14:52 Curragh

Saturday 23 August 2025

All13:4214:1714:5215:2716:0216:3717:1017:40

Neville O'Byrne Memorial Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 2m 34.31s

(3)

Shaool³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| BF

5/2

Creditable third of 10 in handicap at Ballinrobe (12.8f, good to soft, 13/8) 33 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Yard having good spell. Likely to continue in form.

Form: 234133

(2)

La Vita Nova^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 84| BF

5/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, eighth of 9 in handicap (7/4) at Ascot (16f, good to firm) 14 days ago. Down in trip. Yard in good form. Capable of bouncing back.

Form: 14-2438

(8)

Heather²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Nicola Burns⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

5/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win at Ballinrobe in June. 5/1, 10¾ lengths last of 8 to Emit in listed race at Gowran (12.2f, good) 28 days ago.

Form: 2-12128

(7)

Oriole^b1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: L F Roche| T: M Fahey| OR: 81| D

11/1

7/1, excellent second of 9 in handicap at Tramore (12f, good to soft) 7 days ago, clear of rest. Blinkers on 1st time. Enters calculations.

Form: 0-09392

(4)

Beauparc³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jack Kearney⁽³⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 80| D

8/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win at Gowran in June. 5/1, fifth of 6 in handicap at Down Royal (13f, good) 36 days ago, slowly away. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 2-10175

(1)

It's A Heartbeat⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: A J Slattery| T: John O'Donoghue| OR: 89| CD

11/1

Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Won 13-runner maiden (7/1) at this C&D (good) 80 days ago, keeping on well. Opening handicap mark demands improvement but she looks capable of better.

Form: 41

(5)

Sissi⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 77| D

28/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. Winner at Roscommon in May. 14/1, 15 lengths ninth of 12 to Heather in handicap at Ballinrobe (13f, good to soft) in June. Given a break since and could bounce back.

Form: 625-719

(6)

Party Dress^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 73

16/1

Latest win at Limerick in June. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, good second of 11 in handicap at Leopardstown (15f, good, 8/1) 16 days ago. Stable having good spell. Likely to go well.

Form: 3-59182

(9)

Fortuna Vera²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80

9/2

Latest win at Leopardstown in May. Below form sixth of 11 in handicap (10/1) at Galway (12.4f, good to soft) 26 days ago, not clear run.

Form: 741326

Forecasts

Shaool (5/2), Fortuna Vera (9/2), La Vita Nova (5/1), Heather (5/1), Beauparc (8/1), It's A Heartbeat (11/1), Oriole (11/1), Party Dress (16/1), Sissi (28/1)

SHAOOL is in a good vein of form and might be up to landing another win. Oriole was clear of the rest when runner-up at Tramore last weekend and is second choice ahead of Willie McCreery's Party Dress.