Hi all,
A small profit yesterday thanks to Cormier’s win at Cheltenham and Hill Sixteen plugging on to take 4th in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster.
The best of the action on Sunday is across the Irish Sea at Naas. The feature races of an eight-race card are two Grade 3 contests: The Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase (12:40) and the BetVictor Limestone Lad Hurdle (1.40). The latter race see’s Whiskey Sour bids to give Willie Mullins a sixth win since 2012. It won’t be easy though as he faces the potentially smart Gordon Elliott trained Saint Felicie who is 2-2 over hurdles and steps out of novice company for the first time today.
I have had a look at three races on the Naas card in today’s preview and my selections can be found at the end of the main piece.
Naas
12:40 – Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase (Grade 3) – 3m 1f
It may be a Grade 3 race on paper but looking at the quality of eight runners it doesn’t look that far short of a Grade 1 in terms of quality and looks a good trial for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Run Wild Fred is one of the leading fancies for the National Hunt Chase and last time out finished 8-length 2nd of 8 to stablemate Fury Road in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown. His stablemate Farouk D’alene, a useful hurdler, won a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle in December 2020. made a winning chase debut at Navan two starts back before being caught on the line when beaten a short head by Master Mcshee in a Garde 1 at Limerick over Christmas. He’s another possible for the National Hunt Chase and can go well here if as effective on a sounder surface as he is in the mud.
Willie Mullins saddles three Stattler, En Beton and Stratum. Stattler, a useful staying novice hurdler last season looks the stable pick with Paul Townend taking the ride. The 7-year-old made a winning chase debut in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse (2m 5f) last month. It was a good jumping display for a novice and he looks a smart chasing prospect although his stamina for 3m 1f must be taken on trust. En Beton arguably made just as an impressive chase debut as Stattler when winning a Punchestown beginners’ chase 30-days ago. His cause was helped by his better fancied stablemate falling two out but he was going as well as that one at the time. He’s lightly raced for an 8-year-old and has the scope to improve further over fences.
Vanillier was the best of these over hurdles, winning the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. A winner of a Grade 2 at Punchestown on his second start over fences in November. Wasn’t at that level of form when one place and ten lengths behind Run Wild Fred in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase last time. His Grade 2 success means he must give 8lb to his main rivals. It will be smart effort if he can give weight away to the likes of Stattler, Run Wild Fred and Farouk D’alene.
Verdict: Stattler just about deserves to head the market. Run Wild Fred will handle the ground. If Farouk D’alene is as effective on better ground he can finish ahead of his stablemate. En Beton looks every inch a chaser. His win last time came on heavy but he did win on good ground maiden hurdle at Tramore in the spring.
There are also a couple of big field handicaps on the Naas card.
1:10 – Avec Espoir, a winner at Tipperary in July, should appreciate the drying ground and returned from a 3-month absence with a good effort when a 11 ½ length 3rd of 19 in similar race at Leopardstown last month. Sneaks in here at the bottom of the weight and although he may prefer further can go well.
Handsworth a winner of a handicap chase at Navan last month, off 6lb lower, ran like he remains in form when a 10 ¼ lengths 4th of 15 at Fairyhouse 15-days ago. Today’s slightly shorter trip and drier ground should suit the 7-year-old.
Jacksons Gold a progressive handicap hurdler last spring winning here, in March, before posting a career best effort when a ¾ length 3rd of 20 in a valuable Novices’ handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse. Hasn’t reached his hurdles level on his three starts over fences this season but wasn’t disgraced when 3rd of 6 in a Grade 2 at Navan last month. Looks on a good mark for his handicap chase debut and is worth considering.
Regina Dracones has made a good start to her chase career winning her last starts after unseating her rider on her debut over the larger obstacles. The mare showed a good attitude to prevail at Limerick last time. Up 8lb in the weights and drops 2f in distance in her hat trick bid attempt. Also, the ground was heavy at Limerick so she must prove she’s as effective on a sounder surface. If she is will take some stopping
Verdict: Regina Dracones has a likeable profile but the ground will be much quicker than for her last two wins. Jacksons Gold was an improver over hurdles at the end of last season looks on a good mark for his handicap chase debut. No ground concerns for Avec Espoir and Handsworth who are both effective on decent ground.
3:40 – Womalko is sure to be very popular with punters after a comfortable 4-length success, on just his second start in handicap company at Limerick (heavy) last month. A 12lb rise in the weights isn’t likely to be too much of an issue for the 5-year-old if he handles today’s sounder surface.
The Tack Room, like Womalko owned by J P McManus, shaped with a bit of encouragement when an 18 ¾ length 3rd of 16 in a Cork maiden 77-days ago. Clearly not the easiest to keep sound but 8-year-old can’t be easily dismissed on his handicap hurdle debut.
Union Park is just 1-16 over hurdles but he put in a career best effort when a 4 ½ lengths 3rd of 15 to Light Brigade at Thurles last Sunday. The 6-year-old was putting in his best work at the finish that day and provided this race doesn’t come to quick should be in the mix again on going that will suit.
Bigz Belief sole win from 12 starts over hurdles came at Navan (soft to heavy) last March off 6lb lower. The 5-year-old returned from a 5-month absence with a back to form effort when a 7-length 3rd of 15 at Punchestown (heavy) 30-days ago. The drop back 2m should suit and although his best form over hurdles has come in the mud. He seemed effective on good ground when winning at Limerick on the flat last April.
Verdict: Womalko shouldn’t be held back by 12lb hike in the weights for his recent Limerick success. However, the ground will be a lot tighter today than last time. If he’s as effective on a sounder surface he looks the most likely winner. The Tack Room is interesting on his handicap debut. Both Union Park and Bigz Belief come into the race on the back of good last time out efforts and shouldn’t be far away.
I’m not anticipating much in the way of selections until the weekend. However, do watch your inboxes for any updates.
Betting Advice:
Naas
12:40 – 1pt win – Farouk D’alene – 4/1 @ Bet365
1:10 – 1pt win – Jacksons Gold – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes, 0.5pts win – Avec Espoir – 18/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 0.5pts win – Handsworth – 18/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:40 – 1pt win – Bigz Belief – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John