14:30 Curragh

Saturday 28 March 2026

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

McDonnell's Bar Handicap

4YO plus | 1m 4f | Soft to Heavy | 14 Runners | Turf

SKY BET PAYING 4 PLACES INSTEAD OF 3Check out the latest prices

(8)

Dutch Gold^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Caffrey| T: N Meade| OR: 80| C

22/1

Hasn't been at his best since mid-last year, though has fallen to a handy mark as a result and could go close with cheekpieces back on following a pipe-opener over 1m here.

Form: 0/5580-0

(12)

Neptunes Staircase⁶³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 79| D

8/1

Very lightly-raced 6-y-o has been absent since getting off the mark in 14-runner Roscommon maiden in July 2024 but returns to handicap company on a tempting mark and has gone well fresh previously.

Form: 222671/

(5)

Factual Fact¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Lee| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 77

11/4

Impressive bumper winner ran to a fairly useful level when placing in 3 maidens last year and while off since finishing lame on hurdle debut in November, he's in very good hands and could bounce back on handicap debut.

Form: 322-

(7)

Blue Moon Boy⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Kinirons| OR: 76

16/1

Made a winning handicap debut at Killarney last season and while he should be fit from trio of hurdle starts this winter, has something to find at the weights on return to the Flat.

Form: 051519-

(3)

God Of Thunder^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: J M Sheridan| T: D Hogan| OR: 74| D

14/1

Fairly useful at best and has probably been marking time on the all-weather this year, latest 25/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at Dundalk. May do better with conditions to suit on return to turf.

Form: 0047-97

(9)

Coul Dreamer^v1¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Leigh Roche| T: W McCreery| OR: 73| BF

22/1

Sent off 3/1 favourite when last of 13 on handicap debut at Roscommon and again proved too exuberant over hurdles at Sligo later in October. Presumably thought capable of better, though no guarantee he settles in first-time visor following 5 months off.

Form: 4438/20-

(2)

Mr Rango¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽³⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 71| C

33/1

Well held in Irish Lincoln here on second start for new yard and though yet to win over this far (back up markedly in trip here), he does at least benefit from a return to calmer waters.

Form: 40530-0

(15)

Nelson Muntz⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Gavin Ryan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 70

33/1

In good heart when last seen finishing fourth in novice hurdle in October, and while far from exposed in handicaps, the draw hasn't been kind for his return to the level.

Form: 20/4048-

(4)

Maeve Brennan¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrew Slattery| T: J S Bolger| OR: 70

8/1

Teofilo filly. Dam, placed numerous times up to 1m1½f, sister to useful 1¼m-1¾m winner Novis Adventus. Steadily progressed in maidens, finishing fifth of 23 over C&D in November, and should have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 635-

(1)

Nancee Spain¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Coen| T: Daniel McLoughlin| OR: 68| D

7/2

Lightly-raced 4-y-o confirmed promising start in handicaps when wide-margin winner under an aggressive ride at Roscommon in October. Well drawn to attack again, and she's bred to more than hold her own in this grade.

Form: 000221-

(6)

Rock Of Ireland¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Luke McAteer| T: Rory Devine| OR: 66

6/1

Mixed it in better company than this early last season (out of sorts on all-weather on final run for A. McIntyre in October), and he could be well-treated if back on song for new trainer.

Form: 466678-

(13)

Rain¹⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Jessica O'Gorman⁽⁷⁾| T: E & P Harty| OR: 65| D

13/2

Back on track in a higher grade than she need contest when creditable seventh of 16 in handicap at Galway in October and ought to be competitive with sights lowered.

Form: 0/73107-

(10)

Arch Enemy^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: P Magee| OR: 62| C| D

8/1

Hasn't won since 2024 but he's fallen a long way in the weights and wasn't disgraced when sixth of 16 in 1m course handicap on return from 4 months off. Looks interesting back up in trip.

Form: 08075-6

(11)

Tassarolo^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Crosse| T: D Hogan| OR: 61

20/1

Going the right way over hurdles and excuses previous 2 Flat starts, clearly in need of the run on Dundalk reappearance latest. Not discounted and worth a market check with yard also saddling God Of Thunder.

Form: 41048-9

Non-Runners

(14)

Raydamann³⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Factual Fact (10/3), Neptunes Staircase (5/1), Nancee Spain (11/2), Maeve Brennan (7/1), Arch Enemy (10/1), Rain (10/1), Blue Moon Boy (12/1), Dutch Gold (14/1), Mr Rango (16/1), Nelson Muntz (16/1), Rock Of Ireland (16/1), Coul Dreamer (16/1), Raydamann (20/1), God Of Thunder (25/1), Tassarolo (25/1)

NEPTUNES STAIRCASE looks on a handy mark following his Roscommon success and may be able to defy an absence. Dutch Gold is handicapped to go close, while God of Thunder could outrun his odds in a wide-open race.