UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

MISTER POLICEMAN is held in high regard by connections and can maintain his unbeaten Irish record. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding won over hurdles at Cork last term and again beat a stablemate when making a successful chasing debut on his return over this trip at Fairyhouse. Quilixios was a smart juvenile, winning the Triumph Hurdle, and overcame a lengthy layoff when making a successful switch to fences at Limerick in October. The step up to three miles the following month didn't suit, and riding arrangements suggest he's preferred to Aslukwoodhavit who got his chasing career off to a winning start at Punchestown. Sa Fureur completed a hat-trick over hurdles last season when taking a Thurles Grade 3 but was very fortunate to score over fences at Fairyhouse last month.
Prediction : 1st Mister Policeman 2nd Quilixios 3rd Sa Fureur

SNAKE OIL is obviously not the easiest to train with very few miles on the clock, but the Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner advertised his claims when tackling handicap company over fences for the first time at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. The Westerner gelding kept on well in third behind The Folkes Tiara and remains on a competitive mark. Happy Dreams took the valuable Tim Duggan Handicap Chase at Limerick over Christmas but has been raised 9lb and may not be suited by this drop back in trip. Verdant Place was a progressive sort in handicap hurdles last season but is another that may find this trip a bit sharp on his first start in a handicap chase. Bythesametoken is a consistent sort while others for the shortlist include Midnight It Is and Union Park.
Prediction : 1st Snake Oil 2nd Bythesametoken 3rd Happy Dreams

AN TOBAR should appreciate this extra half-mile. He won a point-to-point in runaway fashion for Denis Murphy but there was a lengthy gap before appearing on the track to take a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in fine style. Henry de Bromhead's charge was far from disgraced when third in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at the same venue and the form of that race has been advertised since. Firefox beat Ile Atlantique in a bumper at the Fairyhouse Easter Meeting and the pair have both impressed in maiden hurdle wins this season. Riding arrangements suggest they are the stable's preferred, although Croke Park has a Grade 3 success to his name over this trip at Navan, while the remaining Mullins trio also merit plenty of respect.
Prediction : 1st An Tobar 2nd Firefox 3rd Ile Atlantique

TULLYHILL looks to have found a good opportunity to open his account over hurdles. The Martaline gelding followed up an easy bumper win at Gowran last spring by finishing second to A Dream To Share in the Grade 1 Champion bumper at the Punchestown Festival. His jumping was far from polished when long odds-on for a maiden hurdle at the same venue on his reappearance in November and hopefully he will have improved since. The Great Unknown indicated ability when fifth to Jigoro in a 26-runner Navan maiden hurdle last month, while Lightkeeper was first past the post between the flags and represents Gordon Elliott. Master Otis was runner-up twice in bumpers and far from disgraced when switched to hurdles at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.
Prediction : 1st Tullyhill 2nd The Great Unknown 3rd Master Otis

QUORNOFAMONDAY was second in a point-to-point for Claire O'Connell and has progressed in handicap hurdles this season. The Philip Dempsey-trained gelding didn't enjoy the clearest of passages when a close third at Gowran before making costly mistakes at the final two flights when caught close home by Glenabo Bridge at Fairyhouse last time. Cristiano Marealdo caused a 50/1 shock over C&D last month and is taken to go well, while any market moves for Breakintheclouds or the long-time absentee Silent Flight would be interesting.
Prediction : 1st Quornofamonday 2nd Cristiano Marealdo 3rd Breakintheclouds

POLITICISE won the valuable Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel back in 2020 and held a career high rating in the mid-130s. The Camelot gelding is bidding to end a long losing run but has been placed on a number of occasions since including at the recent Leopardstown Christmas Festival when third to Music Of Tara. A reproduction of that form should see him go close. Butty O Brien just came out best in a tight finish at Navan last time while others to consider include American Money, Crafty Gael and Circus Act. Junot steps up in trip after being placed here just before Christmas while stablemate Pana To Milan reverts from fences and also has a significant jockey booking.
Prediction : 1st Politicise 2nd Butty O Brien 3rd American Money

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY appeared to be well-fancied before this meeting was cancelled last Sunday and Patrick Mullins is again booked. The selection hails from a family that has produced Flat and jumps winners in France and the yard was in winning form at Cork last weekend. Wartime Leader fetched 200,000gns as a yearling and is a half-brother to three winners including Invite, who scored at Listed level. Colcannon is from a family that Noel Meade knows well having enjoyed success with the dam and also her sister Sixshooter, while Kelley Kapowski, a half-sister to a number of winners in Scandinavia and Italy, represents Gordon Elliott. Frogman and Paudie's Wings also attracted some betting interest last Sunday morning while Rose Boum represents the yard that won this last year.
Prediction : 1st Shuttle Diplomacy 2nd Wartime Leader 3rd Frogman