May 18 / 14.00 Naas

14.00

Good

Nursery Of Champions Handicap

  • Prize money: £7801.65
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
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Nursery Of Champions Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

Form: 1238-0 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Reeled off a hat-trick last July/August and better again in defeat in a conditions event at Galway in September; later struggled in testing ground at Leopardstown; handles an ease but not suited by heavy going in the Irish Lincoln on reappearance; unwise to rule out in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(13)

29th Jul 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 123y

18:40 Galway

Monasterboice

8st 11lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Noel Meade

Reeled off a hat-trick last summer at around 1m and better again when second in C&D conditions event in September; two poor runs this term however so hard to be confident in and wants easier ground.

20/1

Form: 53515- D BF

Last run: 287 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Four-time winner with three of his victories gained two seasons ago; got a well-judged ride from the front when winning a Galway festival handicap over an extended 1m last August; found 7f inadequate when fifth under a penalty three days later; absent since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

4

(2)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 0f 50y

16:25 Limerick

Grey Leader

9st 11lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: R P Burns

Five-time winner for Joe Murphy; tailed off on debut for this stable in the Irish Lincolnshire last month; acts on most ground but can only be watched after that latest effort.

25/1

25th

14

(23)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:20 Curragh

Grey Leader

8st 11lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: R P Burns

Won five races for Joe Murphy; acts on heavy ground and could be a useful recruit to the Burns yard; 6lb higher than for his last win, which was achieved at the main expense of Akecheta at Tipperary.

20/1

11th

7

(16)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

15:05 Curragh

Grey Leader

9st 7lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Joseph G Murphy

Goes well in testing ground; won her fifth race when scoring over 1m1f at Tipperary; just ran out of stamina but a decent effort over 1m2f here since; can go well back to 1m.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 006-74 D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won twice last year, including an early-season handicap at Cork (7f, heavy); respectable seventh of 27 in the Irish Lincoln on stable debut; little went right (hampered early, raced keenly, ran wide into straight) when he was a beaten favourite at Cork last time; capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(9)

26th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:07 Dundalk (AW)

Independent Expert

9st 10lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Eight wins, two of them here; latest success was over 7f at Naas in March and ran well in big-field contest at the Curragh next time; disappointed when odds-on for Gowran claimer last week, but picked up a few grazes and she's better than that.

3/1

5th

3

(4)

20th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:10 Gowran Park

Independent Expert

9st 10lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Eight-time winner, most recently Naas handicap over this trip in March (soft); safely held both starts since but closely matched with Gloriously Glam on C&D run on these better terms.

9/4

8th

3

(5)

22nd Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

0m 7f 0y

17:48 Gowran Park

Independent Expert

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Eight-time winner, five over this trip; landed 7f handicap at Naas on soft two starts ago; ran well off 4lb higher when beaten 6l into sixth at the Curragh 19 days ago; should go well back in trip and has won off higher in the past.

10/1

Form: 30-408 D BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Three-time AW winner has yet to score on turf; 0-14 in this sphere and failed to run to expectations when favourite at Cork 12 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(9)

10th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 0y

19:30 Dundalk (AW)

Cheers Again

9st 3lb

J: Robert Whearty

T: Paul W Flynn

Has a record of 3-5 at this track and ran well enough over 1m2.5f in a premier handicap last time; probably didn't get home over that trip after a wide passage and can do better today.

10/1

10

(8)

15th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 2f 150y

17:10 Dundalk (AW)

Cheers Again

9st 0lb

J: Jack Cleary

T: Paul W Flynn

Three course wins over 1m; best run this term when third at Leopardstown last time over 1m1f; this trip is a query but can be involved if staying.

12/1

Form: 231/0 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Third in Curragh maiden won by City Of Troy in July 2023; easy winner of a 7f Gowran maiden on only subsequent start at two; missed all last season; appeared not to stay 1m2f on his comeback at Leopardstown; shorter trip and addition of tongue-tie may help
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

20:15 Dundalk (AW)

Instant Appeal

9st 5lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

Hat-trick of wins here this winter, including two over C&D; upped 19lb for those wins and never counted when favourite in conditions event before okay effort in C&D handicap two weeks ago; has a bit to find on these terms.

