SHAMROCK Sat: We’re previewing Naas this Saturday where there is a seven-race card on yielding ground. The feature race of the afternoon is a Listed Mares’ Chase over two miles at 3:25pm which is worth €25,000.
⭕ Kicking off the weekend action is a Novices’ Hurdle (1:05pm) for four-year-olds over 1m7½f. A field of just six runners, this contest brings four recent winners head-to-head and should be competitive. Sir Allen, a winner by two lengths over soft-to-heavy last time out, is given a 7lb advantage here by claiming jockey AP Ryan and, given his improving form over the season, can perform well here. His best form is over heavier ground, however, so his each-way claims are stronger. Byker, a winner on the Flat in the UK for Richard Hannon last year, has proven that his speed translates to Hurdles with a win over course and distance in January and he ought to outclass the field once again here.
⭕ Next is an Auction Novices’ Hurdle (1:40pm) over 2m3f. Another compact field of nine runners, this looks to be a fairly open contest. Gordon Elliott’s Purse Price hasn’t been seen outside of the placings in his last four starts and, given 5lbs by claimer Ben Harvey, he should be able to break his Rules maiden here. Chautuaqua, though winless this season, always finishes in the first half of the field. She steps back up in trip here from 2m½f last time and, with a 5lb claimer aboard, could improve to make the placings this time.
⭕ A maiden hurdle over 2m3f follows at 2:15pm, with plenty of possible outcomes from a field of 24 runners. Franciscan Rock looks have a strong each-way chance for Mouse Morris. Since his seasonal reappearance in November, the six-year-old has been improving nicely and has proven to be versatile in trip. Under in-form jockey Ricky Doyle, he ought to be uncontested. Son of Walk In The Park Spillane’s Tower was an impressive second back in October over heavy ground. Up in trip here but over better going, provided he arrives in the same condition, he could be in with a good chance of the win.
⭕ The 2:50pm is a handicap hurdle over 1m7½f. Knocknagappagh has been useful for Gordon Elliott, with his best performances over around two miles. He should like the ground and, with claimer Kevin Murphy’s 4lbs to boot, should be in with a good chance of winning. Elliott may have the 1-2 in this race, with an each-way chance in four-year-old By Your Side. A three-time winner on the Flat for Ed Dunlop as a three-year-old, the well-bred son of Lope De Vega made a marked improvement over hurdles last time out for third place over two miles. With better ground this time, and 2lbs taken off by Carl Millar, he should place again.
⭕ The afternoon’s feature race is next; the Listed Mares’ Chase over two miles. Willie Mullins has the current first and second favourites in Dinoblue and popular veteran Elimay. Six-year-old Dinoblue is expected to have a pace-advantage on nine-year-old Elimay, and has placed first and second in two runs since her reappearance in November. Joint-bottom weight, she should have no reason not to win here. Henry De Bromhead’s Magic Daze has improved this season with two seconds before Christmas. In the hands of Rachael Blackmore once again, she looks to be the one to challenge the Mullins favourite.
⭕ Following is a Hunters’ Chase over 3m1f at 4:00pm. Willie Mullins’ Billaway, despite his eleven years, hasn’t finished out of the first two for five runs and shows no signs of slowing down. A classy and versatile individual, he should be the one to beat here once again. A young challenger might come in the form of seven-year-old Grange Island, the winner of a Hunters’ Chase in January and a Point-to-Point in November. Unlikely to beat Billaway, he’s got a good shout at the placings.
⭕ A bumper concludes the afternoon’s racing at 4:35pm. All but two of the twelve runners are racecourse debutants, which will make for an interesting watch. Daughter of The Ghurka, Majestic Topaz, has a promising pedigree regarding the going and, together with rider Cian Cullinan’s 7lbs, could be in with an each-way chance. A good run for third place last time out from Cappucino could leave son of Westerner with winning claims if he comes on for his debut run.
