UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

KURASSO BLUE looked a nice sort when winning on his jumping debut at Auteuil last September and Gordon Elliott mentioned him as a potential Triumph Hurdle contender in stable tours earlier in the season. The Masked Marvel gelding was a bit green on his first outing over hurdles but was nicely on top at the line and is open to plenty of improvement. Bacchanalian was a bit too keen for his own good in the Grade 1 at Leopardstown last weekend and may be capable of a bit better than that showing. He had Murcia a couple of places behind then and may be able to confirm placings.
Prediction : 1st Kurasso Blue 2nd Bacchanalian 3rd Murcia

CORAL RIVER may prove the answer in a tricky looking contest. The Ol' Man River gelding had some nice bumper form and improved significantly from his first outing over timber to win at Gowran Park 16 days ago. He was nicely on top late on then and going a bit further now should help. A Tipp For Gold sets the standard off his mark of 125. He is obviously none-the-worse after pulling up quickly at Leopardstown last weekend and is entitled to play a big part in this company. Scalpnagoon is improving with racing and opened his account at Thurles last month. He's another that has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Coral River 2nd A Tipp For Gold 3rd Scalpnagoon

LOVELY HURLING looked like a smart sort when winning his bumper at Wexford last May and may be able to score now back over hurdles. The Walk In The Park gelding had made his debut over timber at Fairyhouse last March when running freely and fading a touch late on. He should have learned plenty from his bumper run when he was settled out the back early on. Autoportrait has been knocking on the door and looks an obvious danger. He has a mark of 117 now which sets the standard. Jump Allen looks to be the stable choice from the two Willie Mullins runners but would need to improve a bit on recent form.
Prediction : 1st Lovely Hurling 2nd Autoportrait 3rd Jump Allen

WELL DRESSED hacked up in Fairyhouse last month and there could be plenty more to come from her now that she has got off the mark. The handicapper raised her by 12lb, but she is a lightly-raced sort who will appreciate this trip and ground. She faces another couple of recent wide-margin winners in Ragmans Corner and Doctor Churchill who will also relish conditions. The former enjoyed himself in a qualified riders' handicap hurdle at Punchestown, while the latter made a very bright start to life with Patrick Hayes over further at this track. Mercury Mission is one for each-way players to home in on as his third in Cork and fifth at Punchestown give him prize-money claims.
Prediction : 1st Well Dressed 2nd Ragmans Corner 3rd Doctor Churchill

APPLES JANE is really bred in the purple being by Walk In The Park out of the mighty mare Apple's Jade. Gordon Elliott knows what is required to win this race having landed three of the last five renewals and she looks the pick of his two runners. Tom Mullins also runs a pair of horses and his Facile Ocean is a half-brother to Fascile Mode who has won four times for the stable, including on debut in a bumper at Leopardstown. Elliott's Eternal Echo is worth a market check, while Anthony McCann's Shabra Diya would need to improve upon an opening fifth in a Navan bumper. There are winners in his pedigree, though, and he gets first-time cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Apples Jane 2nd Facile Ocean 3rd Eternal Echo

An interesting clash between the two Willie Mullins representatives and slight preference is for DINOBLUE over this trip. Dinoblue has been mixing in higher grades and a stalking race could reap dividends. She won a Grade 3 chase on her last visit to this track in November 2023. Allegorie De Vassy has plenty to recommend her as she landed this contest last year and was very good off the front in a Grade 3 mares' chase at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. She has been mostly campaigned over further, though, and could potentially set the race up for Dinoblue. Must Be Obeyed has plenty to find at the weights and looks very much third choice.
Prediction : 1st Dinoblue 2nd Allegorie De Vassy 3rd Must Be Obeyed

ITS ON THE LINE could overturn Down Royal form with Big Interest on this slower ground. Its On The Line was beaten almost five lengths into second by Big Interest on better ground in the north, but is entitled to come on from that run which was his first for almost eight months. Last season, he won this race in addition to prestigious hunters chases in Aintree and Punchestown. Big Interest is the younger pretender who is in good hands with Davy Christie, a renowned specialist in this discipline. There ought to be plenty more to come from him as he is very much unexposed. Arverne could get involved at a price and similar sentiments apply to Annamix.
Prediction : 1st Its On The Line 2nd Big Interest 3rd Arverne