UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

TREASURE ISLE ran well on his debut at the Curragh last month and should benefit from racing on this sounder surface. He broke well and raced professionally on debut and while well held by the comfortable winner, today's much drier ground should play to his strengths. Saratago Special represents a yard in flying form and was a 110,000 euros purchase as a yearling. She is a sister to an American juvenile stakes winner and could herself be smart. Queens Fury is by a fast stallion and is out of a juvenile-Group-placed mare, cost 140,000 euros as a yearling and could also be quite capable.
Prediction : 1st Treasure Isle 2nd Saratoga Special 3rd Queens Fury

AESOP'S FABLES was below his best on his seasonal reappearance over today's course-and-distance last month but should benefit from the run. He hasn't won since landing the 2022 Futurity Stakes as a juvenile but has performed to a high level in sprints, finished third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on firm ground last November and holds three rivals on previous form. The Highway Rat was race-fit when he beat the selection in that recent C&D race but might struggle to confirm placings running in first-time cheekpieces today. Dun Na Sead progressed well last year and won a Dundalk Group 3 in October. It isn't ideal that she makes her seasonal reappearance against race-fit rivals but has Listed-placed turf form.
Prediction : 1st Aesops Fables 2nd The Highway Rat 3rd Dun Na Sead

The Albany at Royal Ascot was raised as a possibility for BARNAVARA after her impressive success on debut at the Curragh. She represents a stable in red-hot form and is a strong candidate for Group 3 honours. Connections pinpointed the Queen Mary for Sparkling Sea after her victory in a fillies' maiden over C&D, so she is a major player. Fairy Godmother kept on for second without troubling Sparkling Sea in that race, but looks sure to come on from that outing. The remaining horses are all making their first starts on turf having raced on the Polytrack in Dundalk. Usdi Atohi won in Dundalk before missing a Listed assignment in the Curragh due to being off feed.
Prediction : 1st Barnavara 2nd Sparkling Sea 3rd Fairy Godmother

TARAWA could be up to making a winning return. Dermot Weld's Shamardal filly was placed five times in quality contests last year with runner-up berths posted in a Group 3 and in two Listed races. She holds a couple of Group 2 entries which indicates where her future may lie. Yosemite Valley has only finished out of the first two once in his seven races. He stayed on strongly for Listed glory in the Curragh last month and has a host of big-race entries over the next couple of months. Mutasarref was four lengths behind Yosemite Valley in third at the Curragh but is a solid operator, while Quar Shamar has the ability to get involved.
Prediction : 1st Tarawa 2nd Yosemite Valley 3rd Mutasarref

BUCANERO FUERTE was a crack two-year-old and has designs on the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot after connections decided to keep him to sprint trips this term. A four length win in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes was the highlight of his juvenile season and he didn't get home in the National Stakes over 7f on his final outing. Coming back to his optimum trip, he'll be hard to beat as long as he has trained on. Givemethebeatboys has 8lb to find with the selection on adjusted ratings but has race-fitness on his side and had three of these rivals behind when winning at Navan last month. Jakajaro is progressive and ran creditably in a Group 3 at Ascot last time.
Prediction : 1st Bucanero Fuerte 2nd Givemethebeatboys 3rd Jakajaro

AIR COMMANDER may have been unsuited by yielding ground when a beaten favourite in a premier handicap over course and distance last month. Previously a maiden winner over 7f on Polytrack at Dundalk, this sound surface could make all the difference for the son of Kingman who is well drawn for one who likes to race prominently. Starliner made a pleasing seasonal debut when a place in front of the selection here in April and the Listowel maiden winner can contend if coming forward from that. Soldier's Empire is another all-weather maiden winner and returns from seven months off. Connections expect him to improve at three and his opening mark could be exploitable.
Prediction : 1st Air Commander 2nd Soldiers Empire 3rd Starliner

Bought for 95,000 pounds in the autumn having shown smart form for Dermot Weld, GENUINE ARTICLE may be able to make an immediate repayment on that investment. A Killarney winner over this trip, the Juddmonte-bred caught the eye when sixth behind his new connections' good servant Crystal Black in a premier handicap at the Curragh in September and was second back at headquarters on his final start at three. Colin Keane rides the selection in preference to Ger Lyons' Cork runner-up Mr King. Exquisite Acclaim has come good on the all-weather lately and is well suited by a mile while dual 7f winner Desert Haven steps up to this trip for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Genuine Article 2nd Exquisite Acclaim 3rd Desert Haven

There are a couple of well-bred newcomers that could be smart but the 87-rated SETTLEMENT sets the bar fairly high. Dermot Weld's daughter of Kingman was touched off in a maiden at Cork over this trip before a respectable run in stakes company at the Curragh. She may have found conditions too testing when sixth at Galway in what has turned out to be a hot race and will enjoy getting back on a decent surface. Golden Ocean, an expensive yearling out of a mare who won two Classics in France, and Siege Of Troy, a half-sister to Listed-winning miler Buckaroo, have pedigrees that suggest they could make a race of it with the selection.
Prediction : 1st Settlement 2nd Golden Ocean 3rd Siege Of Troy