UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

All eyes will no doubt be on FLAME BEARER on his belated debut for Willie Mullins. Having had to miss previous engagements due to the inclement weather, the seven-year-old will hopefully get the chance to make his chasing debut here. A graded hurdler for Pat Doyle last season, the gelding has the potential to take high rank among the novices this term. Journey With Me looked beaten when falling two out at Gowran Park last time but the Robcour owned gelding should develop into a decent staying chaser. He may prefer easier ground and a longer trip but is a contender all the same. Mars Harper has finished second to two of the better novices already this winter and has more experience than his main rivals.
Prediction : 1st Flame Bearer 2nd Journey With Me 3rd Mars Harper

KNOW THE GAME will need to jump better than he did over hurdles at Thurles last time but if showing more respect for fences the Jim Dreaper trained six-year-old is fairly handicapped. The gelding ran one of his best races over flights when third at this track in March and can race off a 4lb lower mark now. Shes Some Doll makes her debut for Thomas Gibney having won over hurdles at Roscommon last time. The mare had some decent placed efforts over fences last term and is sure to do well for new connections. Hard Rain has been a consistent sort in handicap hurdles of late so commands respect on just his fourth start over fences. He is thoroughly unexposed in this sphere, so has plenty of scope for improvement.
Prediction : 1st Know The Game 2nd Shes Some Doll 3rd Hard Rain

THREE CARD BRAG should appreciate this step up in trip having kept on strongly when third at Navan last time. The form of his previous Galway maiden win received a major boost when the runner up won impressively at Punchestown subsequently. Gordon Elliott has a very strong hand in this race but the Jet Away gelding looks the pick. Absolute Notions and Deeply Superficial also hold leading claims in a tight affair.
Prediction : 1st Three Card Brag 2nd Absolute Notions 3rd Deeply Superficial

IMPAIRE ET PASSE should be capable of making a winning debut for Willie Mullins. The ex-French trained gelding won his sole start in his native country and holds a number of big race entries in the coming months. It will be a surprise if he doesn't get his new career off to a winning start. Ideal De Ciergues finished third on his racecourse debut at this venue before finding the opposition too hot to handle in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper. He returned to something like his best when again reaching the frame on his hurdling debut last time. Wantage and Three In A Row are two interesting longer term prospects but both may just benefit from the experience on this occasion.
Prediction : 1st Impaire Et Passe 2nd Ideal De Ciergues 3rd Wantage

ALL FOR RACHEL contested a much stronger maiden hurdle over a similar trip at this track last month. He was prominent throughout, but lost his place before the penultimate flight to come home eighth. The winner, the runner-up and the fifth home have since scored to endorse the form. All For Rachel should be a big player in this company. Former point-to-point winner Yeah Man could have a say on hurdling debut. He has been behind in his races over fences recently, however, he has come up against some very useful sorts. The Flying Spur is entitled to improve upon his seasonal reappearance in Navan at the end of last month. His fourth at this track in January reads well. Rathnaleen Kal was a fair fourth in a Clonmel maiden hurdle. That was far from a deep race, but it is one of the better pieces of recent form on offer.
Prediction : 1st All For Rachel 2nd Yeah Man 3rd The Flying Spur

Expensive-purchase HALKA DU TABERT looks the part. The market expected her to win a mares' bumper on debut at this track last month, but she faced a tough battle from the runner-up before winning by a neck. The form got a boost when the third home won decisively at Thurles on Sunday. Halka Du Tabert was a very easy winner of a point-to-point in December last year and ought to take to hurdling. Eabha Grace kept good company in bumpers and has to rate a threat. Her hurdle debut saw her come home a clear third in a big field over further at this venue. The two horses in front of her have both gone in since and, indeed, the winner scored in a Grade 3 novice hurdle when next seen. Law Ella is another with decent bumper form and is more than capable of getting into contention after a couple of runner-up berths in mares' maiden hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Halka Du Tabert 2nd Eabha Grace 3rd Law Ella

GO GILL GO ran fourth in a much better class of race at Cork which entitles her to plenty of respect in the basement grade. Considering she was beaten by horses rated 115, 114 and 115, she could do a bit of damage here. Beeverstown Bullet could be a factor in first-time blinkers. He finished mid-division over further in Cork and a couple of winners have come out of that race. He was placed in his last two outings over this sort of trip. This is a marked drop in trip for Ceanndana. He has placed form over further and shouldn't be a backmarker. Brehon Star has been a beaten favourite in his last couple of handicap hurdles. There is one of these races in him, but the forecast rain isn't in his favour. First-reserve Gaelic Des Chastys is no forlorn hope if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Go Gill Go 2nd Beeverstown Bullet 3rd Ceanndana

FIREFOX can reap the benefit of a debut fourth in a Navan maiden hurdle in November. He went off favourite for that assignment and raced well off the pace before keeping on well for fourth. There should be plenty of improvement to come from him as he switches to a bumper. Loughglynn made his first start in the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse in April. His sixth place was a fair effort and he has to be one to consider. Givehimthehonour made 75,000 guineas after winning his point-to-point at Castlelands in March. The form of that point-to-point hasn't worked out, however, he is one to check for market strength on track debut for Paul Nolan.
Prediction : 1st Firefox 2nd Loughglynn 3rd Givehimthehonour