UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

CAVALLO PAZZO has been gradually improving and just failed to get up in a 5f maiden at Navan last month. He may be suited by the extra furlong here and handles testing ground. Echoing caught the eye on debut at Fairyhouse and although the impressive winner was in a different league at the Curragh on her latest start, she was only two lengths off the runner-up and acted on heavy ground. Vadiana was nearest at the finish when second over a mile at Bellewstown so her stamina is not in doubt. She is unproven on the ground but her talented half-sister Girouette won two stakes races for Tracey Collins on this kind of surface. Coolree has done all his racing at the Curragh and has made the frame on his last three starts. A mile looked a bit far on his latest outing and he was previously fourth in two races over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Cavallo Pazzo 2nd Echoing 3rd Vadiana

MILE END has improved since being fitted with blinkers and handles soft ground very well. Johnny Murtagh's charge has landed nurseries over this trip at the Curragh and Navan, and can defy an 8lb hike for the latter success to complete a hat-trick. Polar Bear, overlooked by stable jockey Shane Foley who rides Navan maiden winner Executive Decision, is an experienced sort who was touched off in a premier nursery in September. He got off the mark on his ninth start when readily landing a C&D maiden last month and may have got away lightly with just a 2lb rise. Lisieux was quietly fancied on her nursery bow last month and was a snug winner from a more exposed stablemate. An 8lb hike probably still leaves her on the right side of the handicapper and there should be more to come.
Prediction : 1st Mile End 2nd Polar Bear 3rd Lisieux

A maiden winner over this trip last term, JON RIGGENS is still looking for his first handicap victory but his turn may not be far away. He was returning from a break when fifth at the Curragh last month and showed the benefit of that outing when chasing home Mickey The Steel at Navan. He may now be able to turn it around with that rival, who was held on the all-weather last time. Some horses go up a stone for winning one handicap, let alone four in a row, but Earls has the knack of only doing enough when he hits the front. He's really effective at this time of year and is bidding for his third successive victory in this contest. Curraheen Princess has been wonderfully consistent and hasn't been out of the first three in her last eight starts. Her win at Navan in September was her third success at that track this season and she had the selection behind when placed at the Curragh last time.
Prediction : 1st Jon Riggens 2nd Earls 3rd Curraheen Princess

It is difficult to oppose SIERRA BLANCA after his good effort in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown last month. An eyecatcher at the Curragh when second in a maiden on his previous start, the No Nay Never colt was again nearest at the finish when chasing home stablemate Cairo and his new mark of 101 sets a high standard. His dam was a dual Oaks winner and he should be suited by this step up to a mile. Walsingham was well behind the selection on debut but left that run behind when a close third to two other Ballydoyle inmates at Leopardstown. He holds Classic entries and should continue to progress. Space Age belied massive odds when a pleasing third on debut and merits respect along with Irish Derby entrant Sprewell, who made late headway when fourth over this trip at Gowran.
Prediction : 1st Sierra Blanca 2nd Walsingham 3rd Sprewell

EMPORIO won over an extended 7f at Tipperary on his reappearance in August and had Cosmic Vega behind when runner-up in a Listed race over this trip at Leopardstown. He handles soft ground well and hasn't had an arduous campaign. Current Option is a high-class performer at 7f and won the premier handicap over that trip at the Galway Festival for the third year running this summer. He was a neck in front of Emporio on these terms when third in another valuable contest at Leopardstown before finishing runner-up in a Group 3 at Tipperary. This stiff mile will stretch his stamina to the limit. Helvic Dream beat Broome on heavy ground in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh but things haven't worked out for him this term. The trip is short of his best but it's a big drop in class for the Group 1 winner, who may be fitter for his run at Ascot last month.
Prediction : 1st Emporio 2nd Current Option 3rd Helvic Dream

DUKE DE SESSA came back to form when landing a Group 3 at Leopardstown in September and ran equally well when going down by just half a length over a longer trip in a Group 2 at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend. He's very effective on soft ground and can defy a penalty as he drops in class. Yaxeni is an admirable filly with a fine track record. She won the November Handicap over 2m on this card a year ago and recorded her third win at Listed level this year with a C&D success last month. Conditions will suit and she looks sure to give a good account. A dual winner in France, Inuit has yet to score for current connections but was third a couple of times at this level during the summer and went close off a hefty mark in handicap company on his penultimate start. Testing ground is a concern for him.
Prediction : 1st Duke De Sessa 2nd Yaxeni 3rd Inuit

ZOFFMAN is unproven over this trip but comes here in great form and it may be worth taking a chance on his stamina. The improving three-year-old, who likes soft ground, landed the October Handicap over 1m4f at Leopardstown in good style and can defy a 7lb higher mark. Classy jumper The Shunter hasn't been missed by the handicapper but is unexposed in this sphere and will handle conditions well. Jesse Evans was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles at Tipperary last time and was a close third in a premier handicap at Leopardstown on his most recent start in this sphere. He gives the selection's trainer Noel Meade a strong hand. Harry's Legacy has been progressive and consistent in staying handicaps and is another to consider after finishing second over this trip at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Zoffman 2nd The Shunter 3rd Jesse Evans

DHA LEATH is very effective on testing ground and may be able to round off a productive campaign. Successful in three of her first four outings this term, she made the frame in a premier handicap at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend and may have found conditions a bit faster than ideal when a creditable fifth at Newmarket last month. Mr Rango has improved on soft ground and was an emphatic winner over this trip at the Curragh. A 13lb penalty makes this a much stiffer task but he'll relish conditions and is open to more progress. San Aer and the runner-up pulled well clear of the remainder over a mile at Galway on Monday and a 7lb hike looks fair for him. This will be his first try at the trip but he's another going the right way at the moment. Recent maiden winners Vocal Studies and Boher Road step into handicap company and are also in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Dha Leath 2nd Mr Rango 3rd San Aer