Naas Sunday Preview - 02/01/22

The opener at Naas on Sunday sees five go to post in the 2m3f Beginners Chase for Mares.

First in the betting Jeremys Flame is a worth favourite having gone to close behind Concertista the last time, however she is still winless in seven starts over fences, which makes her worth taking on at skinny odds.

We are siding with Dolcita for Willie Mullins.

This daughter of Saint Des Saints relishes some juice in the ground and she wasn’t miles behind today’s favourite when fifth on chase debut.

The fact she was thrown straight into Graded company there suggests she is highly rated and she is open to plenty of improvement.

Next up is the 2m Novice Chase event where three potential festival-bound prospects battle it out.

Dancing On My Own and Lifetime Ambition will be suited by the soft ground as both boast plenty of stamina, however we believe Blue Lord will have too much speed over this trip, with him rating a serious Arkle candidate based on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse.

He finished second on this card last term when behind Bob Olinger and he should go one better here.

The market leader in this 2m Handicap Chase represents a stable hitting a bad run of form therefore we are willing to side with bottom-weight Fighting Fit, who is now 5lb better off than their recent meeting at Fairyhouse.

This unexposed 7-y-o is having just his second start in handicaps over fences and most of his better performances over hurdles came with juice in the ground.

More to come.

The feature race on the card is the Grade1 Lawlor’s Of Naas where seven line up in what looks a cracking renewal.

Gordon Elliott has a typically strong hand with the Bective Stud-owned pair Ginto and Hollow Games probably having a decider to who goes where at the festival, but it is Willie Mullins’ Whatdeawant who we are siding with at the prices.

This 5-y-o got the better of Ginto in a bumper last season and he quickened away impressively on hurdles debut after looking in trouble around three from home.

That mix of speed and stamina is crucial at this trip and he is likely to have improved plenty.

Our final tip on the card is the 2m Maiden Hurdle in which Willie Mullins sent out Asterion Forlonge in 2020.

It looks a weak renewal this year, so it wouldn’t take much for them to land it again with Bronn, who makes his debut for new connections after winning a bumper for Stewart Crawford last April.

He showed a good attitude on soft ground over an extended 2m that day, therefore he should stay well over this trip, and like many joining this yard he is expected to have improved again.