UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

HEART WOOD returned from 364 days off when running well in a hot beginners' chase last month. His French form was smart – winning an Auteuil Listed hurdle in March 2022 and while absent for almost a year prior to Naas, he sandwiched two high-class types. He is suited by conditions and is now race-fit. Blood Destiny was Grade 2-placed last April and debuts over fences on reappearance over a distance which could suit. He will be well schooled and receives 8lb but nonetheless cedes experience to the year-older selection. Landrake was a 135-rated hurdler who was well beaten on chase debut while Spanish Harlem, which is rated 131 over hurdles, has plenty to prove in this smart race having been pulled up at Cheltenham.
Prediction : 1st Heart Wood 2nd Blood Destiny 3rd Landrake

MONEY HEIST was absent for 394 days prior to an encouraging run last month and looks far better than his 97 rating. His initial point-to-point form was good and having won at Galway in October 2022, disappointed three days later before missing 13 months. Wearing cheekpieces and dropping in distance isn't ideal but reverting to fences on testing going will suit. Kilashee ran well behind a nicely-in winner at Clonmel last week but has yet to win in 12 chases. Prince Of Air ran well on chase debut at Thurles last month and likes this distance. Triple point-to-point winner Kates Hill makes her handicap chase debut and while she has top weight, has distance form on heavy ground. Pana To Milan ran well enough at Tramore while Cullenwaine disappointed at Thurles. Natural Ability debuts in handicaps and is best watched for now.
Prediction : 1st Money Heist 2nd Kilashee 3rd Prince Of Air

QUAI DE BOURBON jumped right in two French runs as a three-year-old but nonetheless showed form and reappears for top connections. Pulled up having been hampered when racing green on debut, he again jumped right when finishing fourth at Auteuil last November. Going right-handed is concerning but he looks smart and has heavy-ground form. D Art D Art won in testing conditions on January bumper debut and while well held at Cheltenham, should be well suited by this distance as his Gowran win was achieved in the manner of a stayer. Cut The Rope is race-fit but is vulnerable to smart types. October bumper winner Will Wilde debuts over hurdles while Fenway Park is race-fit and has some place claims. Elusive Prince might improve from his Punchestown run while Glen Kiln finished second in a lesser maiden at Limerick. Grooveykindoflove was a 125,000-euro three-year-old and is out of an well-bred unraced dam.
Prediction : 1st Quai De Bourbon 2nd D Art D Art 3rd Cut The Rope

HILLSDALE showed promise in a smart maiden last month and is unexposed. A work-in-progress, he shaped quite nicely at Punchestown and while beaten 24 lengths, the winner is high-class, the placed-horses are able and he conceded 15lb to 95-rated Ivy Hall, which finished sixth. Brennus Lescribaa's chances are more apparent having chased home high-class winners at both Down Royal and Punchestown, when beating 15 rivals in each race. By a leading sire and an 82,000-euro three-year-old purchase, he is dependable but might be vulnerable to an improving selection. It is encouraging that connections have returned Finished Article to training as while she has obviously had training issues, might show form this season. Iron Allen won an ordinary point-to-point and has fair hurdles form.
Prediction : 1st Hillsdale 2nd Brennus Lescribaa 3rd Finished Article

Willie Mullins' Crack The Sky was green on debut at Gowran Park when beaten 10 lengths into second, but should improve for the run. The form of that race hasn't been franked to date, though, so she is swerved for the time being. ONLY BY NIGHT is in good hands and her chance has to be respected as she was last seen winning a Listed mares' bumper at Navan. As a former point-to-point winner, hurdles shouldn't inconvenience her. Gallimh A Run was smart in bumper company in winning at Thurles and this track before finishing sixth in a Grade 2 mares' bumper at Aintree. An absolute plethora of winners have come out of that Liverpool contest, so she is a major player. Magic Dawn bled in that bumper in Aintree and finished out the back. There was merit in her fourth place on hurdle debut at Navan last month, though.
Prediction : 1st Only By Night 2nd Gaillimh A Run 3rd Crack The Sky

MAIMIE'S MAGIC is entitled to come on from her fifth place in a big field at Navan last month. That was her first outing for almost seven months and she made up ground at the business end. Furthermore, that effort came in a higher grade which gives hope that she can defy the burden of 12st 4lb. Ivane has winning form on testing ground at Galway in October which makes him dangerous in this company even if he hasn't been at his best on his last couple of starts. Man River showed much more form when third over further at Wexford which gives him claims. Banada Bridge, Go Gill Go and Tuckmill are all in with a shout of landing a cheque.
Prediction : 1st Maimies Magic 2nd Ivane 3rd Man River

Stuart Crawford's POPPY ROSE was an eye-catcher in third at Navan and appeals off 1lb higher. A good run from her stablemate, Maimie's Magic, in the preceding race on the card would be encouraging as she was just behind Poppy Rose in fifth at Navan. Young Fitzy didn't run badly at all in third over this trip in Limerick and is certainly on a mark he can be effective off while Derby De Thaix ran a cracker in third in a qualified riders' maiden hurdle at Sligo. That run confirmed that he can handle soft ground. This trip looks a bit short for Wee Jerry, but he likes to get on with it and it would be dangerous to give him too much rope in first-time cheekpieces. Special Protector was placed in three races on the Flat including on heavy ground in Galway at the end of October. She is of some interest as she tries hurdling again.
Prediction : 1st Poppy Rose 2nd Young Fitzy 3rd Derby De Thaix

WINGMEN could be an exciting recruit to the racetrack. He made 250,000 guineas at the Sales after cruising home by 12 lengths in a testing-ground point-to-point back in January. The horse he beat into second has since landed a bumper in Ballinrobe. Iris Emery lost her action and was pulled up in a bumper at Gowran Park. She went off favourite for that contest, though, so much better can be expected here. Typhoon Flyer attracted support at big prices in Listowel and finished third. That was a fair effort behind the two market leaders, so he isn't out of it.
Prediction : 1st Wingmen 2nd Iris Emery 3rd Typhoon Flyer