Exciting Patrick Sarsfield out to defy handicapper's hike in Nasrullah Handicap

7.45 Navan
Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Nasrullah" Handicap (Premier Handicap) | 1m2f | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Connections of Patrick Sarsfield must have been gutted when their exciting four-year-old narrowly missed the cut for the Irish Lincoln last month, but the €85,000 feature contest at Navan could provide them with compensation.

Life is much tougher now than if he had managed to sneak into the bottom of that premier handicap, 15lb tougher to be exact.

That was the penalty the handicapper deemed necessary for the unexposed Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding's runaway success at Leopardstown since his missed engagement at the Curragh, scoring with ease by five lengths.

Patrick Sarsfield: bolted up at Leopardstown last monthCredit: Caroline Norris

His new mark of 101 means he carries a challenging 9st 13lb in this wide-open handicap assignment, but there's every chance he could be a Group-class campaigner and the step up to 1m2f should be a catalyst for further improvement.

There is no shortage of serious dangers lurking in the Meath venue's long grass, though, including Shane Crawley's Tartlette, who was a shrewd purchase out of Hughie Morrison's yard for just 11,000gns last July.

She was narrowly denied a major success in the Ragusa Handicap at the Curragh three weeks ago and is set to lock horns with the winner Edification here.

Jim Bolger's Halimi drops back into handicap company after a respectable third behind Numerian and Sir Dragonet in the Listed Devoy Stakes in March, while Magnetic North is 3lb lower than when winning this valuable prize last year.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Patrick Sarsfield
He won well at Leopardstown and has got a lot of weight as a result. It's a different ball game off his new rating in this race but he's in good form and hopefully the step up to ten furlongs will suit. He saw his race out well over a furlong shorter last time.

Ado McGuinness, trainer of Saltonstall and Raphael
We were very happy with Saltonstall's run in the Irish Lincoln and we're stepping him up to ten furlongs now. I think he'll stay and he ran well over the same trip on Irish Champions Weekend last year. We're expecting a good run from him. Raphael was probably too keen last time at Leopardstown and he needs a more patient ride. He has ability and a light weight so hopefully he can pick up a cheque.

Mark Fahey, trainer of Edification
He's in good form and hopefully we won't have any rain for him as he likes to rattle off the ground. He's dropping in trip so hopefully it won't be too sharp for him. It's a good pot and he goes there with a fighting chance.

Saltonstall: Galway festival hero steps up in trip from his excellent fourth in the Paddy Power Irish LincolnshireCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Damian English, trainer of Trading Point
The big thing will be if he stays. I think he'll improve plenty from last time and we've thought he could be up to winning a race like this. He handles ground with an ease in it and hopefully he'll be competitive, but we'll learn a lot from this.

Padraig Roche, trainer of Pesto
He's a lovely horse to get in the yard and we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on. He seems in good form and we think the step up in trip will suit.

Tartlette (red star on cap) was just denied a major success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Premier Handicap last timeCredit: Patrick McCann

Shane Crawley, trainer of Tartlette
She just got nailed on the line at the Curragh and has seemed in good form since. We would have preferred if the rain hadn't arrived on Wednesday night. The shorter trip should be fine.

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