16:50 Leopardstown

Thursday 5 June 2025

All16:2016:5017:2517:5518:2518:5519:3020:05

Leopardstown Golf & Driving Range Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 30.81s

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(12)

Blues Emperor¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C Geerdharry⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 92

22/1

33/1, last of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, good) 12 days ago. Probably needed first start for 6 months but others still more persuasive.

Form: 06177-0

(7)

Love Billy Boy³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: M W Hassett| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 87

7/2

Confirmed previous promise for this yard and better than ever when winning 15-runner handicap at Naas (5.9f, good to soft) 38 days ago, suited by strong pace. Back up in trip and same mark here, so he's a major player.

Form: 236-261

(3)

Fort Vega⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: James Ryan| T: S Lavery| OR: 86| BF| D

10/3

Continued progressive thread when second of 16 in handicap at Limerick (8.2f, heavy) 41 days ago, outbattled by another improver but nicely clear of the rest. Demands respect.

Form: 04/0-632

(9)

Transcending Glory^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 14/1 and hooded for 1st time, eighteenth of 20 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, good) 12 days ago. Blinkers back on and he's now 3 lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 6195-00

(5)

Zabriskie Point²²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Sam Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 86| D

9/2

Bit below form eighth of 17 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy, 9/1). Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving Charles Hills but boasts a fair record fresh. Market can guide.

Form: 19/7568-

(2)

Exquisite Acclaim^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: J A Powell| T: A McGuinness| OR: 85| D

16/1

Two wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win at Dundalk in February. 100/1, creditable tenth of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, good) 12 days ago.

Form: 9-14100

(11)

Catch The Paddy⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Rory Mulligan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 83| D

33/1

16/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.1f, good) 53 days ago. Much more reliable proposition on the AW.

Form: 336047

(6)

Shoot To Kill²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Jack Kearney| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 82| D

14/1

10/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Roscommon (7.5f, good) 24 days ago, slowly away. Progressing well recently so needs considering up 2 lb despite fact this is a better race.

Form: 393321

(10)

Earls^b,t⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Robert Whearty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 81| D

28/1

33/1, below form sixteenth of 27 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, soft) 81 days ago, merely closing up late. Should run closer to form this time.

Form: 50750-0

(4)

Dark Viper¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽²⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74| C

11/2

Winner here over 1m in March. 7/2, creditable third of 6 in handicap at Cork (7f, good) 16 days ago, well positioned. Yard in good form. Should go well again.

Form: 220-213

(8)

Genesis^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: W Joyce| T: Alan McIntyre| OR: 72

12/1

Creditable third of 20 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, good, 40/1) 12 days ago. This probably on the limit of his stamina.

Form: 78-5463

(1)

Black Storm¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Cleary⁽²⁾| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 70| D

9/1

Below form eleventh of 20 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, good, 11/1) 12 days ago, for all he may have needed this reappearance.

Form: 21875-0

Forecasts

Fort Vega (10/3), Love Billy Boy (7/2), Zabriskie Point (9/2), Dark Viper (11/2), Black Storm (9/1), Genesis (12/1), Transcending Glory (14/1), Shoot To Kill (14/1), Exquisite Acclaim (16/1), Blues Emperor (22/1), Earls (28/1), Catch The Paddy (33/1)

LOVE BILLY BOY was just about better than ever when landing a 15-runner handicap at Naas a month ago and with the return to 7f in his favour if anything, the follow-up may well be forthcoming. Fort Vega also arrives in top form, with Transcending Glory one to consider at longer odds.