Who To Follow At Naas On Sunday - 08/01/23

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Fri 06 Jan 2023 14.04

Naas 14:20

Grangeclare West

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

N/A

Age: 7

Weight: 11-10

OR: N/A

Days: 42

The feature event of the afternoon on Sunday is the Grade One Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and we can't look past the favourite Grangeclare West.

A horse with a big reputation off the back of being bought for £340,000 in December 2020 having bolted up in a point to point.

He made his rules debut at Punchestown in May 2021, when going on to score easily by nine lengths, never having to do too much to win.

Suffering a setback and obviously not being easy to train he never appeared last season for his hurdles debut, but having been given time he returned this term for that timber debut and over 2m4f went on to bolt up by 12 lengths.

Looking a stayer in the making he has seen quotes of 8/1 from 33/1 for the Ballymore and then 16/1 into 5/1 favourite for the Albert Bartlett.

Big talent that will look to extend his credentials for the Cheltenham festival.

Form: 11View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
26/04/23	PUN	20	Y	11-12	1
04/02/23	LEO	22	Y	11-10	6
08/01/23	NAA	20	Sft	11-10	5
27/11/22	NAV	20	Sft	11-12	1
29/05/21	PUN	16.5	Sft	11-9	1

Willie Mullins sends a strong team to Naas on Sunday with big chances a cross the card especially in the Grade One Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

Mullins kicks off the day with two chances in the Mares Beginners Chase with Point Aval and Instit looking to show their true colours over fences.

In the Novice Chase over two miles, nine year old Appreciate It is looking to make it 2/2 over the bigger obstacles and enhance his reputation in the Arkle market.

The feature event of the afternoon is the Grade One Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and Mullins fields two runners with Grangeclare West looking very tough to beat, whilst Champ Kiely is being tried up in trip.

Mullins is looking to extend his domination on the card with Hunters Yarn in the Maiden Hurdle, having made a pleasing debut over hurdles, but now has a big opportunity to get off the mark.

Mullins heads into the weekend sporting a strike rate of 23% for the last two weeks, managing to land 22 winners from his last 94 runners.

It is strange to see Rachael Blackmore only have two rides on quite a big afternoon at Naas, which makes us think that on both her rides she has big chances.

Her first ride of the afternoon comes on the very talented mare Telmesomethinggirl who is a Cheltenham festival and now trying fences for the second time should go close.

Blackmore's only other ride on the day comes in the Maiden Hurdle over two miles with Glenmalure Flyer making her debut over hurdles.