15:10 Naas

Sunday 24 March 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Irish Racing Writers Cliff Noone Memorial Madrid Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 1m 36.8s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Military¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: W M Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| BF| C

8/1

Promising individual. Course winner. 5½ lengths third of 6 to Atlantic Coast in Killavullan Stakes (6/5) at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy). Off 155 days. Likely more to come on return/handicap bow.

Form: 143-

(11)

My Mate Alfie¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94| D

9/2

Good fifth of 13 in minor event at this C&D (heavy, 8/1). Off 161 days. May have more to offer on handicap debut.

Form: 231235-

(4)

Guildenstern¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G M Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 92| D

11/4

Much improved when taking 10-runner maiden (18/5) at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy) on final start last term. Remains low mileage and has to be of interest on switch to handicapping.

Form: 201-

(1)

Duplantis¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L F Roche| T: G M Lyons| OR: 91

18/1

Excellent second of 13 in minor event at this C&D (heavy, 100/1). Off 161 days. Not taken lightly.

Form: 580172-

(2)

Bid For Chester^t¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: G F Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 87

10/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, very good third of 13 in minor event at this C&D (heavy, 80/1), finishing well. Off 161 days. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 515623-

(6)

Take Me To Church^p⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R P Whelan| T: J Davison| OR: 86| D

4/1

Ended 2023 campaign with victory at Dundalk and improved on that when taking 8-runner minor event at same course (7f) 44 days ago, responding well. Big player on handicap debut.

Form: 3721-1

(12)

Sluice¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85| D

10/1

Twice-raced winner. 9 lengths fifth of 6 to Atlantic Coast in Killavullan Stakes (12/1) at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy). Off 155 days. Work to do on handicap debut.

Form: 15-

(5)

Glamorously^b¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: K G Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 83| C

33/1

Course winner. Latest win here in October. 9/2, last of 5 in nursery at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy). Off 155 days. Others more persuasive.

Form: 025115-

(7)

Heavenly Being¹⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 80

9/1

Lightly-raced winner. 10/11, career best when winning 8-runner maiden at Navan (5f, heavy), keeping on well. Off 158 days. Significantly up in trip. More needed on handicap debut but further progress may be forthcoming.

Form: 6441-

(9)

Gentileschi¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Slattery| T: J Halley| OR: 79

125/1

First run since leaving E. Monfort when ninth of 13 in maiden (33/1) at Dundalk (7f) on IRE debut. Off 177 days. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 536349-

(3)

Neo Smart¹³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: R P Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 78| D

18/1

17/2, career best when winning 13-runner maiden at Dundalk (7f). Off 130 days. Back handicapping on return and others make more appeal.

Form: 704871-

(8)

Signor Ferrari³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: M W Hassett⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 69

28/1

Good second of 5 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f, 28/1) 30 days ago. 17lb higher now. Significantly back down in trip. Uphill task.

Form: 759-442

Forecasts

Guildenstern (11/4), Take Me To Church (4/1), My Mate Alfie (9/2), Military (8/1), Heavenly Being (9/1), Bid For Chester (10/1), Sluice (10/1), Neo Smart (18/1), Duplantis (18/1), Signor Ferrari (28/1), Glamorously (33/1), Gentileschi (125/1)

TAKE ME TO THE CHURCH ran well here last October and has since scored twice at Dundalk. He gets the nod in a tricky-looking handicap. Military and Guildenstern head the list of dangers.