CLASS ACTS AT NAAS: Naas is staging two top juvenile events today, and a 9.4 shot goes for a handicap repeat with his stable in red-hot form.
LISTOWEL LEGEND: Ruby Walsh, a legend in his own lifetime, is riding at Listowel, with better than 25% strike rate for four different trainers.
Notebooks out at Naas for a touch of class. The Coolmore two-year-old fillies’ sprint has turned up some real stars for the future in the last four years: Royal Ascot winner Cuis Ghare, the Coronation Stakes scorer Lillie Langtry and Youresothrilling, who went on to success in the Cherry Hinton.
Today’s race has six previous winners and top trainers Bolger, O’Brien, Harrington, Dascombe, Wachman and Weld all fielding fillies of breeding from sires like Holy Roman Emperor, Street Cry, Invincible Spirit and Teofilo.
NAAS Aidan O’Brien is 50% in the race in the last six years, but Homecoming Queen (4.40) was a disappointing evens favourite last time behind Crimson Sunrise, who may remain in control at this distance.
While Homecoming Queen needs further already, Guru Girl is speedily bred and comes over here after a smart performance at Ascot, though the second and third have placed since without winning.
So I’m relying on Teolane, a daughter of Teofilo, who looked classy the way she stretched out at Leopardstown six days ago. Teolane is entered for the Albany at Royal Ascot – which Cuis Ghare won after this race – and then for the Moyglare.
Naas now introduces a second two-year-old test (4.10) with a Listed prize of 39,000 euros, and that’s attracted six winners and brought Richard Hannon over to take on five of our smartest trainers. What a difference a few bob makes!
Lilborne Lad, Requinto and Snowflake Dancer have all led, so there’ll be plenty of pace on, and that should suit Raphael Santia winner at Gowran over 7f but who should have won a 6f at Leopardstown but for the slow pace.
Six Of Hearts (3.40) turns up for a tilt at the race he won two years ago off 10st: he’s 9.4 this morning He took a Group 3 last May so this is his time of year. His run in another Group 3 recently lofted him 7lb but they’re claiming off him and he’ll be the one if it rains.
Six Of Hearts’ trainer, Cecil Ross, is currently striking at 60% (three out of five). If it stays firm, I’ll be on Jembatt (offers of 10.0 in front of me), who won on this card last year – the Paul Byrne Memorial – and was beaten just a length here next time, so his form figures are 12 at Naas.
LISTOWEL: The genius of Ruby Walsh is revealed by his strike rates for the trainers he rides for today: 36% A J Martin (3.20 Kirk Session), 28% M Hourigan (Warcraft (4.20), 27% W Mullins (3.50 Red Tiger), 26% E McNamara (2.50 Mats Teacher).
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Teolane (4.40 Naas)
NEXT BEST: Raphael Santi (4.10 Naas)
OUTSIDERS: Jembatt, Six Of Hearts (3.40 Naas)
DAQ TRIO: Raphael Santi (4.10 Naas), Teolane (4.40 Naas), Annacarton (5.20 Listowel)