11/1

7th

2

(2)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

17:45 Dundalk (AW)

Instant Appeal

9st 11lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

Hat-trick of wins here this winter; upped 19lb for those wins and disappointingly never counted when favourite in rated event won by front-running Carolina Jetstream on latest; bit to find off current mark.

13/2

5th

4

(3)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 0y

17:45 Dundalk (AW)

Instant Appeal

9st 10lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

One of two for trainer; in fantastic form since joining this yard, winning his last three handicap races here; won over 1m in November, and again in December when beating Carolina Jetstream by 1l; dropped back to C&D last time when seeing off Big Gossey by 1.25l; worse off with that rival now but likely to put in a bold show once again.

13/8

Form: 61173-

Last run: 216 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Three-time Flat winner over 1m1f on a sound surface; third of five behind subsequent Grade 1-winning hurdler Hello Neighbour on last Flat 2024 start at Roscommon; returned at Cork eight days ago, taking second in a 16-runner maiden hurdle; 5lb higher than for his last win but can be rated a strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 90y

13:50 Sligo

Killeaney Bear

11st 7lb

J: Cian Quirke

T: Andrew Slattery

Rated 73 on the Flat and a three-time winner in that sphere; good second on seasonal return in a Cork maiden hurdle (2m1f, good); promise in his two Flat runs following that; one of the main players.

9/4

8

(13)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

19:30 Leopardstown

Killeaney Bear

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Three-time Flat winner over 1m1f on a sound surface; third of five behind subsequent Grade 1-winning hurdler Hello Neighbour on last Flat 2024 start at Roscommon; runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Cork last month on first run after a break; same placing on the Flat at Naas eight days later; has an edge over Instant Appeal; strong chance.

6/1

8

(13)

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

19:30 Leopardstown

Killeaney Bear

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Andrew Slattery

Three-time Flat winner over 1m1f on a sound surface; third of five behind subsequent Grade 1-winning hurdler Hello Neighbour on last Flat 2024 start at Roscommon; runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Cork last month on first run after a break; same placing on the Flat at Naas eight days later; has an edge over Instant Appeal; strong chance.

6/1

Form: 13621- D

Last run: 165 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Front-running winner over this trip at Killarney last summer; in good form at Dundalk late in the year, signing off for the Halford/Collins yard with a narrow win; 2lb higher, interesting on first run for Henry de Bromhead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(6)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Leopardstown

Nakasero

10st 1lb

J: Ms Pandora Briselden

T: Henry De Bromhead

Three wins have been over shorter trips, including here last summer (1m1f, good); only caught late over this trip on AW over the winter so has to be considered on turf return.

10/1

8th

4

(2)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

18:15 Dundalk (AW)

Nakasero

9st 8lb

J: Rian Lane

T: Henry De Bromhead

Course winner at 1m was reeled in close to home in a C&D handicap three weeks ago; well held by Genoah and Take Heart on previous start over 10.5f; could get closer at this distance with rider taking off 10lb.

9/2

16

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

14:50 Leopardstown

Nakasero

8st 7lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: Henry De Bromhead

Back to form to record first win win for the yard when scoring here over 1m1f last month, making most under 10lb claimer on good ground; 8lb rise for that but still races from 3lb out of handicap here.

12/1

Form: 0-7415

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Narrow winner of a 7f handicap on good ground at the Curragh on third outing of the season; unlucky not to finish closer over 1m2f at Leopardstown last Sunday, denied room before keeping on late.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

(2)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Neo Smart

9st 7lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: J S Bolger

Won a 7f handicap here last year, also won at Dundalk in February; not the most consistent and finished behind Highbury See See; closely matched with Navagio.

12/1

7th

9

(4)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:53 Roscommon

Neo Smart

9st 10lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: J S Bolger

Won a Curragh handicap (7f, good) last season off 8lb lower and added a Dundalk handicap (1m) in February; off since a below par AW run in March; career best needed off this mark.

14/1

9th

5

(6)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Neo Smart

9st 9lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: J S Bolger

3-30 overall but impressive on AW (2-5); 1.75l behind Ocean Manifest (1m) in January but kept on well to win next time, with Ocean Manifest behind; up 5lb but scope for more improvement on this surface.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €17.00
Straight Forecast €19.30
Tricast €78.67
Trifecta €129.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Killeaney Bear

The Irish Sun:

Instant Appeal

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Cheers Again

POSTDATA:

Independent Expert

TOPSPEED:

Killeaney Bear