May 21 / 17.15 Naas

17.15

Good

Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap

  • Prize money: £8353.98
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • 14 runners
RTV
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Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

Form: /317-2 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
All turf form has been on softer ground, including Listowel maiden win and last month's comeback second to a still progressive type over this trip at Limerick; interesting to see how he handles this better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

3

(15)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Blues Emperor

9st 13lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: William Harvey

Five wins for Johnny Murtagh; signs of a return to form when fourth of 17 here on latest; now 10lb below his last winning mark; one for the short list.

14/1

4th

3

(7)

19th Apr 2026

Soft

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Blues Emperor

9st 13lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: William Harvey

Five wins for Johnny Murtagh but huge odds in three handicap runs for new stable and didn't run well enough to suggest he's well handicapped.

100/1

16th

15

(17)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 0f 0y

15:42 Curragh

Blues Emperor

8st 12lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: William Harvey

Five wins for Johnny Murtagh, including handicap on Irish Derby day over C&D in July 2023 off 4lb higher; not shown enough in two starts for new outfit to suggest he's well handicapped anymore.

33/1

12/1

Form: 200-30

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Encouraging seasonal return at Cork wasn't backed up in valuable contest at same venue early this month; tongue tie now fitted and this more his sort of ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

12

(20)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Navagio

9st 6lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Ciaran Murphy

Three-time winner but losing run stretches back to July 2023; recent Roscommon sixth was mildly encouraging; plenty more needed now.

12/1

6th

12

(1)

11th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 111y

17:53 Roscommon

Navagio

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ciaran Murphy

Three-time winner but losing run stretches back to July 2023; no signs of making a return to the winner's enclosure in four starts for this yard; top rider booked but others in better form.

20/1

15th

8

(2)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Navagio

9st 10lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Ciaran Murphy

Three-time Flat winner on yielding/soft for Johnny Murtagh; no success in Britain in recent years and poor form in three runs over hurdles for current yard over the winter; doesn't appeal as well treated.

25/1

Form: 3110-3

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dropped to a mark of 54 and bolted up in handicaps at the Curragh and Gowran in October on soft; solid seasonal return here in March when staying-on third over 7f and has form on quicker ground so one to consider and Keane booking takes the eye.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

7

(19)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Facethepuckout

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Recorded seventh career win at Limerick in June (good), some of earlier wins came in more testing conditions; recent runs well below best so needs to bounce back.

16/1

20th

7

(19)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Facethepuckout

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Recorded seventh career win at Limerick in June (good), some of earlier wins came in more testing conditions; recent runs well below best so needs to bounce back.

16/1

20th

7

(19)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Facethepuckout

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Recorded seventh career win at Limerick in June (good), some of earlier wins came in more testing conditions; recent runs well below best so needs to bounce back.

16/1

Form: 76-403

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won Curragh fillies' handicap this time last year off 71 and couple of solid runs this term, here over 6f and when third at the Curragh; yet to really convince at this trip and probably wants easier ground.
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

9/1

Form: 1U984- D

Last run: 244 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Front-runner whose four wins for Mick Mulvany included at the Curragh last summer over this trip; market best guide on seasonal return for new yard but on a competitive mark with ground to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(6)

1st Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 110y

15:30 Tipperary

Red Heel

9st 7lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Michael Mulvany

took keen hold, chased clear leader, weakened quickly under 2f out

100/1

7th

10

(8)

20th Aug 2024

Yielding

0m 7f 111y

19:20 Roscommon

Red Heel

9st 5lb

J: Wesley Joyce

T: Michael Mulvany

Front-runner has found her form again this year, winning at Down Royal in June and a good fourth in a Galway handicap; ground should be fine and likely to go well here from the front.

