Get our best bets for Naas as Irish horse racing returns!
Hard on the heels of the return of UK horse racing, the resumption of racing in Ireland takes place on Monday with a cracking eight-race card at Naas to kick things off.
Featuring two Listed races and some competitive handicap action, there’s plenty for punters to look forward to in the Emerald Isle where the competitive fixture joins some cracking home action in England.
We’ve taken a look at Monday’s racecard in Ireland and we give our best bets for Naas with four top tips to consider!
3:30 Naas – Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10 Race) (2yo) 6f
There likely won’t be much of a price about LIPPIZANER come post-time, but Aidan O’Brien’s Uncle Mo colt can put his experience to good use to get off the mark despite the presence of some potentially useful debutantes from top yards in opposition.
The Ballydoyle runner showed ability on his debut at this venue back in March although he clearly was in need of the experience having ran green throughout. But he should have learned plenty from the outing and he was only denied a half-length at the line behind Poetic Flare of Jim Bolger’s who is a highly rated sort himself.
With the yard’s runners invariably improving for their debuts this could prove an ideal chance for him to get off the mark at the second attempt, and sure to progress on the back of that first effort stepping up to six furlongs on better ground then he can strike here unless an above-average debutante is waiting in the wings to thwart him. He tops the list of our best bets for Naas and should collect the prize for connections.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien features in our best bets for Naas with two selections.
4:00 Naas – Clinton Higgins Chartered Accountants Handicap (Div I) (3yo+ 50-75) 6f
POETS PRIDE was useful for David Barron in the UK and the Arcano gelding had been in decent fettle prior to the enforced break having joined David Marnane.
Following a couple of lesser efforts on his first two starts he hinted at a revival with a close fourth at Dundalk prior to resuming winning ways back there in February with a defeat of Mulzamm under Billy Lee who takes the reins today.
Far from disgraced dropped to this trip for his last outing where he finished two lengths’ third, he returns here to turf from a mark which ought to leave him competitive. He might have preferred softer ground to this but there should be a decent amount of pace to this contest which should suit and he can give a good account if handling the quicker conditions.
5:05 Naas – Kuroshio At Compas Stallions Committed Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo) 5½f
NURSE BARBARA looked a potentially smart recruit when beating Dierdra on her debut at Cork last September and the Kodiac filly confirmed that impression when only narrowly denied behind Blissful in a Listed contest at Leopardstown next time out where she succumbed by only a nose.
She was pitched in too deep next time when tackling the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, eventually finishing sixth in that Group One contest behind Millisle; but she stuck well to her task without threatening and this looks a more suitable level for her return to action.
Trainer Ger Lyons isn’t one to pitch his charges in too deeply so he must consider the selection to be a very smart sort to have thrown her into a Group One, and the shrewd handler may well see more from his charge this term given she is open to plenty of improvement this campaign.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her involved and she’s shown enough speed to suggest this drop in distance won’t inconvenience; she can run well as a result and every chance she can go close.
Sergei Prokofiev can get back on the winning trail at Naas on Monday.
5:35 Naas – Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes (Listed Race) (4yo+) 5½f
Sceptical goes from strength to strength, readily outclassing his rivals to make a mockery of his then-101 rating and is worth his place at this higher level although Denis Hogan’s charge has to prove he can act on turf having only raced on the all-weather to date.
It could be worth chancing then on SERGEI PROKOFIEV to bounce back to form and the Scat Daddy colt is well capable of taking a hand in the finish here if producing his best form and he’s largely contested at a higher level than this in his last few starts.
Aidan O’Brien’s 2018 Cornwallis Stakes winner won first time up last season when taking a Listed prize at Navan, beating Chessman, and he then finished a good fourth to Group One winner Mabs Cross at Newmarket in the Palace House Stakes. He was never a factor in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he ran better than the bare result when last seen finishing just over two lengths’ sixth in the Coral Charge and he might appreciate the return to Listed company.
Fresh might be the time to grab him given his first-time up success twelve months ago and fully effective on faster ground he can give a good account of himself so no shock to see him going close despite his lengthy absence.