With racing still going on behind closed doors over in Ireland there is afternoon action at Naas (flat) on Monday.
We take a quick-fire look at the 7-race card, giving you some key stats and trends.
Monday 23rd March 2020
Naas Horse Racing Tips
2:00 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (2yo) 5f RTV
- Trainer Jim Bolger has won 3 of the last 10 runnings – POETIC FLARE
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a 27% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – LIPIZZANER
Nothing to go on here for this 2 year-old race with all 8 runners newcomers and therefore making their debuts. With that in mind the safest call would be to side with the powerful Aidan O’Brien yard, that have a 27% record with their juveniles at the track. He had many entries for the race so the fact they are left with just one – LIPIZZANER – could be significant too. Of the rest, the Jim Bolger camp have won this race 3 times in the last 10 years, so their Poetic Flare is another to keep an eye on in the market.
2:30 – Naas Nursery Of Champions Maiden (3yo+) 6f RTV
- Trainer Jim Bolger has won 4 of the last 7 runnings – SHEER BRAVADO
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won 3 of the last 9 runnings and has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – KNIGHT OF MALTA
- Trainer Dermot Weld has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – ESHTIYA
Another race with not a lot to go on with a lot of lightly-raced sorts. Trainer Dermot Weld has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track so his unraced Eshtiya is noted – this filly holds an entry for the Irish 1000 Guineas so could be useful. It’s another race the Bolger yard have a good record in – winning 4 of the last 7 – so their SHEER BRAVADO (e/w) – is another to consider. He’s got entries in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby, so based on that could be well-though of and might be worth chancing with the good stable record in the race. Of the rest, the O’Brien runner – Knight Of Malta – should be popular too. They’ve won 3 of the last 9 renewals and with a run already (4th of 15, Naas) that experience would be a big advantage.
3:00 – Naas Racecourse Launches The 2020 Irish Flat Season Handicap (3yo+) 6f RTV
- The Stack yard have won 3 of the last 10 runnings
- Trainer Adrian McGuinness has won 2 of the last 5 runnings
This has been a good race for the Adrian McGuinness yard in recent years – winning 2 of the last 5 – so their Scorching Heat might be worth a second glance at a big price. Recent winners, Dark Vadar, Fastar and Arcanears will be popular too, but a chance is taken on the Stack runner – STARLITE DANCER (e/w). The yard have won 3 of the last 10 renewals, while a third at Navan last time out back in October was a step in the right direction. That came over 5 ½ furlongs (first try) so that looked a good move from connections and with another winter under his belt should be a stronger horse too. Titanium Sky, from the Weld yard and the CD winner – Mokhalad – have to be on the shortlist too.
3:30 – Naas Racecourse Business Club Madrid Handicap (3yo) 7f RTV
- Jockey Chris Hayes has won 3 of the last 4 runnings
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won 2 of the last 7 runnings and has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – HONG KONG
Course winner – Hong Kong – was last seen running 7th in the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes and back into a handicap would have a big chance on that form – the O’Brien yard have won 2 of the last 7 runnings too and also boast an 18% strike-rate with their 3 year-olds at the track. Elusive King, Camachita and The King Of Kells would have the past form to go well, but it’s interesting that jockey Chris Hayes has won 3 of the last 4 runnings of this race, so his mount IN FROM THE COLD (e/w) gets the call. This 3 year-old has won twice from his 13 starts and been placed in the top three 7 times. He was last seen winning over this 7f trip back in Naas and despite that coming off an 8lb lower mark the ability to acts on soft/heavy ground will be a help.
4:00 – Devoy Stakes (Listed) (4yo+) 1m2f RTV
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a 24% record with his 4+ year-olds at the track – SIR DRAGONET, SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
- Trainer Ger Lyons has a 19% record with his 4+ year-olds at the track – NICKJACK CAVE
With a decent 19% record with his 4 year-olds at the track – Nickjack Cave – is considered, while the 104-rated Joseph O’Brien runner – Numerian – has the form to go well. Brogue is another to note, having won well on debut for the Weld team, but this is a step up in class. So the obvious call here is the 117-rated SIR DRAGONET, who was an impressive winner of the Group Three Chester Vase last May. He since ran 5th in the Epsom Derby and then rounded-off last season with a close 4th in the St Leger. This drop back into Listed grade will help and despite having to give weight away to all the others, still looks to have enough in-hand on the official ratings if running to last season’s form.
4:30 – Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+) 1m RTV
- Trainer Jim Bolger has won 2 of the last 7 runnings – CERRO BAYO
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – BLISSFUL
Hamariyna has winning form at this Group Three level, but it won’t be easy with 10-2 to carry and giving weight away all round. It’s another race the Bolger yard have done well in previously – winning 2 of the last 7 renewals – they run Cerro Bayo, who was a nice winner on debut at Roscommon last August. Cases can be made for Even So Raven’s Cry and Lemista too, but this could be another for the Aidan O’Brien yard with BLISSFUL (e/w). They’ve a fair 18% record with their 3 year-olds at the track and this 3 year-old was a Listed winner back in September at Leopardstown. That came over 7f but the step up to 1m looks sure to suit based on breeding, while this filly has some fancy entries later in the season that include the 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks.
5:00 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (3yo) 1m RTV
- Trainer Dermot Weld has won 3 of the last 8 runnings – EMIYN, TIMOURID,
- Trainer Jim Bolger has won 4 of the last 10 runnings – LEGAL REFORM, FRACTERCULUS
- Trainer Aidan O’Brien has an 18% record with his 3 year-olds at the track – RUSSIAN EMPEROR
It’s a race the Dermot Weld yard have done well in recently – they’ve two runners – Emiyn and Timourid. Of the paid jockey bookings suggest the Oisin Orr-ridden EMIYN (e/w) is their main runner. He was a decent fourth on debut here back in November on heavy ground (1m) so with the expected improvement and another winter on his back, then he can go well. He’s another with some fancy future entries – Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Irish Derby. Aidan O’Brien has Russian Emperor running and is one of the few that’s had a recent run, when third at the Curragh back in July – any improvement on that run would him going well. Lough Cutra is another that showed up well on debut, when second at the Curragh in October, so he rates a danger on that run and with that experience too. Of the rest, the Bolger team have won 4 of the last 10 runnings so their runners – Fracterculus and LEGAL REFORM (e/w) are interesting too, with jockey bookings suggesting the last-named is their better fancy with Kevin Manning riding.
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