15:12 Naas

Sunday 22 March 2026

All13:3514:1014:4015:1215:4716:2216:5717:30

Colm White Bookmaker Handicap

Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 1m 34.20s

(11)

Hurricane Ivor^b¹⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Scott McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 89| CD

12/1

Returned to form with a vengeance when successful on reappearance in this race 12 months ago. Ended the campaign on a low-key note but finds himself 2 lb below last winning mark if ready to roll.

Form: 440500-

(4)

Varshini¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J A Stack| OR: 87| D

4/1

Fairly useful filly who landed a 7f Gowran maiden on reappearance last spring. Didn't fare at all badly faced with stiffer tasks thereafter, sixth at listed level here (6f) on final start in October. Return to handicaps in her favour on return.

Form: 185056-

(7)

Blues Emperor³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Nathan Crosse| T: William Harvey| OR: 86| C| D

80/1

Struggled to recapture best form in the autumn and ran poorly after 4 months off/minus usual headgear at Dundalk (1m) on stable debut 30 days ago. Looks best watched.

Form: 00776-0

(1)

Collecting Coin¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 86| BF| D

9/2

Progressive as a 3-y-o, off the mark at Third attempt at Galway (7f) prior to a good third up in grade at Killarney. Excuses at the Curragh final start (reportedly scoped dirty post-race) and there could well be more to come in 2026.

Form: 32135-

(8)

Quatre Bras³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Lee| T: R O'Brien| OR: 85| D

20/1

Dual scorer over extended 1¼m at Dundalk in the autumn and consistency hard to knock subsequently, posting a solid fourth over 1m at Dundalk 4 weeks ago. Holds a fitness edge over the majority here and one to note down in trip.

Form: 12123-4

(9)

Game Point¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: R P Cody| OR: 82

9/1

Fairly useful maiden who finished runner-up on 4 consecutive occasions last term. Below best when fourth on final start in September (not looking entirely straightforward) and market best guide now starting out for new yard back down markedly in trip.

Form: 222264-

(10)

Independent Expert^b⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: J M Sheridan| T: D Hogan| OR: 81| C| D

25/1

Capitalised on marked drop in grade when landing 7f Dundalk claimer in October. Disappointed on final 2 starts of last year though, including on debut for new yard at that venue later that month. Blinkers back on returned to turf.

Form: 951388-

(2)

San Aer^t¹¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 80| D

8/1

Without a win since 2023 but posted pair of solid in-the-frame efforts upon joining present stable during the autumn. Respectable fourth over hurdles at Thurles followed in November and not out of things from this mark back in this sphere following 4 months off.

Form: 058742-

(6)

Thru And Thru^t¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Luke McAteer| T: Rory Devine| OR: 77| BF

9/1

Lightly-raced filly who proved consistent rather than progressive in 4 starts as a 3-y-o, showing something like pick of her form when second in a Galway maiden (7f) in October. Opening mark looks to demand improvement after 5 months off.

Form: 7202-

(12)

Zaraahmando¹⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 74| D

14/1

Recorded third victory of 2025 at Cork (1m, soft) in September and posted another solid effort from career high mark when fifth back at that C&D later that month. Not ruled out for stable amongst the winners.

Form: 106315-

(3)

Merisi Diamond^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: James Ryan| T: Thomas Coyle| OR: 72| D

6/1

Progressive 4-time winner in 2024. Essentially struggled in a light 2025 campaign but promising start for new yard after 5 months off when not knocked about sixth at the Curragh (6f) last week. On a very handy mark if he can build on that effort returned to 7f.

Form: 04900-6

(5)

Desert Haven^b,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 71| D

6/1

Losing run stretches back almost 2 years but he shaped as if better for the run after 5 months off when fifth in handicap at Dundalk (7f) 16 days ago. Another down to a handy mark and better showing could well be on the cards with that run under his belt.

Form: 00/268-5

Forecasts

Varshini (4/1), Collecting Coin (9/2), Desert Haven (6/1), Merisi Diamond (6/1), San Aer (8/1), Thru And Thru (9/1), Game Point (9/1), Hurricane Ivor (12/1), Zaraahmando (14/1), Quatre Bras (20/1), Independent Expert (25/1), Blues Emperor (80/1)

The betting will likely prove useful in this early-season handicap but MERISI DIAMOND didn't shape at all badly starting out for his new yard at the Curragh last week and could be worth chancing to build on that from what is a potentially very lenient mark. Collecting Coin can do better again as a 4-y-o, whilst San Aer and Desert Haven are others worthy of a second look.