May 18 / 14.00 Naas

14.00

Good

Nursery Of Champions Handicap

  • Prize money: £7801.65
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
RTV
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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

7th

8

(2)

13th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 20y

19:00 Killarney

Grey Leader

9st 1lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: R P Burns

Five wins for Joe Murphy, latest of them over 1m1f at Tipperary in October; big prices and has shown little in four starts for this yard; mark tumbling, but prefers it soft and will be of more interest when the rain returns.

20/1

10th

7

(1)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 63y

19:30 Roscommon

Grey Leader

9st 12lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: R P Burns

Five-time winner for Joe Murphy; yet to find his form for this stable; reduced rating now (4lb below his last winning mark) but needs to show some spark before becoming a betting proposition again.

14/1

8th

2

(7)

22nd Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 1f 163y

18:55 Ballinrobe

Grey Leader

10st 2lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: R P Burns

Five-time winner for Joe Murphy; tailed off on debut for this stable in the Irish Lincoln; again struggled when dropped in class at Limerick; trainer/rider combined for a win at Limerick last Friday.

25/1

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

3

(7)

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

19:20 Windsor

Independent Expert

9st 12lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Exposed mare who is 6-45 on turf; beaten in claimers on final two runs in Ireland in May and was well held in an Epsom handicap (6f, good; 33-1) on recent stable debut; has something to prove and all of her wins have been over further.

25/1

6th

4

(2)

1st Jul 2026

Good

0m 6f 3y

Class 4

18:22 Epsom

Independent Expert

9st 11lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Exposed mare who was 6-44 on turf in Ireland; beaten in claimers on her two starts last month (7f and 1m, turf/AW) so it will be interesting to see how she goes in the market on this first stab at 6f since her only attempt over three years ago; stable debut.

20/1

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

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

9th

9

(2)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

19:03 Leopardstown

Nakasero

8st 11lb

J: Conor Cusack

T: Henry De Bromhead

AW and two-time turf winner whose last success came over C&D (good) last August off 9lb lower; may have needed latest run over 1m4f here after 105 days off so may take a step forward now dropped back in trip with that run under his belt.

20/1

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

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

5th

5

(6)

16th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

19:45 Leopardstown

Neo Smart

9st 4lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: J S Bolger

Gained her second AW win off 72 in February, but just 1-28 on turf; good fourth of 20 over 1m at the Curragh last time; best form over 7f/1m, and just one inconclusive run over this trip here last year; yet to finish in the first three in five visits to this venue.

8/1

4th

14

(9)

26th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

17:35 Curragh

Neo Smart

9st 6lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: J S Bolger

Dual AW winner gained her sole turf win from 27 starts over 7f at this venue last year; soundly beaten on last three starts and needs a return to best.

28/1

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

+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