UK Horse Racing Tips: Naas

CRECORA HILLS hasn't run since February but represents an in-form yard and looks well handicapped. Out of a triple bumper-winning mare, the selection easily landed a course handicap hurdle over a similar distance in April 2024 and while her chase runs last season were underwhelming, she showed promise on her latest start and stepping back up in trip will help. Ceroc has a race-fitness edge and while he ran well at Clonmel last month, he doesn't seem to be as far ahead of the handicapper. The Lovely Man debuts for a new yard and is also noted.
Prediction : 1st Crecora Hills 2nd Ceroc 3rd The Lovely Man

MURAT looked smart in winning both his bumpers and has the size to do well over jumps. A gambled winner on debut, he was absent for 344 days prior to winning a smart Galway Festival bumper in August. He is again absent since but is likely to have been minded, and should take all of the beating if jumping well. Between Friends has her fourth hurdle outing and while she has shown promise and caught the eye at Punchestown in May, she lacks a recent run. Port Authority was left in front at the last when winning a point-to-point in March but that form isn't outstanding.
Prediction : 1st Murat 2nd Between Friends 3rd Port Authority

OUR LUCKY LADY was poor on the Flat but has shown big improvement over hurdles. She failed to feature in low-grade Flat handicaps but having run well at 150/1 at Thurles last month, she showed further progression to score at Sligo latest. Paul Townend rides Positive Energy, who was rated 68 on the Flat and scored on hurdling debut in March. He was well held in a smart hurdle race here in April, though, and concedes weight to the selection. Tir Og is another to bear in mind.
Prediction : 1st Our Lucky Lady 2nd Positive Energy 3rd Tir Og

Point winner FRUIT DE MER showed good ability in a Limerick bumper in March, despite the disqualification. The selection defeated the now 110-rated Paul Collins by 16 lengths to win his point-to-point in April 2024 and, having passed the post first at Limerick, he was demoted to second behind the useful L'Evangeliste with five-time winner Emily Love taking third. Newbrook Diamond was purchased for 75,000 pounds following his Oldcastle point-to-point win but may struggle to beat the selection. Lar Na Pairce rates best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Fruit De Mer 2nd Newbrook Diamond 3rd Lar Na Pairce

SPILLANE'S TOWER won twice at Grade 1 level as a novice over fences and earned a rating in the 160s when runner-up to Fact To File on his reappearance last term in the John Durkin. He's only run twice since and now reverts to hurdles off an attractive mark on his seasonal debut. Backtonormal was a useful novice hurdler and justified strong support on his handicap debut over fences at the Dublin Racing Festival. He also switches to hurdles and has plenty of scope for improvement, while Sysko makes the shortlist too.
Prediction : 1st Spillanes Tower 2nd Backtonormal 3rd Sysko

INTHEPOCKET can take advantage of a considerable weight concession from some of his main rivals. The Henry de Bromhead yard was out of form when he finished third behind Ile Atlantique in a Grade 2 over C&D in January. The Grade 1-winning hurdler has not been seen since, but de Bromhead's string could not be in better form at present. Ile Atlantique was subsequently let down by his jumping last term and perhaps a greater threat may be posed by Champ Kiely. He won three times over a variety of trips last season including over this distance at Navan.
Prediction : 1st Inthepocket 2nd Champ Kiely 3rd Ile Atlantique

BECKETT ROCK won twice over hurdles and was a creditable sixth behind Jimmy Du Seuil in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The Kayf Tara gelding handles soft ground and may prove even better over fences. The Wallpark was very progressive over hurdles last year completing a four-timer and was third behind Bob Olinger in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. He's an exciting recruit to fences but this trip may prove a bit sharp. Gordon Elliott also saddles Jacob's Ladder, who won twice over hurdles, while Pure Steel, Irish Panther and The Busy Fool are other hurdle winners to consider.
Prediction : 1st Beckett Rock 2nd The Wallpark 3rd Jacobs Ladder

TORPILLE DAGROSTIS was bought for 62,000 pounds after finishing second in a point-to-point last autumn and again filled the runner-up spot behind Miss Doyenne in a Cork bumper at the Easter Festival meeting on her Rules bow. The Gordon Elliott-trained mare had point-to-point winner Simply Natural about seven lengths behind in fifth and may now have most to fear from Shadys Lady. Declan Queally's charge beat all bar the useful Switch From Diesel over C&D last season and was again prominent throughout when third on her reappearance at Roscommon. Alpha Zeta is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Torpille Dagrostis 2nd Shadys Lady 3rd Alpha Zeta