Irish Horse Racing Tips: Naas, Sunday

005 Irish Racing / Darren Skelton / 03 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

It's a big day for Willie Mullins as Mikael D'Haguenet returns to action in the Goffs Slaney Novice Hurdle in what could be a telling race. Darren Skelton discusses the horses chances, and also takes a look at the best of the rest from Naas...

The festivities are well and truly over and for many it's going to be a struggle to find something new to look forward to, now that Santa Claus is gone back into hiding for another year. That's not the case for us though because we've got jump racing - we've got Cheltenham. Every big jumps meeting is all in preparation for the big one in March. Today's meeting in Ireland comes from Naas. Here are some of the stand-out bets on the card:

The opening race on the card is a Maiden Hurdle with a couple of really live contenders. Both Cottage Oak and Drive on Regardless were extremely well backed last time but failed to live up to expectations. To be honest, the form of those races haven't exactly amounted to a whole lot either so despite the fact that these two are from the top yards and may well go off short/jointish favourites, I'm going to oppose them. I think the run that Dessie Hughes' Lurgan put in last time was superior to the top two here and may also be open to more improvement. At the prices he's definitely the value bet in this race.

The 1:15 race is a very decent little novice chase and one, that on the face of it, looks like a suitable opportunity for Made in Taipan to resume winning ways. However I was disappointed with his run behind Follow the Plan last time, considering that he had beaten Follow the Plan in an earlier encounter. Made in Taipan may well win this but it would be a brave man to go in heavy at the probable short odds, especially as I think Jayo may well be the winner here. Willie Mullins' charge put in a great round of jumping last time to beat Bringbackthebiff (who advertised that form with a good result, over an inadequate trip behind Casey Jones and Trafford Lad last week). The only danger for me here...well okay the favourite is a danger....but the other danger is the trip of 2m which might be a little sharp for Jayo. He travelled so well last time though and I have every faith in him turning out to be a very useful horse. Because Made in Taipan has something to prove now, I think Jayo is the logical choice.

The 1:45 race is the highlight on the card because it gives us another chance to see Pandorama's conqueror - Mikael D'Haguenet. I don't think it's unfair to say that this race today is going to be the acid test - giving weight away to some decent enough competitors. Clan Tara is still open to some improvement after a fine win at Navan last time while Fisher Bridge probably has a bit to prove now. It may be left to The Bishop Looney, a grade three winner last time, to test the guile of Willie Mullins' Cheltenham hopeful. However, what we really want to see is Mikael D'Haguenet win this in some style - and he really should - because if he doesn't, we really won't know where we are with our novice hurdlers this year.

The 2:15 race is a very competitive handicap chase and could be won by any of about eight horses. Retrievethelegend may have some further improvement in him, especially seeing as though he kept very wide in his last win at Navan before Christmas. He lost a lot of ground that day in taking that route and still won by 9 lengths - he could be anything. Oscar Lyons was pummelled by Golden Silver last time and it's hard to know what to make of his chances in a race like this. I'd be inclined to lay him for a place all the same. Merchant Paddy was well fancied last time but was brought down 6 fences from home. Unfortunately for us he was at the back of the field at the time and it was hard to read how well he was running or what place he could have achieved. In saying that however, if the money came for him again tomorrow, I'd be inclined to pay attention. I'm going to return to Retrievethelegend as my selection here because I think he has less to prove than some others and he could also be a decent price.

The 2:45 is a trappy maiden hurdle where many will be hoping that former John Oxx also-ran Ebadiyan can improve on his recent 3rd behind Jumbo Rio at Punchestown. I think there are too many questions that need asking in this race and I don't have the answers to any of them and as you know I nearly always advise against betting in Maiden races and this one is definitely not going to be an exception. Keep the money in your account for this one guys and gals.

The 3:15 is a handicap hurdle and another race where stakes should be kept to a minimum. Smack That has been running well enough over the Christmas period but he may need a break now as this race is probably a bridge too far. Crerum won as he liked last time and a 9lbs hike for that doesn't seem too excessive - he may still be able to make his presence felt. I'm actually going to go for a rank outsider here in the top Weight - Eritrea. Obviously as a place and small win option Pat Flynn's horse is given one more chance to show that she can make a name for herself at this jumping game. To be honest, there's every chance that she may go off at around [30.0] or [40.0] but I just have a sneaky feeling that we've yet to see the best of this gutsy little animal.

Good luck with your Naas bets!

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