7/1

6th
12 (8)
Rick Dalton

12/1

Form: 228-28

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Frustrating sort is now 0-10, arguably best effort came when good second here last summer off 79; didn't seem to get home at Limerick last month on soft and now blinkers tried; Keane deserts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(2)

7th Aug 2024

Yielding

1m 2f 110y

17:00 Sligo

Rick Dalton

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: Cian Collins

midfield, outpaced over 1f out

8/1

8th

2

(2)

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 0f 40y

16:45 Killarney

Rick Dalton

10st 2lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Cian Collins

0-14 on Flat but placed eight times, including when second in a five-runner 1m3f maiden at this venue last September; absent since an unplaced run over hurdles last November; fair chance at these weights if ready after a break.

13/2

7th
8 (14)
Plume Noire

20/1

Form: 9/074-

Last run: 210 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Bellewstown maiden winner last year but struggled in handicaps; still appears a bit too high in the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 0f 0y

18:40 Leopardstown

Plume Noire

9st 4lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Gerard Keane

Won Naas handicap on 2024 seasonal debut; unlucky not to get up Curragh fillies' premier handicap before soundly beaten in Galway Mile and Irish Cambridgeshire; made a bright start for this stable at the Curragh in May; absent since but can go well fresh.

12/1

5th

4

(10)

24th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Plume Noire

9st 10lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gerard Keane

Won Naas handicap (1m, good) on return last May; unlucky not to get up in C&D fillies' premier handicap (good) in June off 87; soundly beaten in Galway Mile and Irish Cambridgeshire but goes well fresh and looks well treated on stable debut.

22/1

5th

4

(10)

24th May 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Plume Noire

9st 10lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gerard Keane

Won Naas handicap (1m, good) on return last May; unlucky not to get up in C&D fillies' premier handicap (good) in June off 87; soundly beaten in Galway Mile and Irish Cambridgeshire but goes well fresh and looks well treated on stable debut.

22/1

Form: 10023- D

Last run: 165 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Maiden win last year came on soft/heavy but ran well on Dundalk AW over the winter so should handle this ground; not one to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(7)

13th Jul 2023

Good

1m 1f 0y

19:25 Leopardstown

Redstone Well

9st 2lb

J: Amy Jo Hayes

T: Daniel William O’Sullivan

Dual winner and responded well for this rider when a game winner at Ballinrobe last time; more needed but showed a good attitude and could go well.

16/1

1st

3

(7)

26th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 125y

18:45 Ballinrobe

Redstone Well

10st 1lb

J: Amy Jo Hayes

T: Daniel William O’Sullivan

upset in stalls, raced in second early, led after 1f, faced challenge but going easily 2f out, nudged along over 1f out, ridden when went clear inside final furlong, kept on well when reduced lead towards finish

9/2

2nd

3

(7)

5th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 100y

16:37 Gowran Park

Redstone Well

9st 13lb

J: Amy Jo Hayes

T: Daniel William O’Sullivan

prominent, went second 6f out, led halfway, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on well and went clear with winner final 110yds, no extra towards finish

10/1

OUR TIP
9th
2 (12)
Belharra

13/2

Form: 12-129

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won three of her last six starts in France at 1m1f/1m2f; soft ground probably wasn't ideal on yard debut at Limerick last month and plenty to find with Blues Emperor on that although this better ground should suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(12)

21st May 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

17:15 Naas

Belharra

9st 13lb

J: W J Lee

T: W McCreery

Won three of her last six starts in France at 1m1f/1m2f; soft ground probably wasn't ideal on yard debut at Limerick last month and plenty to find with Blues Emperor on that although this better ground should suit.

13/2

9th

12

(5)

22nd Apr 2023

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

16:25 Limerick

Belharra

9st 0lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: W McCreery

Won three of her last six starts in France and couldn't have been more of an eyecatcher when given too much to do at Cagnes-Sur-Mer when last seen in February; drop in trip is a slight concern but looks like a big player from this mark on debut for new yard.

