UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

JOSH'S JOY has useful ability and is reliable. She ran well behind two smart types on debut, again ran well again in August, and while well held at Cork most recently, the winner subsequently scored at Group level. She drops in distance, but might be a little better than her 82 rating. Frankel filly Institute is out of a Queen Mary winner and Nunthorpe runner-up but although well supported on her Dundalk debut, she was well beaten. She appears a backward type so should progress, but faces a streetwise selection. Her stablemate Purely is out of a well-bred Grade 1 winner and could play her part, despite being second string.
Prediction : 1st Joshs Joy 2nd Institute 3rd Purely

STRIKE ZONE has shown useful form in two runs to date and seems reliable. Out of a Listed-placed dam, he was a fast-finishing third on debut at Navan and then bumped into a capable type at Cork. That race's winner disappointed subsequently but returned lame, while the well-beaten third was later placed in a handicap. Savile Row has shown reasonable form and although vulnerable to the selection, should give him a race. Chicago Pope probably owes his 85-rating to his run when finishing last in the Futurity Stakes. He might not run to that mark, but can still compete.
Prediction : 1st Strike Zone 2nd Savile Row 3rd Chicago Pope

REDEMPTION ROAD defeated some of today's rivals when scoring in August and again ran well on his most recent start at Listowel. He stepped forward to register that Tipperary win, defeating Madbadanddangerous, and although the runner-up started slowly, David Marnane's youngster seemed to progress again with a solid runner-up effort on heavy ground subsequently. Madbadanddangerous also improved to narrowly prevail at Naas, beating Duke Of Cumberland (who disappointed on Thursday) and recent winner Alphecca. Green Citation stayed on nicely on his introduction and should progress.
Prediction : 1st Redemption Road 2nd Madbadanddangerous 3rd Green Citation

It is encouraging that smart performer SWELTER reappears for possibly one last hurrah this Flat season, having been absent since her Irish 1,000 Guineas defeat. A sizeable filly, she was well beaten in the Classic but didn't show her true worth as she had previously won March's Priory Belle Stakes, which has worked out outrageously well. Her lack of a run is a concern and she carries a penalty, but seems better than her 105 rating. Fiery Lucy is likely to again run well, but is vulnerable to smart types. Pink Oxalis has been thoroughly progressive, but steps into stakes company for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Swelter 2nd Fiery Lucy 3rd Pink Oxalis

IT'S A HEARTBEAT has progressed nicely with each run and made a mockery of her initial handicap mark of 89 when readily beating Shaool over this trip at the Curragh. That form has been boosted since and the daughter of Too Darn Hot can cope with this step up in class. Island Hopping is the form pick on her third to Minnie Hauk in the Irish Oaks and may have been unsuited by the soft ground when third to La Isla Mujeres in the Oyster Stakes at Galway, with Lemsairbat, Romzina, Cheeky Wink, Calrissiana, Beset and Galileo Dame all behind. Bonnie Moon showed improved form when runner-up in that Listed race and can't be discounted.
Prediction : 1st Its A Heartbeat 2nd Island Hopping 3rd Bonnie Moon

JETARA is a smart stayer over hurdles, winning five times and placing twice in Grade 1 company last spring at Aintree and Punchestown. The Curragh maiden winner has returned to the Flat this autumn and should be spot-on after just failing to score at Listowel, with Sorrentino, an easy winner at Thurles on Thursday, over three lengths behind in fourth and now meeting the selection on 3lb worse terms. The evergreen Lord Erskine had a number of these rivals behind when a gallant fourth in the Irish Cesarewitch, while Light As Air was just denied in a valuable handicap over 1m5f at Leopardstown and should go close if staying the trip.
Prediction : 1st Jetara 2nd Light As Air 3rd Lord Erskine

CALZAGHI was reappearing after a summer break when successful over 1m2f at Navan last October. The Kevin Coleman-trained gelding has been given a similar campaign this season and shaped well after a layoff of over four months when third to Areana over a similar trip at Down Royal, with Kevin The Great about two lengths behind in fifth. There is little to choose between Positive Energy and Shelbourne on running behind Great Mover over an extended 1m1f at Gowran last month, with Convincing back in fifth. The latter finished well from off the pace and could be suited by this step up in distance.
Prediction : 1st Calzaghi 2nd Convincing 3rd Positive Energy

The 1m1f Punchestown handicap won by Kashel Spring last month could prove a key piece of form, with Its All Peachy, Presence and NARLITA hot on her heels. The Harry Rogers-trained latter was putting in her best work at the finish and may now come out on top as she previously beat all bar favourite Glenroyal over 1m4f at the Galway Festival. Riding arrangements suggest Annie's Angel is preferred of Joseph O'Brien's pair and she's filled the runner-up spot three times over a variety of trips this year, including when narrowly denied by subsequent Group 3 winner Elana Osario at Killarney. Ob La Di made all here last time and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Narlita 2nd Annies Angel 3rd Kashel Spring