UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

Donnacha O'Brien's ASEAN showed marked improvement on her second start when third over this trip in Navan. The form of that contest is very strong as the winner was just touched off by a head in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Scorchio ran a lovely race in second on debut at Listowel after attracting support and, granted normal improvement, has to rate a danger. Joseph O'Brien has won two of the last four renewals of this race and his Ascendent was only 9/2 for her debut in Fairyhouse, where she finished seventh. She is highly likely to improve. Ten Sovereigns is fast becoming a sire of speedy juveniles so newcomer Autumn Rose, a stablemate of Asean, is well worth monitoring for market strength. A drop in trip could help Back Down Under's cause.
Prediction : 1st Asean 2nd Scorchio 3rd Ascendent

SILVER NEMO was an eyecatching fourth on his seasonal reappearance in Navan. He made up a lot of ground in the final furlong and, as that run came off a long break, he should come on from it. Jazzy Dancer ran well for a long way off the front over 6f in the Curragh before dropping to sixth. The handicapper has certainly given him a chance and it is worth noting that he made all to win this race last year. Stanhope showed up well in second (two places in front of Silver Nemo) at Navan, which has to bring him into contention, and jockey Mikey Sheehy was on board for his last victory at Navan in October. Catherine Chroi drops to the minimum trip for the first time, but has been running consistently well since the end of April. So Majestic got off the mark in Down Royal on Friday and is dangerous under the mandatory 7lb penalty. Samrogue hasn't landed a blow this year, but is capable of better.
Prediction : 1st Silver Nemo 2nd Jazzy Dancer 3rd Stanhope

Jessica Harrington's NELDA ran on strongly to get up for second on the line at Listowel and could go one place better. That was a highly promising debut effort considering she got to within three-quarters of a length of the winner. Another horse with a '2' beside her name is Pier Pressure. Her runner-up finish came over C&D in September last year and the horse who beat her is now rated 95, so it is more than reasonable to think that Pier Pressure would be up to landing a maiden. Harrington also runs Danvers Gold, who made 320,000gns at Tattersalls. There was plenty of promise in her opening third at the Curragh just over a year ago and while she didn't run to the same level when reappearing at the Curragh last month, there is more in her locker.
Prediction : 1st Nelda 2nd Pier Pressure 3rd Danvers Gold

ALL THINGS NICE was due to make her seasonal bow in Listed company at Cork last month, but was scratched because of testing ground. She was last seen finishing sixth at that level at Dundalk in March, so this represents a drop in class for her. Aussie Girl and Sean Bowen were just caught on the line in Fairyhouse and have every chance of gaining compensation. This Starspangledbanner filly is still on an appealing mark with Bowen's 7lb claim factored in. Top-weight Apricot Twist is eminently capable of landing a blow in first-time blinkers. Son Of Sampers made the breakthrough in a Cork maiden and should be a factor with Jamie Powell taking 5lb off his back, while Cash Or Crypto, Charming Lady and Not Just Yet cannot be ruled out in a deep race.
Prediction : 1st All Things Nice 2nd Aussie Girl 3rd Apricot Twist

EMPRESS OF BEAUTY won well on debut and is a half-sister to a seven-time stakes winner. A 200,000-euro yearling purchase, she was unraced for French trainer Jean Claude Rouget, was bought for 60,000 euros last December and debuted successfully at Gowran. The runner-up was subsequently placed at Group 3 level while reappearing Perfect Portrait finished third, and won subsequently. Frankel-sired Maxux also won on Gowran debut and while that maiden wasn't overly competitive, won easily and is related to Group winners. Another debut winner Mashia was well held by an experienced, subsequent Listed winner last month but races against fillies-of-her-own-age tonight. Library was juvenile Listed-placed and ran well against older fillies over a longer trip at Cork recently. Shamwari was badly hampered on debut, ran well in a recent Listed and drops slightly in trip. Small Oasis was sixth in a Longchamp Listed race on June 11 and runs in first-time blinkers while progressive Snowcapped steps up from handicaps.
Prediction : 1st Empress Of Beauty 2nd Maxux 3rd Mashia

TOUCHING CLOUDS was narrowly beaten from 2lb lower recently and tonight's rider claims 7lb. Naas was a lucky racecourse for her high-class, middle-distance dam and having run well in first-time blinkers at Gowran, reverts to a mile and beat dual recent claimer winner Big Baby Bull seven lengths in May and is now 10lb better off. This is a stronger race than the one Winemaker won easily at Listowel recently but his 7lb rise offset by his rider's claim and remains somewhat unexposed. Factethepuckout's best form is on easy ground but has form on good and has been running well. Pinball Wizard has recent form at this distance and while likely to be competitive, is vulnerable to progressive types. Hastily ran well under a 10lb claimer on reappearance but is 10lb out of the handicap.
Prediction : 1st Touching Clouds 2nd Winemaker 3rd Facethepuckout

ETERNAL SILENCE's sister Touching Clouds is the selection for the earlier race and she returned to form recently. A Group 1-placed juvenile, she became upset in stalls in the 1,000 Guineas and while her effort was tame, showed more at Leopardstown and steps back up to a mile. Water Nymph, closely related to dual Group 1 winner Fancy Blue, has unexciting form and drops back to a mile but can get involved for the placings. Hotaugustnight might turn course-and-distance May form with Muhaarar's Girl, having been slowly away, although both need to improve. Jeaniemacaroney won a barrier trial last August but was beaten 6.5 lengths by Water Nymph in October and would be a surprise winner. Lady Meis, out of a Listed winner, and Santa Fe, by Starspangledbanner but with stamina on her dam's side, make belated debuts.
Prediction : 1st Eternal Silence 2nd Water Nymph 3rd Hotaugustnight

SHAYZANN ran promisingly on debut and should benefit from the run. By a leading stallion, he is out of a Group-winning dam who has already produced two Group winners and while last month's debut was somewhat belated, he showed plenty, with the runner-up finishing seventh in a big-field Royal Ascot handicap last week. Caulaincourt, a brother to a Group 2 winner, was beaten 4.75 lengths by the selection at Gowran and while he also showed promise, might struggle to turn placings. Livio Milo would have been Galway-bound in times past and while frustrating to follow, likes a mile and is ground-versatile. Woodcock Flight has some place claims in a first-time visor while first-time tongue-tied Chiketto disappointed in a first-time hood recently.
Prediction : 1st Shayzann 2nd Caulaincourt 3rd Livio Milo