Arnaman

(Matt Quinn)

Dundalk, March 22nd

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Co Down-based trainer Matt Quinn’s phone was ringing with interested potential buyers after a cracking debut effort from 100/1 shot Arnaman at Dundalk. The seven-furlong contest was won by Ger Lyons’ 103-rated Sakti, who finished runner-up in the Group 2 Debutante and Group 3 Weld Park Stakes on her previous two starts so clearly wasn’t winning out of turn at 1/4. However, this brother to the stable’s useful sprint handicapper Arnhem impressed in how he got into a challenging position from mid-division and clocked the fastest overall sectional times for the final three furlongs (also faster through the second last and last furlong individually than anything in the race). Sent off at 602/1 on the Betfair Exchange, he clearly caught punters by surprise here but looks a useful prospect. (MB)

Ask Anything

(Gavin Cromwell)

Navan, March 23rd

In what looked a very competitive listed novice handicap chase at Navan, it was notable that Ask Anything was well supported in the betting beforehand for Gavin Cromwell, sent off the 3/1 favourite, and just failing to land those odds when touched off by Bushmans Pass. This two-mile-seven-furlong event turned into a real dash through the final half mile, with the front two hitting a 117% Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP). Virtually everything in the race was stepping up to this trip for the first time so in truth, the greater aspect of speed shouldn’t have been against them, but it was still impressive in the way these two came clear, all of 13 lengths away from the third. Ask Anything remains of interest going forward over this trip and over shorter. He could be one for the novices’ handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival, with his mark of 128 likely to get him into the handicap proper for that contest. (RG)

Mywayofthinkin

(Gavin Cromwell)

Navan, March 23rd

It has been a tremendous spring for the broodmare named Sway, who was responsible for a notable Cheltenham Festival double through Inothewayurthinkin and Limerick Lace earlier this month. Having also delivered impressive Oldtown autumn four-year-old maiden point-to-point winner Thatsdwayimthinkin, useful Aintree Grade 3 handicap hurdle runner-up Ilikedwayurthinkin and ready Ulster National scorer Spades Are Trumps, she is turning into quite the producer. Mywayofthinkin is another winner waiting to happen for Sway. Gavin Cromwell and J.P. McManus’ five-year-old has now finished second in a pair of bumpers won by likely above-average sorts and put six and a half lengths between himself and the capable third on this occasion at Navan. The Flemensfirth gelding should go one better before long and can progress over obstacles next season. (MB)

Harbour Gem

(Dermot Weld)

Naas, March 24th

Dermot Weld has never made any secret that he does not tend to be overly hard on his horses on heavy ground early in the season, so there was definitely promise to be taken from his two runners at Naas last Sunday who both finished second. The master trainer went without a winner in March or April last year before exploding into life in May, so there is surely room for natural improvement in both cases. Harbour Gem, a promising three-year-old filly who placed in two maidens last season for Barry Fitzgerald, again showed winning potential when just finding the smart-looking Wendla too strong (that filly hailing from a stable that had three winners in the space of two meetings last week). The runner-up’s pedigree is also indicative of one who should improve with time, so a maiden win at least should be within her reach. (MB)

Sylkie

(Fozzy Stack)

Naas, March 24th

Fozzy Stack hit the ground running this turf season with a Lincoln win and there was good market support behind another of his early runners at Naas on Sunday, Sylkie, who was backed from 12/1 to 4/1 in the moments leading up to the off. Not for the first time, the three-year-old was slowly away and gave up plenty of ground in the opening exchanges. As a result of having to make up ground, she was fastest of all the field through the second furlong of the race, having been by far the slowest in the first. Despite never quite travelling sweetly, she did quicken up to be the fastest runner in the race between the three and two-furlong poles, though she couldn’t make up the deficit and finished third. This was only her fourth start, and her handicap debut, so it’s hoped she can sharpen up with the experience and win one of these if doing so. (MB)

Sluice

(Joseph O’Brien)

Naas, March 24th

Sluice was no match for Take Me To Church in the Madrid Handicap at Naas on Sunday, but there was a lot to like about her staying-on effort into third. Joseph O’Brien’s filly finished out her race strongly compared to her rivals, coming from the rear of the field to hit the frame. She was making her seasonal debut and having just her third start ever, having last been seen finishing fifth to Atlantic Coast in a Group 3 event at Leopardstown. A mark of 86 looks very workable on this evidence, with more improvement very likely. (RG)

Orandi

(Tony Martin)

Naas, March 24th

On his turf debut in Ireland, French recruit Orandi performed with real credit in the seven-furlong handicap won by Janoobi at Naas on Sunday, defying odds of 100/1 to come home in sixth position. Tony Martin’s six-year-old is a five-time winner in France and this was much more like it since his arrival in Ireland, racing comfortably on the heavy surface. He could well have finished much closer to the impressive winner had he not been stopped in his run earlier in the straight and it was notable that he was the only one who made significant ground racing from the rear of the field. With the ability he has shown on a soft surface, he may well be out again soon and on this evidence, looks capable of picking up a race. (RG)

Spring Collection

(David Harry Kelly)

Naas, March 24th

Spring Collection is quite an obvious horse to follow after her excellent effort in defeat behind Master Garvey in a seven-furlong handicap at Naas on Sunday. David Kelly’s filly was having just her fifth ever run and first in a handicap, and showed signs of greeness as she was asked to make her challenge by Wayne Hassett on the outside.

Once she got the hang of things, she rattled home, and only just failed to collar the winner, who had run such a promising race at the Curragh six days previous. Spring Collection was racing from 4lb out of the handicap here and defying odds of 50/1, so this was a huge effort. The experience should stand to her and she looks a winner in waiting on this evidence. (RG)

Balko D’ange

(Philip Fenton)

Limerick, March 24th

There was no matching runaway winner Shuttle Diplomacy in the Listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion Four-Year-Old Bumper at Limerick, but the wider result wouldn’t have made for bad reading for trainer Philip Fenton, who saddled the third and fourth. The latter, Balko D’ange, was switching back to bumper company after an encouraging debut in a maiden hurdle at Navan on testing ground earlier in the month, and showed some promise again despite failing to quicken past his stablemate Saint Le Fort. The best of him might be seen with more time, and when returning to an obstacle. It’s tough to weigh up just how strong the form is, away from the smart winner, but he travelled quite nicely and looks up to winning races. (MB)