UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

CELTIC CHIEFTAIN cost 450,000gns at the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale last autumn and the son of No Nay Never is a half-brother to two winners including the useful Janoobi. His dam was successful as a juvenile and it will be interesting to see how strong the Ballydoyle representative is in the market. Tommy McJohn was purchased for 80,000 euro as a yearling and hails from a family that have done well at two, while the Blue Point filly Make Haste is another newcomer to keep a close eye on. Hugo's Girl got upset in the stalls but was far from disgraced on debut behind Usdi Atohi at Dundalk last month.
Prediction : 1st Celtic Chieftain 2nd Tommy McJohn 3rd Hugos Girl

KEKE appears versatile in terms of ground conditions and got off the mark when beating Rathbranchurch on heavy at Bellewstown last autumn. The Eddie Lynam-trained gelding made a pleasing reappearance in a 21-runner Navan handicap a fortnight ago and should progress with that outing under his belt. Inishmot Prince has gained all nine career wins at Dundalk and is a threat coming here in great form from the all-weather and rated significantly lower on turf. So Majestic won twice for Katie McGivern last summer including at this venue and is fit from a spring campaign in Dundalk, while others to consider include Jazzy Dancer, Bold Optimist and Mehman.
Prediction : 1st Keke 2nd Inishmot Prince 3rd So Majestic

Ger Lyons has already been among the winners in the juvenile division this season and ONE SMACK MAC could provide the Glenburnie yard with another victory. The Kodiac colt cost 150,000gns as a yearling and is a full brother to smart Group 3-winning juvenile Glounthaune. Snapdragon is an obvious threat from powerful quarters and the son of No Nay Never, who was bought for 240,000gns at the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale, is a half-brother to three winners. Pompano Beach is by Ten Sovereigns and out of a Fastnet Rock mare whose three previous runners have all won, while the Profitable colt Limit Off is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st One Smack Mac 2nd Snapdragon 3rd Pompano Beach

MIDNIGHT FIRE has won early in the turf season for the past three years and comes here off a fine effort on his reappearance at the Curragh last month. The Mayson gelding beat all bar Mercurial in that 21-runner event and remains on a competitive mark. Mount Ruapehu won a Cork maiden as a juvenile and added to his tally on a first start for Andy Slattery at Dundalk in January. He ran well on soft ground at the Curragh on Monday and should be suited by this sounder surface. Coumshingaun has gained all three wins over six and should progress from her reappearance at Cork, while Sporting Hero and Dream Today are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Midnight Fire 2nd Mount Ruapehu 3rd Coumshingaun

ECLIPSE EMERALD has twice had Kortez Bay about two lengths behind when filling the runner-up spot on both outings to date and is sent straight into handicap company. The form of his second to Follow Me at the Curragh last month has been working out quite well and this sounder surface could bring about more improvement. Edwardian beat Perfect Judgement in a maiden here over five last summer and was quite highly tried in two subsequent starts, while Tai Tam Bay won easily over C&D last month but has been given a hefty 15lb hike as a result. The form of Ohailbhic's win in a Dundalk maiden has been boosted since and Dylan Browne McMonagle is again on board.
Prediction : 1st Eclipse Emerald 2nd Ohailbhic 3rd Kortez Bay

SEA THE BOSS scored in good style on debut at Tipperary and reappeared quickly when a creditable fourth behind Kitty Rose in a Listed race at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. She struggled subsequently on soft ground at the Curragh and is bred to appreciate this step up in trip. Je Zous won a mile maiden at Thurles last autumn and was subsequently second to Regal Jubilee in a Listed race at Newmarket but was a soundly beaten third when reappearing in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud. Madame Celeste is a well-bred daughter of Galileo who scored on debut at Dundalk last November, while Flight Of Fancy also boasts a fine pedigree and could improve on this sounder surface.
Prediction : 1st Sea The Boss 2nd Madam Celeste 3rd Flight Of Fancy

NATURALLY NIMBLE was second to a subsequent Group 3 winner on his only start at two and gave the impression he was ready for a step up to this trip when third in a Leopardstown maiden over a mile. The winner of that was Listed-placed on Monday and the runner-up scored at Chester two days later. Messerschmitt dead-heated in a Thurles maiden on his sole juvenile outing and his rating was raised by 6lb after he finished fourth in a useful contest at Cork last month. He has only raced on soft ground so far. Old Faithful has his share of ability but hasn't convinced with his attitude under pressure.
Prediction : 1st Naturally Nimble 2nd Messerschmitt 3rd Old Faithful

RED VIBURNUM will be a short price to land this after two fine efforts over 7f at the Curragh last term and Dermot Weld's charge looks very hard to oppose. Beaten fractions by a pair of subsequent Group winners on debut, she was then fifth in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. Stepping up to a mile shouldn't be an issue and the daughter of Frankel can get off the mark before returning to stakes company. Quadruple is by the same sire and has place claims with improvement likely from her return at Leopardstown where she was fifth over this trip. Golden Ocean, out of a mare who won two French Classics for Andre Fabre, is a newcomer to note.
Prediction : 1st Red Viburnum 2nd Quadruple 3rd Golden Ocean