19:27 Down Royal

Friday 18 July 2025

All17:1017:4218:1718:5219:2720:0020:30

GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 19:27 | Winning time: 2m 50.39s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Desert Friend²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: P McGettigan⁽²⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 66| D

9/2

Finished tenth of 14 in 10f handicap at Curragh (16/1) 20 days ago when racing too freely. Returns to 13f.

Form: 762340

(7)

Doctor Grace^p⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: S Coen⁽²⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 66

9/1

Consistent performer with slow starts, finished second of 19 in handicap at Navan (11/1) 83 days ago. New trip.

Form: 435252

(8)

Lady Kai^p⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Nicola Burns⁽²⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 64

9/4

Won a 12f AW handicap at Dundalk in September and an 11f turf handicap at Killarney last July. Fourth of 11 in 13.8f handicap at Gowran Park (11/2) 58 days ago, ran well after 7-month absence. This sort of mark unlikely to prove beyond her.

Form: 6/1417-4

(1)

Beautiful Chaos^p1¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: S R Markey⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 62

12/1

Fair Flat handicapper who has been running over hurdles recently, finished 17th of 18 in a hurdle race at Naas (20/1) 106 days ago. Without a win in 21 races but may do better back in a Flat handicap wearing first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 087263-

(3)

Fianna^v1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Megan Telford-Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 61

8/1

Third of 7 in handicap at Tramore (5/1) 10 days ago, wearing first-time cheekpieces but merely plugged on after being driven from 3f out. First-time visor replaces cheekpieces and this 13f trip could suit.

Form: 4-59563

(6)

Numidia⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: R M Mulligan⁽²⁾| T: P Lawlor| OR: 58

13/2

Fair handicapper who struggled when 13th of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (18/1) 6 days ago, never threatening. Visor removed and step up in trip could help.

Form: 41-6630

(2)

Maxwell Smart^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Sadhbh Tormey⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 51

4/1

Three consecutive seconds in handicaps, most recently at Bellewstown (5/2) 14 days ago, running on late. Without a win in 17 races. Visor back on today.

Form: 00-5222

(4)

Picpoul^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: J Pietropaolo⁽⁴⁾| T: M Rice| OR: 46

22/1

Tenth of 14 in handicap at Bellewstown (7/1) 14 days ago, continuing poor recent form. Cheekpieces back on and without a win in 20 starts.

Form: 080500

Forecasts

Lady Kai (9/4), Maxwell Smart (4/1), Desert Friend (9/2), Numidia (13/2), Fianna (8/1), Doctor Grace (9/1), Beautiful Chaos (12/1), Picpoul (22/1)

LADY KAI looks well-treated on her return to a slightly shorter trip after a solid comeback run at Gowran and gets the vote. Fianna has been consistent without winning and the first-time visor and extended distance could suit. Numidia has struggled recently but might appreciate this step up in trip.