11/2

Form: 5-0550 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Formerly smart handicapper (rated 106 at her peak) hasn't won since 2020; just fair form off much reduced mark of late, trip too far last time; remains opposable, especially on this sort of ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(9)

19th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

17:00 Listowel

Laughifuwant

9st 7lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Gerard Keane

soon raced in second, clear with one other when pushed along over 2f out, ridden from over 1f out, kept on well towards finish

11/2

1st

2

(7)

12th Sep 2023

Yielding

1m 0f 123y

16:20 Galway

Laughifuwant

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

travelled strongly, pressed leader, led 2f out, kept on well 2f out, always doing enough

5/2

Form: 21360-

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Ballinrobe maiden win last summer came at 1m2f but proved expensive to follow in handicaps; has her ground for seasonal return but others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(7)

6th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:05 Gowran Park

Ms Eagleton

9st 11lb

J: Ben Coen

T: Miss Hilary McLoughlin

towards rear throughout

25/1

9th

4

(16)

24th Aug 2023

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 30y

18:40 Killarney

Ms Eagleton

9st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Miss Hilary McLoughlin

midfield

20/1

10th

14

(7)

13th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Ms Eagleton

8st 10lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Miss Hilary McLoughlin

dwelt start, towards rear

20/1

Form: 6-0700 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Three wins for Michael Mulvany, including at Navan under these conditions last summer off 81; yet to hit form this campaign but all four runs have been on soft/heavy so return to form on this quicker ground a possibility.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(7)

4th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Comfort Line

9st 8lb

J: Cillian Rowan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Heavily-raced gelding recorded a seventh AW win recently; turf record is less persuasive (3-71), though some encouragement can be taken from last month's third of 20 at Leopardstown.

11/2

1st

1

(8)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 0y

18:45 Dundalk (AW)

Comfort Line

10st 2lb

J: Cillian Rowan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six-time course winner with his last win coming over 7f here in March last year off 72; modest 3-71 strike-rate on turf but excellent third of 20 over 1m at Leopardstown 11 days ago, headed in closing stages; big player in current mood under 10lb claimer.

5/2

3rd

3

(14)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:45 Leopardstown

Comfort Line

10st 0lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: Adrian McGuinness

Six-time Dundalk winner with his last win coming over C&D this time last year off 72; one of three runners for the stable; hard to be confident given his modest turf win record (3-70).

12/1

Form: 0/09-0 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Long time since his Flat wins and returned from spell hurdling when dropping away tamely at Limerick last month; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

11th Jun 2024

Good

2m 2f 91y

16:45 Sligo

Flaming Moon

11st 0lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: Peter John Flood

Flat/hurdle winner but hard to trust after pulling up in his last two points.

25/1

6th

2

28th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 165y

17:25 Downpatrick

Flaming Moon

12st 1lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Decent on the Flat at up to 1m and won a Listed novice hurdle at Galway last year; starts off in handicap chases from a mark 6lb lower than his hurdles rating although the bare form of his two spins over fences earlier this month would suggest the handicapper could have been kinder.

11/2

Form: 600-99

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Ballinrobe maiden winner two years ago for Dermot Weld; hard to fancy on recent form but return to better ground will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(1)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Crystal Black

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

Highly progressive in winning all four starts last year, including twice in Curragh handicaps and Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m4f); very light campaign this year, inadequate trip on return before close second to an all-the-way winner in Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last month; first attempt at 1m6f here.

12/1

1

(3)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

18:53 Leopardstown

Crystal Black

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

Highly progressive in winning all four starts last year, starting in Curragh handicaps at 1m and 1m2f; even better at 1m4f, landing Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and taking this race by 5l from subsequent Irish Cesarewitch winner The Euphrates; should be sharper than when one place behind Sons And Lovers over 1m2f at the Curragh in April.

5/4

4th

4

(1)

12th Apr 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Crystal Black

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

raced in fourth, brief headway and went third under 2f out, no extra and lost third towards finish

5/2

Non-runners

Crystal Black

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Ms Eagleton

POSTDATA:

Rick Dalton

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Crystal Black

SPOTLIGHT:

Facethepuckout

The Irish Sun:

Ms Eagleton