March 16 – Curragh – Power Blue – 71
The opening race of the 2025 Irish Flat season is usually won by a useful sort and this year’s renewal is likely to prove no different. Well supported beforehand, Adrian Murray’s colt knew his job and was soon on the sharp end and despite being joined two furlongs from home, he slipped into another gear to leave his rivals floundering for speed. Hitting the line hard, his final three furlong split of 36.2 was by some way the best on the seven race card and with the overall time figure also paying him a handsome complement, he is one to keep on side in the early part of the campaign.
March 21 – Ffos Las – Starzand – 61
The good bumpers tend to stand out like a sore thumb during the season and this one produced a winner on debut who could easily prove to be a bit special further down the line. Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s Irish point winner was well touted beforehand and there wasn’t too many anxious moments for those who had taken part in the punt. Easing to the front three out, he moved effortlessly clear of his rivals from that juncture and his margin of victory in no way flatters the manner of his success. Indeed, the winning time figure suggests the opposite and looking the type who seems bound to improve in time, the son of Harzand should take high rank over hurdles next season.
March 22 – Bangor – The Four Sixes – 68
Olly Murphy’s gelding set his stall out from an early stage and he soon had his opposition at full stretch and he maintained a relentless gallop all the way to the line. Not only was his overall time figure very good, his final circuit time was 2.4 seconds quicker than anything else on the card and considering he was still full of running at the line, his performance deserves marking up further. Clearly better suited by a return to hurdles and spring ground, the son of Westerner is now likely to head to Ayr in a bid to go one place better than he did last season.
March 22 – Kelso – Lavida Adiva – 68
Another who is likely to be Ayr bound is Ruth Jefferson’s mare and she couldn’t go there in better form based on the evidence of this display. Settling nicely in rear in the hands of Brian Hughes, the daughter of Champs Elysees was noted going travelling best heading down to two out and without too much fuss, she soon put a decent distance between herself and her rivals once assuming command. Seemingly suited by the step up in trip and better ground, she is likely to be a potent force at a similar level if conditions remain the same at the Scottish venue.
March 22 – Newbury – Kalium – 68
A hugely competitive for this novices’ handicap and it produced a stirring finish involving three strongly fancied rivals. The pace was honest right from the start and as it turned out, it played into the hands of those who were held up and the eventual winner, despite making a bad mistake two out, was the one who responded the most generously for pressure. Only five, he surely has more to offer going forward and he remains one to keep on side, along with the runner-up, Norn Iron, who surely won’t be too long in winning.