17:00 Navan

Saturday 17 May 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Royal County Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 8.73s

(1)

Kibris^t1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Scott McCullagh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 91| BF

16/1

Landed a big-field maiden on sole start as a 2-y-o. Not yet built on that in stronger company in pair of starts this spring, finding less than looked likely when last of 5 in minor event (9/4) at Cork (10.4f, soft) 28 days ago. Tongue strap applied for handicap debut.

Form: 1-65

(5)

Dakota Blue³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 90| CD

15/8

Boasts some strong juvenile form and, off 6 months/gelded, he proved well suited by the step up in trip when winning 11-runner maiden at this course (10f, good to firm, 7/4) 39 days ago. Promises to do better still now attentions switch to handicaps.

Form: 242-1

(6)

Dignam¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88

12/1

Respectable sixth of 15 in handicap (80/1) at Naas (8f, good to soft) 19 days ago, keeping on without landing a blow. Worth a crack at this longer trip on that evidence.

Form: 2150-56

(2)

Light As Air⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86

11/10

Promising individual who stepped up considerably on his exploits as a juvenile when second of 16 in handicap at Leopardstown (10f, good) 48 days ago, finishing well. Highly likely there's more to come and sound claims.

Form: 33-2

(3)

Dahlia Noir²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 81

8/1

Didn't need to be at best when winning 16-runner maiden (3/1) at Gowran (8f, soft) 24 days ago. Steps back up in on return to handicaps but this demands more.

Form: 2835-51

(7)

Sunriseontheboyne⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Wesley Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 74

22/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win at Dundalk in March. 10/3, creditable second of 7 in claimer at Ballinrobe (9.6f, good) 8 days ago. May well prove vulnerable to less exposed types back in handicaps.

Form: 511092

(4)

Heishybrid^t⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 72

25/1

14/1, may have needed the run after 7 months off when sixth of 10 in handicap at Leopardstown (12f, good) 6 days ago, dropping away before final 1f. Drop back to 10f worth exploring and better showing not ruled out.

Form: 23100-6

Forecasts

Light As Air (11/10), Dakota Blue (15/8), Dahlia Noir (8/1), Dignam (12/1), Kibris (16/1), Sunriseontheboyne (22/1), Heishybrid (25/1)

LIGHT AS AIR marked himself out as one to be interested in when runner-up behind an upwardly-mobile stablemate at Leopardstown 7 weeks ago and, open to further improvement, he can build on that and go one place better. Dakota Blue is another improving sort and rates next best ahead of Dignam.