UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

A race in which trainer Henry De Bromhead appears to hold a particularly strong hand. Slight preference is for GORGEOUS TOM, who ran one of his better races to date when fourth behind the subsequent Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner here in November. The six-year-old had to settle for second behind another future Grade 1 winner at Navan next time, while Tramore may not have played to his strengths most recently. It shouldn't be long before he sheds his maiden tag. Jasko Des Dames, a winner in France, has reached the frame on both starts over hurdles since arriving in Ireland and looks the biggest danger to his stablemate. Bumper winner The Busy Fool has shown enough in two runs over flights to suggest he can get involved here.
Prediction : 1st Gorgeous Tom 2nd Jasko Des Dames 3rd The Busy Fool

THE GREAT UNKNOWN showed enough in two starts against geldings earlier in the campaign to suggest she can make it third-time lucky under Rules. Having a first outing against her own sex, the five-year-old looks well placed to make the most of the opportunity. Her biggest threat could come from stablemate Garde La Peche, who easily beat a subsequent dual hurdles winner on her sole point-to-point start and something was clearly amiss when she failed to fire on her racecourse debut at Limerick over Christmas. Former French Flat winner Got Glory is another capable of much better. The Willie Mullins-trained mare was considered smart enough to make her Irish debut in Grade 1 company last April.
Prediction : 1st The Great Unknown 2nd Garde La Peche 3rd Got Glory

TOTO TOO has every chance of making a winning start to life with trainer Gavin Cromwell. Runner-up on his racecourse debut in a Galway bumper last August, the Ocovango gelding then won his first two outings over hurdles. Although slightly disappointing when upped in class at Cheltenham when last seen, the seven-year-old is very lightly raced and open to improvement. Stoke The Fire is difficult to assess given he has yet to receive a mark over hurdles. However, Willie Mullins would have had a multitude of options for this race, so the fact he relies on the five-year-old could be significant. Impressive Listowel winner Aeros Rock could also have more to offer, especially with connections reaching for a first-time tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Toto Too 2nd Stoke The Fire 3rd Aeros Luck

VERBAL SPARRING can recover losses having held every chance when falling at the final flight at this track last month. Sent off favourite on the back of a promising runner-up effort here, he obviously has a liking for the venue. Still well handicapped relative to his mark on the Flat, the five-year-old can register a first career success. Papa Barns is also a long-standing maiden, but the Tom Dreaper-trained seven-year-old caught the eye staying on late in a better contest at Leopardstown. Ladyeze Man, who has been off the track since just being denied at Cork in October, would have to be given a serious chance if fit enough.
Prediction : 1st Verbal Sparring 2nd Papa Barns 3rd Ladyeze Man

Recent Fairyhouse runner-up SOLLY ATTWELL can go one place better for the in-form Cian Collins yard. Having reached the frame in four of his six point-to-point starts, the six-year-old initially faced some stiff opposition in his maiden hurdles but showed a lot more on his handicap debut last time. With the benefit of that experience, he should be hard to beat, despite the large field. Jouster justified favouritism in that aforementioned race, but has work to do if he is to confirm form on these revised ratings. Nonetheless, the Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old has to be respected. Stealthy Tom would be a danger to all off his much lower hurdles rating if fit after an absence.
Prediction : 1st Solly Attwell 2nd Jouster 3rd Stealthy Tom

Although disappointing in two runs since her shock Limerick win over Christmas, the William Murphy-trained AGHMOROUGH BRIDGE might be worth another chance in this ordinary contest. A three-time point-to-point winner, she is now reunited with Moira McElligott, who was on board for two of those successes between the flags. Everystep Oftheway is a maiden under both codes, but ran one of his better races when third here last March. Stepping up to this distance for the first time may well bring about further improvement in the six-year-old. Championship leader Jack Kennedy takes the ride on his brother Michael's Jeronimo De L'ouch. The five-year-old makes his handicap debut here after the mandatory three starts in maiden company.
Prediction : 1st Aghmorough Bridge 2nd Everystep Oftheway 3rd Jeronimo De Louch

With form of his point-to-point second at Lingstown having subsequently been well advertised by the winner, OL MAN DINGLE can make a successful start to life under Rules. The Eoin Griffin-trained five-year-old was always prominent in that race, leading at the last and only losing out by a neck at the finish. Forty Coats, who won his only point-to-point start at Ballinaboola last month, also makes his Rules debut. Having his first run for Henry De Bromhead, the Diamond Boy gelding has obviously been pleasing connections at home. Although somewhat exposed after five outings, the John Ryan-trained Drumgill looks best of those with previous racecourse experience.
Prediction : 1st Ol Man Dingle 2nd Forty Coats 3rd Drumgill