15:10 Naas

Thursday 3 April 2025

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Colm White Bookmakers Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 58.30s

Shuffle The Deck⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: T M Walsh| OR: 130| C

5/1

Sent off at 5/4 and confirmed debut promise when comfortably off the mark in a 19.5f maiden here in December. Struggling some way out when pulled up in Grade 1 company a month later but well worth another chance back from a break.

Form: 1-31P

Casheldale Lad^h⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| D

11/1

Won maiden sole start on Flat for Andrew Kinirons and followed up on belated return/yard debut in a maiden hurdle at Gowran (2m) in November. Seemingly not 100% when last of 5 in novice at Navan (2m) in January and no surprise to see him back on track.

Form: 15

Rockymountainbleu³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 123

10/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 17/2, fourth of 5 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 32 days ago, not seen to best effect given how the race unfolded. Return to 2½m+ may well suit ideally moving forward.

Form: 72-1334

Sonny May^t⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: D Hickey| OR: 121| D

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 2 wins from 4 runs this season. 20/1, bit below form fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (19.8f, good) 95 days ago. Improvement had come at this shorter trip previously, so better showing not ruled out.

Form: 00-4115

Scotcantou¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 120| D

10/3

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 25¾ lengths last of 7 to Anzadam in Grade 3 Mullinan Hurdle (100/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, good) 124 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Eoin Christopher McCarthy and there could yet be more to come back in calmer waters

Form: 59317

Adela Icon^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119

9/2

Fair in bumpers and showed benefit of belated return/stable debut effort in that sphere when winning 12-runner novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy, 9/2) on hurdles bow 38 days ago, battling well. Represents leading yard and surprise where there not even more to come.

Form: 0/22-01

Positive Energy³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 120| D

11/4

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1¼m) for W. McCreery who justified good support to make a winning debut for new yard in 12-runner juvenile hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy) on NH debut 33 days ago, always holding on. Respected with improvement anticipated.

Form: 1

Action Plan^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jake Coen⁽³⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 119| D

16/1

Fairly useful Flat performer who showed improved form when off the mark in 7-runner juvenile hurdle at Punchestown (15.8f) in October. Shaped as if better for the run after 5 months off when sixth of 12 in juvenile hurdle at Limerick (16.2f) 21 days ago. Better showing likely in refitted cheekpieces

Form: 33416

Forecasts

Positive Energy (11/4), Scotcantou (10/3), Adela Icon (9/2), Shuffle The Deck (5/1), Sonny May (9/1), Rockymountainbleu (10/1), Casheldale Lad (11/1), Action Plan (16/1)

SHUFFLE THE DECK had excuses on account of the testing ground when pulled up over further here in January and, having previously looked potentially useful, he's worth another chance to get back on the up back from a break. Adela Icon, Positive Energy and Casheldale Lad head up the dangers in what is an interesting affair.