17:40 Gowran Park

Wednesday 23 April 2025

All15:5716:3017:0517:4018:1218:4219:12

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 1m 33.11s

(9)

Indigo Five²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: W Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 98| D

7/2

3/1, career best when winning 15-runner handicap at the Curragh (8f, soft) 25 days ago. This 8 lb higher mark could prove troublesome.

Form: 3255-41

(7)

Independent Expert³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁵⁾| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 87| D

3/1

First run since leaving A. Slattery when below form seventh of 27 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, soft, 16/1) 38 days ago. Not taken lightly back in calmer waters here.

Form: 63006-7

(8)

Shavasi¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86| BF

14/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. 15/8, fifth of 6 in handicap at Navan (8f, good to soft), needing stronger gallop. Off 6 months and Mataariki is presumably the stable first-string.

Form: 831315-

(1)

Bellaphina^t¹⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: James Ryan⁽³⁾| T: J A Kinsella| OR: 85| D

10/1

16/1, creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at Naas (7f, good to soft), running on. Off 6 months and she looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 034184-

(10)

Fast Tara^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: P W Flynn| OR: 84

8/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2023. 33/1, first run since leaving Joseph Patrick O'Brien when bit below form fifth of 15 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 31 days ago. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 7/5380-5

(3)

Mataariki^t¹⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84| C

3/1

One win from 3 runs last year. 2¼ lengths tenth of 17 to Ashiyma in listed race at Chantilly (7f, 23/1). Off 151 days and tongue strap back on for this handicap debut. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 1030-

(5)

Sara Valentina³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 84| D

8/1

18/1, creditable third of 15 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 31 days ago. Trainer going well and this filly is not without each-way hope.

Form: 9/1430-3

(2)

Marakesh¹⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: S Foley| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 80| CD

28/1

Twice-raced winner. C&D winner. One win from 2 runs last year. 17½ lengths last of 16 to Azada in listed race at Naas (8f, good to soft, 28/1). Off 6 months and sizeable step forward needed on this handicap debut.

Form: 10-

(6)

Heart Of Darkness³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J A Powell⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 79

16/1

40/1, creditable fourth of 15 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 31 days ago. Yard in good form but minor place money is perhaps the best she can hope for on this occasion.

Form: 166-434

Non-Runners

(4)

Tai Tam Bay³⁸

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: E & P Harty J: Wayne Lordan

Forecasts

Mataariki (3/1), Independent Expert (3/1), Indigo Five (7/2), Tai Tam Bay (5/1), Fast Tara (8/1), Sara Valentina (8/1), Bellaphina (10/1), Shavasi (14/1), Heart Of Darkness (16/1), Marakesh (28/1)

Lightly-raced 4-y-o MATAARIKI is of strong interest now handicapping off what looks a very fair opening mark judged on her good third to the progressive Big Gossey in a minor event at the Curragh in November. She wasn't discredited in a French listed race later that month and the fact that she made a winning debut in a maiden here last spring suggests that the lack of a recent run needn't be a worry. Independent Expert is second choice ahead of Tai Tam Bay.