Racecards
14:55 Naas (IRE)
Blackwater Handicap
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €40,000 added
- Winner: €24,000
- 2nd: €8,000
- 3rd: €4,000
- 4th: €2,000
Fourhometwo
36- Form 2184-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey Ben Coen
rear of mid-division on inner, took keen hold, headway into 6th 2f out, soon ridden, 3rd 1f out, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
- Form 21-6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle
chased leaders, pushed along in 7th 2f out, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 6026-80
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer M Mulvany
- Jockey Gary Carroll
always towards rear, never a factor
- Form 6318-42
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A Slattery
- Jockey A J Slattery
chased leader in 2nd, led over 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home
- Form 63165-6
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey Ronan Whelan
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened
- Form 4-52
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
chased leaders, pushed along in 5th 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, bumped slightly inside final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 220134-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey A J Farragher
slowly into stride, rear of mid-division, no impression straight, never a factor
Alex D
12- Form 42710-0
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer G M Lyons
- Jockey Colin Keane
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 2nd over 1f out, dropped to 5th when briefly checked inside final furlong, no extra close home
- Form 32-352
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey D E Sheehy
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened
- Form 20594-0
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey Rory Cleary
mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression
Grid
192- Form 434-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
chased leaders, took keen hold, ridden under 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on in 3rd close home
- Form 52146-0
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Donnacha O'Brien
- Jockey K J Leonard
slowly into stride, in rear, progress and pushed along 2f out, ridden in 7th 1 out, kept on same pace
- Form 94-6
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey Nathan Crosse
slowly into stride, always behind, never a factor
In depth
Verdict
Fourhometwo's victory at Galway came on soft ground and it was very testing when a fine third on his reappearance at the Curragh. Stable companion Skilled Warrior hasn't won yet nor faced quick ground though he wasn't beaten far at Dundalk in February so should act in the conditions. Eylara looked one to follow this season after landing the odds in a Leopardstown maiden in October and started favourite for a Group 3 over the course and distance last month but weakened into fifth in the closing stages. She's likely to find today's going to her liking and has to be considered though this can go to Ballydoyle via HMS SEAHORSE. He was having only his third start when just outpaced by O'Reilly in the closing stages of a Leopardstown maiden a couple of weeks ago and the third, who was beaten three lengths, scored at Limerick on Saturday.
Formwatch
Fourhometwo 18-1 (9-8) Waited with, soon towards rear, headway and effort from over 1f out, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Amazed By Grace (8-9) at Curragh 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Eylara (IRE) 7-4fav (8-10) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, lost place over 1f out, no extra under 1f out, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Epona Plays (10-2) at Naas 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Mar.
The Blue Panther (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Awkward leaving stalls, raced alone towards rear on stands' side, ridden and no impression over 1f out, never a factor, 13th of 15, 10 1/4l behind Logo Hunter (9-8) at Cork 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Rebel Step (USA) 9-1 (9-9) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd 2f out, no impression on winner over 1f out, kept on in 2nd final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 11, 5 1/2l behind To Glory (9-9) at Dundalk 1m pol in Mar.
Allez Barza (FR) 66-1 (9-6) Dwelt, always rear, pushed along 3f out and no extra early straight, soon weakened, completely tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Erzindjan (9-6) at Gowran Park 1m sft in Apr.
Hms Seahorse (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Led early, prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along before straight, soon challenged, on terms from 1 1/2f out, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind O'reilly (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m mdn gd in Apr.
Let Me Pass (IRE) 5-4fav (9-9) Led early, soon joined, headed soon after 1f, raced in 2nd, effort straight, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Catena Zapata (9-4) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
Alex D 10-1 (10-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, some headway towards outer straight, ran on well without threatening inside final furlong, 10th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Larado (9-9) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gd in Apr.
Skilled Warrior (IRE) 10-3 (9-7) Pushed along early to lead, pressed 2f out, ridden and headed narrowly over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Stylistic Approach (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m mdn sft in Apr.
Eastern Voice (IRE) 11-1 (8-6) Tracked leader, under pressure and ridden 1 1/2f out, lost place under 1f out, weakened, 13th of 17, 14 1/2l behind Zig Zag Zyggy (8-13) at Naas 6f hcp sft in Mar.
Grid 13-2 (9-5) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden, no impression inside final furlong and kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Bolshoi Ballet (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Snowy Owl (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, 6th and pushed along 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, soon no extra, 13th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Visualisation (9-11) at Gowran Park 1m hcp sft in Apr.
Cocobanana (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Prominent, keen, 3rd approaching straight, led 3f out, joined from 2f out, soon headed and no extra, one pace, 6th of 18, 6 1/4l behind Team Of Firsts (9-7) at Navan 1m 2f mdn hvy in Mar.