UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

Icare Desbois beat Lecky Watson in a Fairyhouse bumper last Easter and is the clear form pick on his third to King Of Kingsfield and Mirazur West in a maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. However, he's disappointed twice since and OMNISCIENT may prove a better alternative. The selection was rated in the 90s after winning twice on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott and was just let down by his jumping in the closing stages when making a promising hurdle debut at Fairyhouse recently. He should benefit from that experience and is preferred to Union Station who had Kinbara Hills well behind in fourth when placed at Navan last month. Galway Festival bumper winner Fortunate Lighting is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Omniscient 2nd Icare Desbois 3rd Union Station

VERBAL SPARRING has filled the runner-up spot twice in handicaps this winter notably when staying on nicely behind Whiskeywealth over C&D in February. The selection has been let down by his jumping on both outings since but given a clear round appears on a favourable mark. Red Striker has completed the hat-trick of winning on the Flat, a hurdle and a chase and comes here on the back of a promising third to Ernie From Nurney in a 25-runner handicap at this venue. Answering justified favouritism in a Thurles maiden last month and rates a threat along with Cheerful Chap who beat all bar Clonbury Bridge in a 20-runner 2m4f Cork handicap last month. Clarens has disappointed twice since a promising second at Navan, but the booking of Jack Kennedy is interesting.
Prediction : 1st Verbal Sparring 2nd Red Striker 3rd Cheerful Chap

DR EGGMAN was a useful sort in bumpers winning at Ballinrobe and was switched to hurdles this winter when placed twice behind useful sorts at Navan. The keen running gelding, who is now fitted with a hood for the first time, had Big Stage over four lengths back in third when again filling the runner-up spot at Punchestown last time and could be difficult to beat if tidying up his jumping. Born Braver won twice in point-to-points before joining Gavin Cromwell this year and now drops in trip after his second to Kinturk Kalanisi on hurdle debut at Navan. The Story So Far and Ayiko are two bumper winners with hurdle experience to consider.
Prediction : 1st Dr Eggman 2nd Born Braver 3rd Big Stage

THREE IN A ROW might provide veteran trainer Arthur Moore with a winner. The Flemensfirth gelding has run two solid races in handicaps at this track, most recently when fifth in a big field over this trip. He's slightly up in grade on this occasion but has scope for improvement and may be able to cope with the rise in class. Iron Allen was a maiden winner over course and distance before Christmas and the runner-up has performed well in handicaps since then. Not seen since running over fences at Cork in January, he could be on a decent mark if he's on top of his game after that lay-off. Downtherefordancin went close over 2m4f at Punchestown in October. He's another returning from a break but would have claims if returning to his best.
Prediction : 1st Three In A Row 2nd Iron Allen 3rd Downtherefordancin

Paul Townend rode COILLTE ARIS for the first time in a 2m handicap at this venue earlier in the month and takes the mount again. Fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time on that occasion, the Soldier Of Fortune mare kept on steadily to take fourth spot in a big field and stepping up in trip should be to her advantage. That was her first run since January so she's entitled to improve for the outing. Shana Cloon has been most consistent in similar contests without managing to get her head in front. Beaten less than a length at Cork last time, she continues to edge up in the ratings but looks likely to go close again. The Big Cloud made the breakthrough over 2m at Limerick last week and turns out again quickly under a mandatory penalty. She has placed form over this trip and has to enter calculations.
Prediction : 1st Coillte Aris 2nd Shana Cloon 3rd The Big Cloud

CHOSEN SHANT is a longstanding maiden but has run well several times at this venue and would be a deserving winner. Ciaran Murphy's mare was runner-up in big-field contests here over 2m on her latest two starts and may be suited by stepping back up in trip. Ladyeze Man went down by only a neck on his handicap debut over this trip at Cork in the autumn. Running for the first time since then, he was down the field at this venue earlier in the month but should be sharper for that comeback run and stepping back up in trip will help. King Kali attracted market support and ran a good race on handicap debut over course and distance earlier in the month when finishing sixth in a big field and is another that is open to improvement.
Prediction : 1st Chosen Shant 2nd Ladyeze Man 3rd King Kali

Noel Meade's Flat horses are in decent nick and he has a chance of landing this bumper with the debutant BLUE MOSQUE who is interesting on pedigree. The daughter of Berkshire is related to a couple of useful performers for the Meade yard in Sixshooter and She's A Star, both of which were successful in bumpers. Crescent Moon is from a useful French family and was ridden by Declan Lavery when finishing runner-up in a point-to point at Lisronagh in February. She has since switched from Ian Donoghue's yard to Gavin Cromwell and looks a leading contender. Dee's Getaway, out of a bumper-winning half-sister to Ferny Hollow, cost 42,000 Euros as a three-year-old and the booking of Finny Maguire catches the eye. Dream On Baby, out of a bumper winner from the family of Wichita Lineman and Rhinestone Cowboy, is another noteworthy newcomer.
Prediction : 1st Blue Mosque 2nd Crescent Moon 3rd Dees Getaway