UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

RAMILLIES won on chase debut last month and is suited by soft ground and this distance. He lacked a gear in Grade 1 hurdles but won an ordinary Thurles chase nicely, defeating Tenzing by 2.25 lengths. Chemical Energy had similar hurdles ability and won impressively at Cheltenham in October, easily defeating an out-of-sorts Mahler Mission - which subsequently defeated Tenzing by 10 lengths. Chemical Energy is made for staying chases but his best form is on good ground, flopped once at Kilbeggan and returns from a mini-break, conceding 3lb. Amirite, a wide-margin Kilbeggan hurdles winner, was Grade 2-placed in November and should get involved. Thedevilscoachman is well suited by testing ground and steps up slightly in distance but was well held when falling in the Drinmore.
Prediction : 1st Ramillies 2nd Chemical Energy 3rd Amirite

WHATSNOTOKNOW reappears following a layoff but his yard is doing well and remains unexposed over fences. Eighth in the 2020 Supreme Novices Hurdle, he chased home Franco De Port over fences in 2020, a month before that rival won a Grade 1, and while recent runs were disappointing, had previously run well at Cheltenham and reverts to fences (for the first time since July 2021) from a winneable rating. Aarons Day has bumped into smart types and drops in grade while Clonbury Bridge was well held recently but finished second over CD in November. Handicap debutante Genois hasn't run since July and while he may be a spring/summer type, won his maiden hurdle on soft. Ground-versatile Everglow drops markedly in distance from his Porterstown Chase disappointment while Percy Warner returned from a layoff in November and runs with cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Whatsnotoknow 2nd Aarons Day 3rd Genois

SINBAD LE MARIN ran well on jumps debut and contests a race where some eyes could be on the Fred Winter Hurdle. A Chantilly flat winner, he was green and keen at Punchestown but should progress if settling. The runner-up Calico's form ties in with today's rival Almuhit, suggesting little separates them, but the selection can improve more. Byker caught the eye at Limerick, finishing behind the subsequent Punchestown winner Metamorpheus, while Zanndabad was twice Listed-placed on the flat in France, including last November, and ran well at Leopardstown. Teagarden Jazz was 1.5 lengths behind the lesser experienced selection in December while Almuhit holds Mighty Mo Missouri and Jacovec Cavern (which is now 7lb worse off) on Punchestown form. The Lovely Man should improve from debut while Gordons Aura is progressive. Samadabad won in France winner but debuts over jumps in a tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Sinbad Le Marin 2nd Almuhit 3rd Byker

ECHOES IN RAIN is ideally suited by race conditions, having won a Grade 1 race in April 2021. Runner-up to Honeysuckle at Punchestown last April, she fell when looking held in December's Hatton's Grace but is holding form and is clearly capable. In contrast, Bob Olinger's form has dipped and while he travelled well at Leopardstown, faded tamely with connections now reverting to this distance for the first time since November 2020. Meet And Greet was third in that Christmas race and also drops in distance, conceding 7lb to the Grade 1-winning selection. Darasso is consistent, capable and versatile but concedes weight and was four lengths behind the selection last April, when 9lb better off. Cash Back can cover costs while jumps debutante Derry Lad won't know what's happening.
Prediction : 1st Echoes In Rain 2nd Bob Olinger 3rd Meet And Greet

SEABANK BISTRO can get his head in front here after a couple of decent placed efforts over timber. He has been beaten at odds on both outings over hurdles but to be fair to him he has run into some decent sorts. The Walk In The Park gelding chased home Corbetts Cross at Limerick over Christmas and that rival has franked the form since with an easy victory in handicap company. Sam Magee shaped nicely when third on his 'track' debut at Down Royal and he could be a danger now. Gordon Elliott saddles two in the race with Davy Russell getting the leg up on Kansas City Star. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was pulled up when a big price in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last time but has to be respected dropping back into maiden company.
Prediction : 1st Seabank Bistro 2nd Sam Magee 3rd Kansas City Star

LOW STYLE ran well back over hurdles at Leopardstown when third to Tullypole Annie in a competitive event and looks capable of striking again off this kind of mark over timber. The Beat Hollow gelding was an easy winner on his handicap debut at Roscommon back in September before falling early on his chase debut. He went up 2lb for his latest run and is still relatively unexposed. Doyen Ta Win dug deep to score at Limerick last time and might be better dropping back in trip now where a stronger pace could help her settle a bit better. Gold Speed ran a solid race when fourth at Leopardstown over Christmas and is another that has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Low Style 2nd Doyen Ta Win 3rd Gold Speed

Willie Mullins looks to have another very strong bunch of bumper horses and WESTERN DIEGO makes his first start for the champion trainer having landed a point-to-point just over a year ago. The Westerner gelding cost 125,000 pounds after that victory and could be another nice prospect. Suttons Hill was no match for the impressive It's For Me at Navan last weekend but ran a nice race to finish second and could get involved here now. Will Do has been placed over hurdles and in a bumper since joining Gordon Elliott and looks like another obvious one for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Western Diego 2nd Suttons Hill 3rd Will Do