13:10 Naas

Leg 1 Selections - Dame Kiri

The Aidan O’Brien trained DAME KIRI has run well on her three starts to date and connections have found her a weak contest in order to get off the mark. The daughter of Justify finished 3rd on her first two starts in maiden races before finishing a close 4th in a Group 3 last time at the Curragh. She now drops back into a maiden and should prove hard to beat if coping with the drop in trip to 6f for the first time. 

13:45 Naas

Leg 2 Selections - Navalny

The well-bred Duke Of Vienna is respected on his debut but preference instead goes to NAVALNY who has run well on his first two starts. Both Polar Bear and Desert Haven have ratings of 82 but Navalany probably sets the standard in the race based on his 5th placed finish in a listed race at Dundalk last time. The Henry De Bromhead trained colt drops back in trip to 6f which should suit and I expect him to run well once again.  

14:20 Naas

Leg 3 Selections - Lord Massusus

The Joseph Murphy trained LORD MASSUSUS has won his previous two starts and he should hold strong claims of completing the hat-trick. The son of Markaz won by 2 ½ lengths at Listowel over a mile before following up over 6f at the Curragh last time by 1 ½ lengths. He has an official rating of 95 which puts him only 1lb behind the favourite Montesilvano but he crucially comes into the race in form and is also proven on this softer surface. He steps back up in trip slightly to 7f and should run well once again.

14:55 Naas

Leg 4 Selections - Mehnah

Despite Toy setting the standard with a rating of 108 following her 2nd placed effort in the Irish Oaks, she disappointed last time in France and the more solid option looks to be MEHNAH if she is fit enough to do herself justice following 459 days off the track. The Kevin Prendergast trained four-year-old has form figures of 121 in her career so far including a win in a listed race in July last season. The daughter of Frankel should handle the softer ground and I expect her to run well despite concerns over her fitness.

15:30 Naas

Leg 5 Selections - Yaxeni

The 104 rated YAXENI is top rated off a mark of 104 in this listed race and despite having to concede weight to some talented three-year-olds, she looks the most dependable to run her race. The Ger Lyons trained five-year-old has been in good form this season with form figures of 412210 with her disappointing run coming last time in the Irish Cesarewitch over a trip too far. She had previously shown all of her best form over this trip of 1m4f before weakening late on over 2 miles last time and she should bounce back over this trip.

16:05 Naas

Leg 6 Selections - Rotolo

This looks a competitive 47-75 handicap but preference goes to ROTOLO in first time cheekpieces. The three-year-old had shown very little in her first three starts when sent off 66/1, 150/1 and 150/1 but she put in a much improved performance last time over this course and distance on her handicap debut. She was sent of 14/1 and was only beaten ½ length off a mark of 64 on her first start over 1m2f. The handicapper has raised her 2lbs for that run which is fair and it is interesting that connections now fit the daughter of Slade Power with first time cheekpieces for this race.