands a second look starting out for a new yard.