Sean mc namara

A lot of these are stepping up in trip and it’s a case of who improves more. I’m siding with Philip Rothwell’s ‘Sock It To Me’ who ran well LTO (1st handicap), finishing 5th of 20 at Fairyhouse, catching the eye late over 2m 4f. Another couple of furlongs look sure to suit. These 0??"100s are Rothwell’s bread and butter. 89 is a good mark for an unexposed type. With the ever-reliable Tiernan Power Roche in the saddle, I’ll chuck a dart.

A stable I just cannot pin down. But there’s a few things here that suggest Paul Collins 'might' outrun his odds for Brian McMahon. He’s back down in class, back down in trip, and only 3 lb above his winning mark. He has the ground. The first-time cheekpieces might bring out a bit of improvement. He did chuck in a stinker LTO, so forgiveness is required (inadequate trip probably). I’ll have a tentative each-way poke at 20s with 5 places up for grabs in a race where Sean Mc will be all the rage.

In a competitive event Liz Doyle's GREAT BIRD is a player I’d think, stepping up in trip markedly, The switch to a more galloping track could bring out more for this very lightly raced 6-y-o mare. She fell when in a shout at Thurles recently, and a good 2nd at Clonmel suggests she’s in good heart. I’d see the switch to good apprentice Calum Hogan claiming a valuable 7 lbs as a positive. I think she has as good a chance as any in this, and at double digits I’ll throw a dart.

A winnable enough contest here. I think Martin Brasill’s CLASSY CC is open to a bit of improvement. She’s lightly raced; this is her third handicap run. There isn’t a lot to go on bar her much-improved third in Limerick LTO over 2 miles. She steps up half a mile today, and hopefully that’s where the further improvement comes from. Not a whole pile more to add. With 25 runners, it’s a case of who improves the most really, and Martin Brasill's stable is genius at that.

Louis Archdeacon’s ANOTHER OCANA looks a tad overpriced here in the finale today. This 8 y/o clearly reserves his best form for the Shannon-side track. He won this race two years ago on heavy. He won again here last year (April) on soft/heavy and has been placed here three times. He’s on a career-low mark, 5 lb below his last winning mark. They’ve added first-time cheekpieces; he might eke out a bit of improvement. He’ll be suited by the track, trip and going. It’s hard to tell whether he’ll be in the mood, but at 40/1 there’s lots of reward.

There are very few unexposed types in this, and a few carrying penalties. It is heavy going with five places on offer. I’m leaning towards one that, while exposed, is relatively lightly raced for his age. Kilcolgan handler John Neilan saddles 10-y-o Winter Carnival here, and with the very heavy going forecast I’ll play this lad tentatively. Quite a bit of patchy form on show with him, but there are a few snippets that suggest there’s one in him. None more so than his third here at Limerick in January this year ??" he was half a length back in third (from 1 lb out of the handicap) on very heavy going over this trip in this grade. There are also bits of form further back: beat 6 lengths on heavy, beat 10 lengths on heavy (LTO), etc. All in all, a lot has to go right, but we know the trip poses no concern and the ground will suit. Small chance, I’d argue.

A risky proposition, but this looks and feels like a spot where Philip Fenton’s ‘one big boom’ leaves some of those duck eggs behind. He’s now 1 lb below his winning mark of 107 after a few attempts at higher grades and on inadequate ground. He’s a 2x winner on soft/heavy and a winner at this 2 mile 4f trip. He’s starting to tick a few boxes and, if it’s a going day, might outrun these odds. It’s a ladies’ event and these races can and do throw up the odd stinker of a result. Hannah Phillips is no stranger to the winner’s circle, and I’ll chuck a penny in the well.

Just a tentative poke on Eoin McCarthy Kingdom calling here for me. I’d imagine the reason the Athea handler is opting for the north as opposed to Limerick is the ground. While he did win him a maiden on soft/heavy, it was a fluke (250/1) as the race fell apart in front of him. He heads for the north chasing the ‘good’ going. A deep dive into this race and my first thought is this is poor and winnable. McCarthy’s 5-y/o has threatened to trouble the judge on a few occasions this term and, with a couple of recent runs under his belt and the projected good ground, this might be the spot where he doubles his win tally. It’s risky, so not one to get carried away with.

Dennis Hogan’s ‘Ephusus’ would have an each-way chance surely. This 4 y/o is an ex-Aidan O'Brien maiden winner and has now won under both codes for the Cloughjordan handler. He has the profile of one that’s progressing. He’s an 80 on the flat (no slouch). They aimed high with this lad, tackling a €60k event in listowel and a Listed race in Limerick recently. This level looks more realistic. He had a recent spin in Dundalk and I think he is still relatively less exposed than most of these and is open to further improvement. The plan might be down the road with this fella, but 20s is fair and I’ll chuck a penny in the well.

A 33/1 shot and a risky proposition, but I think 'Camino Rock' might show more now that he is markedly upped in trip. Three recent runs over possibly inadequate trips (2 miles, 2 miles 4) didn’t show much, but that’s easily ignored as some of his best form is over 3 miles plus (winner at 3 miles 1). The handicapper is loosening his grip a bit. I think he’s ground-dependent, won’t have any stamina issues, and this has the look and feel of the spot where he might leave some of that old form behind...lots of risk, but at 33 lots of reward..

Ed Cawley’s PETIT KING was a 40/1 shot when left his old form well and truly behind LTO here at Navan. He finished 4th of 11, beaten 5 lengths in a 0-130 on soft/heavy. That was his season opener (first run for over 200 days), and I’d expect him to come on from that. He was keeping on well in the closing stages over 2 miles, suggesting the step up to 2m4f will be welcomed. He is a winner at a furlong shy of today’s trip, so that shouldn’t be a worry. The going will play into his strengths. This is a slight drop in class and, while this is super competitive, he’s in the conversation.

If you’re going to take 7/2 about Sean Mac who advertises 4 duck eggs, why not take 16/1 about Gordon Elliott’s ‘MilesFromTheHonk’ who also has 4 duck eggs on show. Ok, Sean Mc improved for his first handicap on heavy (albeit he finished mid-division). Today is Gordon’s 5 y/o’s first try on soft/heavy and the improvement might come. The dam won her bumper on soft. This starting mark of 77 is very workable. She’s had a bit of a break (can be a positive). There’s lots of ifs and buts, and while it’s risky I’ll take a small EW position with 5 places up for grabs in a weak contest.

Plastic paddy left a string of duck eggs behind LTO when finishing 5th of 13 here at DD beat 5 lengths, if he builds on that he might outrun his odds here today , the handicapper is doing him a solid and that might be the reason for the improvement , he’s down a whopping 19lb since October, plus he’s shaved off another 2 today , add Shane Wallace’s 7lb and that might get him closer to the lollypop.. the low draw helps, it’s risky but he is a 6 times distance winner in the uk so the ability is there..