UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

CANAL END ran encouragingly over a shorter distance over Christmas and looks nicely treated. Rated 125 over hurdles, he was well held on his initial chase runs and while visibility was reduced due to fog at Leopardstown, he was sighted doing nice work in the latter stages, with today's distance sure to bring about improvement. Answer To Kayf has top weight but nonetheless also has a few pounds in hand, under his 5lb claimer. He finished second at last May's Punchestown festival and having performed satisfactorily in hot beginners chases recently, drops to handicaps and is rated 8lb lower than over hurdles. Individualiste is 10lb higher than when winning at Navan but should again compete.
Prediction : 1st Canal End 2nd Answer To Kayf 3rd Individualiste

CHARLUS was a smart Flat performer for Jean-Claude Rouget in France and debuts for top connections having been bought for E315,000 last July. A debut winner in December 2023, his three runs last year were fine efforts and finished second on, heavy ground, at Listed level in Bordeaux last May. He has a noteworthy Triumph Hurdle entry and will know his job on jumps debut. Holy See, who finished fourth at Listed-level on the Flat, showed ability on his hurdles debut at Limerick over Christmas but is vulnerable to smart types. Young Churchill, by the same sire as the selection, also ran well on his hurdling debut last month and has obvious place claims.
Prediction : 1st Charlus 2nd Holy See 3rd Young Churchill

ANZADAM retains next weekend's Irish Champion Hurdle entry but connections appear to be keeping a lid on the keen-goer for the time being. He raced twice over hurdles in France in 2023, shedding his maiden tag at Compiegne, and returned following 411 days off to win a Grade 3 hurdle in November. He wears a hood and needs to learn to settle but is smart. Veteran Beacon Edge ran well in December's Hatton's Grace and drops from Grade 1 company but hasn't run at this distance since January 2021 and will be outpaced by the selection. Laafi, once rated 98 on the Flat, scored on jumps debut but that recent form isn't outstanding and he steps up markedly in grade.
Prediction : 1st Anzadam 2nd Beacon Edge 3rd Laafi

Three from four in Grade 1 novice hurdles last year, the talented DANCING CITY picked up from where he left off when making a successful chasing debut at Punchestown last month. Willie Mullins' gelding is sure to have learnt plenty for that initial experience and, given that this step up in trip promises to suit, he can go in again and cement his place as a contender for the Brown Advisory. Recent Grade 2 winner Bioluminescence is the obvious threat, but she will have no easy task conceding weight, albeit only 1lb. Dee Capo can chase the pair home.
Prediction : 1st Dancing City 2nd Bioluminescence 3rd Dee Capo

Former top bumper performer A DREAM TO SHARE showed promise on jumps debut in November and might now gain a belated hurdle success. Initially unbeaten in five bumpers in 2022/23, injury interrupted last year's campaign but he shaped nicely on hurdling debut in November, with that form appearing quite strong in the context of today's winnable maiden. Returning from another break isn't ideal but he should progress from November. Krak showed promise at Leopardstown over Christmas, finishing nicely ahead of Kalix Delabarriere (which made mistakes), and should improve. Ballybow returned lame when finishing behind the selection in November and while he subsequently ran well over Christmas, should struggle to win.
Prediction : 1st A Dream To Share 2nd Krak 3rd Ballybow

MUST GO NOW gained a belated first win in an easy manner on New Year's Day and can follow up from 10lb higher. Lightly-raced and inconsistent prior to his Fairyhouse win, that form is working out well with the third-placed horse scoring subsequently and the selection should now progress. Cave Court is ground-versatile and is suited by this distance but is now 4lb higher that when finishing second at Leopardstown over Christmas. One Big Boum is 8lb higher than when winning at Cork last month but is progressive while Interchangeable narrowly won an unplaced maiden last month and steps up in grade. Hartur d'Arc has a higher chase rating but today's race, over an inadequate distance, will help his confidence.
Prediction : 1st Must Go Now 2nd Cave Court 3rd One Big Boum

ADIEMUS debuts for Willie Mullins, having been bought by the trainer as a store for E50,000 in June 2023. Out of a well-related hurdle-and-chase-winning French mare, he debuts at a notable time of year. American Jukebox conceded 5lb to the Leopardstown winner (Meetmeinstlouis finished fourth, Matter Of Opinion fifth) over Christmas and while today's rider claims 7lb and he seems to stay quite well, is vulnerable to smart types. Champagne Jury was beaten by a subsequent hurdle winner at Boulta in November and has since joined Gavin Cromwell. Jericho Du Fenoir is a half-brother to Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D'Allen and cost E65,000 as a three-year-old and while he makes a belated debut, encouragingly does so in a bumper.
Prediction : 1st Adiemus 2nd American Jukebox 3rd Champagne Jury