UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

LETS GO CHAMP is a full-brother to the smart mare Scarlet And Dove and was bought for 375,000 pounds just after winning a Bartlemy point-to-point for Donnchadh Doyle. The Jeremy gelding was then on the sidelines for nearly four years before a promising hurdle debut at Punchestown in January with Clodders Dream three lengths behind in fourth. The selection should benefit from that outing and hopefully start to make up for lost time. Nick Rockett is also a winner between the flags and now switches to hurdles after landing a Thurles bumper last month. Arcland has won on the Flat and showed promise when third to Cool Survivor in a Punchestown maiden hurdle back in October, while Suttons Hill is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Lets Go Champ 2nd Nick Rockett 3rd Clodders Dream

IRISH POINT looks the one to beat. The Joshua Tree gelding won a 1m4f Grade 1 bumper in France and after making a winning start over hurdles for Gordon Elliott, has filled the runner-up spot in Grade 1 company behind Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse and also over 2m4f at this venue in the Lawlors Novice Hurdle. No Looking Back is a progressive sort but has a stiff task at the weights after beating Brazil in a match for a Grade 2 at the Limerick Christmas meeting. Nucky Johnson has a great attitude and steps up in class after being awarded a Punchestown maiden hurdle in the stewards room, while Lily Du Berlais has smart form in bumpers and should progress from her hurdle debut here last month.
Prediction : 1st Irish Point 2nd No Looking Back 3rd Nucky Johnson

FALVIO won twice as a juvenile in Poland and gained another Flat win on the all-weather at Deauville. The selection joined Tony Martin last year and ran a cracker on his second handicap hurdle start over this C&D when beating all bar Luimneach last month. He probably found an extra half-mile too far when weakening on the run-in behind Happy Dreams at Navan last time. Wee Charlie was just touched off in that 25-runner event and is certainly another for the shortlist if as effective back over two miles. Rideau Canal is another dropping back in trip after a couple of promising runs this year, while Anstand was runner-up at Clonmel last month and hails from a yard that recorded a double at Wexford last Sunday.
Prediction : 1st Falvio 2nd Wee Charlie 3rd Rideau Canal

TEMPO CHAPTER TWO won a bumper and a novice hurdle for Willie Mullins and was having his first outing for current connections following a seven-month break when staying on nicely over two miles here last month. The selection didn't enjoy the clearest of passages at the final flight and should appreciate this step up in trip. Carnfunnock is closely matched with the selection on that run and has scope for improvement, while The Gradual Slope has won twice over hurdles this season and probably found three miles just too far when a creditable fourth behind Perceval Legallois at the Dublin Racing Festival. He remains on a competitive mark. The lightly raced Cash Back still retains plenty of ability and was second to better-fancied stablemate Echoes In Rain in a Grade 3 here last time.
Prediction : 1st Tempo Chapter Two 2nd The Gradual Slope 3rd Carnfunnock

JOURNEY WITH ME was a smart novice hurdler last term and the point-to-point winner has progressed over fences this season beating Brides Hill (won since) in decisive fashion over this C&D. The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding only went down narrowly to Impervious in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time with the pair drawing clear of the remainder. Limerick Lace comes here off the back of a C&D win in a valuable handicap, while Saldier won twice at Grade 1 level over hurdles and made a belated start over fences when beating Solness (won well at Leopardstown on Monday) at Thurles last time. Flanking Maneuver has obviously been difficult to train but ran a cracker when switched to fences after a two years' absence in a Grade 2 at Navan.
Prediction : 1st Journey With Me 2nd Saldier 3rd Limerick Lace

ESPANITO BELLO has shown a liking for this track in the past gaining all three career wins at the venue including an impressive victory over Coko Beach in a beginners' chase. The selection has been lightly raced over the past few years but advertised his claims last time when keeping on in fifth behind Carefully Selected in the Thyestes at Gowran Park with Gabbys Cross about 20 lengths back in eighth after a mistake 3 out. The latter can't be lightly discounted having won a valuable 2m4f handicap here last year as well as the Galway Blazers. Now Where Or When appreciated the step up to this trip when a close third to Kemboy in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse last month and he's probably got off light enough with an 8lb rise for that effort. The Tack Room and Captain Cj are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Espanito Bello 2nd Now Where Or When 3rd The Tack Room

FANCY GIRL was snapped up by current connections for 200,000 pounds after winning a Ballyragget point-to-point for Cormac Doyle last spring and readily landed the odds in a Cork bumper earlier this year. The selection was far from disgraced subsequently behind better-fancied stablemate Fun Fun Fun in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival and this looks a good opportunity to regain the winning thread. Gaillimh A Run had Bohemian Summer behind when third to Halka Du Tabert here in November and probably improved again to score at Thurles just before Christmas. Bohemian Summer justified strong support when opening her account at the fourth attempt in Punchestown last time and appears on the upgrade.
Prediction : 1st Fancy Girl 2nd Gaillimh A Run 3rd Bohemian Summer