18:24 Down Royal

Friday 5 September 2025

All16:1516:5017:2217:5418:2418:5419:24

Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap

Off time: 18:26 | Winning time: 4m 0.41s

(14)

Jerandme^t1¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Jessica O'Gorman⁽⁷⁾| T: E & P Harty| OR: 77| C

18/1

Course winner. First run since leaving Kevin Prendergast when good third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (20.5f, good, 14/1) 16 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 3/4-2440

(11)

Capital Theory³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁷⁾| T: H D McGuigan| OR: 76

80/1

7/1, bit below form sixth of 12 in claimer at Sligo (10.6f, good to soft) 30 days ago, not clear run. Significantly up in trip and others make more appeal.

Form: 0909-26

(16)

Sign From Above^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Ben Coen| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 76| C

6/1

Course winner. Very good fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle (10/3) at Sligo (20.5f, good) 16 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat, bit below form on last Flat outing.

Form: 1/1-7657

(9)

Sir Callisto^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: James Ryan| T: A J Martin| OR: 76

11/1

Winner at Dundalk in February. Good fourth of 14 in handicap (40/1) at the Curragh (12f, good) 13 days ago, left with lot to do. Significantly up in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 00-4104

(3)

Bruant³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR: 74

50/1

Modest winner at 18f over hurdles. 40/1, last of 18 in handicap at Galway (11.8f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Yard saddles a stronger candidate in Sir Callisto.

Form: 371-000

(6)

Last Ammo^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jack Kearney⁽³⁾| T: Laura Hourigan| OR: 74

33/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 22/1, sixteenth of 18 in handicap at Galway (16.5f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Looks vulnerable.

Form: 5-00040

(8)

Sundance Sioux⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Eryka Snioch⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Cian Hughes| OR: 74

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Fifteenth of 21 in handicap (25/1) at Navan (14f, good) 90 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 2895-0

(5)

Open To Question^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Shane Foley| T: N Meade| OR: 71

13/2

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle (8/1) at Killarney (22.8f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 459/0-

(13)

Grappa Nonino^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 70

14/1

Latest win at Dundalk in March. 10/1, creditable third of 11 in handicap at Leopardstown (15f, good) 29 days ago. Up in trip and cheekpieces back on. Solid each-way chance.

Form: 07-1003

(15)

The Truant^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Leigh Roche| T: P W Flynn| OR: 70

33/1

13/2, eighth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (17.8f, good) 11 days ago. Fair on the Flat, career best when winning on last Flat outing.

Form: 063051

(12)

Empress Alma¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 67| C

11/2

Course winner. Respectable seventh of 12 in handicap at Killarney (14.4f, good, 8/1) 14 days ago. Up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 865507

(2)

Billie Frechette^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Browne McMonagle| T: N Meade| OR: 65| C

5/4

Two wins from 3 runs this year. 14/1, good second of 16 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.5f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Shortlist material.

Form: 623-141

(7)

Alba Chiara⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Hassett⁽³⁾| T: N Lupini| OR: 63| BF

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eleventh of 12 in handicap at Ballinrobe (9.6f, good to soft, 5/2) 46 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 5-7230

(4)

Highwind²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Sheridan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 84

22/1

Fairly useful jumps winner. Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 20½ lengths eighth of 10 to The Truant in handicap (11/1) at Tramore (16f, good to soft) 20 days ago. RESERVE.

Form: 2133/0-8

Non-Runners

(10)

Party Dress¹³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: W McCreery J: Non Runner

(1)

Grann's Boy³⁴

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: H Rogers J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Billie Frechette (5/4), Empress Alma (11/2), Sign From Above (6/1), Open To Question (13/2), Sir Callisto (11/1), Grappa Nonino (14/1), Party Dress (16/1), Alba Chiara (18/1), Jerandme (18/1), Highwind (22/1), Grann's Boy (25/1), The Truant (33/1), Last Ammo (33/1), Sundance Sioux (33/1), Bruant (50/1), Capital Theory (80/1)

The vote goes to SIR CALLISTO, who did well under the circumstances when fourth at the Curragh and he promises to be suited by this stamina test. Billie Frechette is at the top of his game and is also high on the shortlist, while Grappa Nonino and The Truant also enter calculations. Top-weight Jerandme is worth a second look, too.