Racecards
15:05 Naas (IRE)
Naas Racecourse Launches The 2018 Flat Season Handicap
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Soft to Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €25,000 added
- Winner: €15,375
- 2nd: €4,751
- 3rd: €2,250
- 4th: €1,000
- Form 742529-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer W McCreery
- Jockey N M Crosse
always behind, no impression from 2f out, never a factor
- Form 181532-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey K K Hennessy
rear of mid-division, progress 1 1/2f out, ridden in 5th 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 135/486-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
chased leaders, improved to lead 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, disputing 2nd inside final furlong, kept on well close home
- Form 004070-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 95
held up in rear, pushed along under 2f out, ridden in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 11337/5-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 94
chased leaders, took keen hold early, pushed along in 4th under 2f out, went 3rd and ridden 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong to lead near line
- Form 960170-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey C O'Donoghue
chased leaders on inner, pushed along 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, soon strongly pressed and ridden, headed near line
- Form 066030-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey T Hamilton
mid-division on outer, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 285096-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer A Slattery
- Jockey A J Slattery
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 80881-6
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey W M Lordan
chased leaders, ridden under 2f out, soon no impression
In depth
Verdict
Downforce and Son Of Rest ended last season racing in Pattern company and apprentice allowances help ease the burden of a big weight as both return to handicapping. Medicine Jack makes his handicap debut having raced just the once last year in a Group 2 sprint at Haydock and he’s been gelded subsequently. Smash Williams slipped down the weights in only three starts last year while Richard Fahey sends over George Bowen for his seasonal bow. But GYMKHANA won last year’s renewal in testing going on his reappearance and Jessica Harrington’s charge is taken to make another bold bid now back on a winning mark.
Formwatch
Downforce (IRE) (8-13) 9th of 12, 7 1/4l behind The Right Man (9-6) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 3 stks gs in Nov.
Son Of Rest 3-1fav (9-5) Dwelt, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 2nd 1f out, stayed on to dispute last 50 yards, just held close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Texas Rock (9-8) at Navan 6f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Smash Williams (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 8l behind Brendan Brackan (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Jun.
G Force (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Towards rear, raced on outer straight, soon one pace, 10th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Togoville (9-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Dec.
Medicine Jack 25-1 (9-0) Keen in touch, under pressure over 2f out, edged left, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 9 3/4l behind Harry Angel (9-0) at Haydock 6f Grp 2 stks (1) fm in May.
Gymkhana 33-1 (9-7) Soon raced in 6th, closed travelling smoothly from before straight, no extra from over 1f out, 12th of 15, at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) Yielding in Oct.
George Bowen (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 15th of 22, 8 1/2l behind Perfect Pasture (9-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Sors (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Towards rear, pushed along in 7th halfway, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Comhghairdeas (8-12) at Tipperary 5f hcp sft in Aug.
Art Nouvelle (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 12l behind Master Speaker (8-12) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Feb.
Bluesbreaker (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Chased leader, pushed along in 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, last of 4, 6 1/4l behind Togoville (9-10) at Dundalk 6f pol in Mar.