20:00 Naas

Wednesday 22 July 2026

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

NFP Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 1m 26.31s

(7)

Little Empire^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Luke McAteer| T: A McCann| OR: 83| D

5/1

Reliable sort who won twice last year and ran up to best on the back of a break when second of 17 at the Curragh (7f, good to firm) last month, worn down by a thriving younger rival only late on. In the mix again.

Form: 233542

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(6)

Barbapapa^b,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Adam Grant⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 78| D

10/1

Ended long losing run at Dundalk last October. Seemed to find the company a bit too hot at the Curragh (6f) on reappearance and fared no better from 4 lb out of the weights at Cork (7f, good) just over 5 weeks ago. Down in grade and could be worth chancing.

Form: 6513-09

(1)

Spodo Komodo²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Feane| OR: 78

16/1

Lightly-raced sort who bagged 15-runner maiden at the Curragh (6f) last September. Probably needed the run making handicap debut there after 9 months off recently and this should reveal more.

Form: 4431-0

(2)

Watch Tower¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 81| D

5/2

Showed benefit of reappearance run as he opened his account from the same mark in 10-runner handicap at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) just under a fortnight ago, quickening to lead 2f out. Still unexposed and remains of interest from 8 lb higher.

Form: 4522-41

(3)

Blues Emperor^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Nathan Crosse| T: William Harvey| OR: 73| C| D

16/1

Proving more miss than hit, first-time blinkers failed to have the desired effect when twelfth of 20 at the Curragh (1m, good to firm) last month. Cheekpieces/tongue tie reapplied and the handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: 804060

(4)

Eddie G^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 73| D

18/1

Dual Dundalk winner who hasn't stood much racing in recent seasons. Posted a good third of 9 at Down Royal (7f) last month but bit too keen for his own good back up in trip at Leopardstown (1m, good to firm) since.

Form: 9/36-939

(5)

Thenandnow²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 80

10/1

Off the mark in pretty good style at the Curragh (6f maiden, heavy) on reappearance but found listed company too much on next 2 starts. Fared better when third of 11 on handicap debut at Fairyhouse (6f, good) 3 weeks ago and now heads back up in trip.

Form: 57-1503

(8)

Contrary To Law^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 77| D

7/4

Well backed and justified support on handicap debut in 15-runner event at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago, benefiting as expected from the return to 7f to lead dying strides. Not yet fully exposed and may well follow up.

Form: 94-671

Forecasts

Contrary To Law (7/4), Watch Tower (5/2), Little Empire (5/1), Barbapapa (10/1), Thenandnow (10/1), Spodo Komodo (16/1), Blues Emperor (16/1), Eddie G (18/1)

Tough to rule out any of these so at the likely prices it could be worth taking a chance on BARBAPAPA, who hasn't made much of an impact on both starts this season but is reunited with apprentice Adam Grant and this represents and drop in grade. Contrary To Law is not yet fully exposed so he's put forward as the biggest threat, with Watch Tower and Thenandnow taken to fight out third.