Naas Sunday Preview - 13/03/22

The first race of the day at Naas is the 2m3f Maiden Hurdle and Lucky Tenner for Peter Fahey has a big chance with a handy 7lb claimer on board.

The seven year old is more exposed than most in the field having not yet broke his maiden tag in 10 races over hurdles, but has been knocking on the door multiple, finishing second or third on six of those occasions.

At the start of the season he was a 19 length second to the superstar Dysart Dynamo which is strong form, but then at Christmas ran no race at all in a 26 runner handicap.

Given a few months off he returned in February with a close second behind a progressive type and if coming on again with 7lb taken off, he could go close.

The first Grade Three event of the afternoon is the Novice Hurdle over two miles and we are giving a chance to exceptionally smart Gypsy Island, who is having her first run back since May 2021.

The daughter of Jeremy has bundles of ability but her career has been halted by two bad injuries, but she now returns after an absence and has a great record fresh.

Winning her bumper convincingly in August 2018, she was then stepped over hurdles and finished second to Arkle and Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On.

Not seen until March 2019 after that run she returned with three quick-fire wins at Naas, Fairyhouse and Punchestown, beating some nice horses in Listed and Grade Three bumpers.

Suffering a big injury setback, she returned in May 2021 at Tipperary over hurdles and won well giving plenty of weight away.

Getting another problem she has not been seen since then but if coming back in the same form she could be big value.

Our next selection comes in the other feature event of the afternoon with the Grade Three Novice Chase over 2m4f producing a good field of runners.

We are going for value in this event with the Paul O'Flynn trained West Cork Wildway that many may have expected to go to Cheltenham, but will instead take up his engagement here.

The eight year old two starts ago was a good winner of a Beginners Chase over 2m6f, seeing off the likes of The Bosses Oscar and Stratum.

Last time out over this trip in the Grade Three Kildare Novice Chase he was a fair fourth behind Bob Olinger, Capodanno and Gaillard Du Mesnil.

That form reads really well and now in a much easier race could have big claims.

Another cracking spectacle at Naas on Sunday comes in the Leinster National Handicap Chase over 3m 1/2f and we like the look of the ex Nicky Henderson trained Champagne Platinum.

An extremely smart hurdler in his day, Finishing a close up fifth in last year's Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham festival, this season he has been sent chasing by Enda Bolger.

Needing his first two runs at Wexford and Leopardstown, he has shown some serious form in his last two runs that put him at the top of the pecking order for this race.

In January at Navan he took a nine runner Beginners Chase seeing off A'int That A Shame for Henry De Bromhead, with the pair pulling 24 lengths of the third.

Bumped up 6lb for that he was last seen at Punchestown in the Grand National Trial Handicap and he finished three lengths back in second behind the well handicapped Death Duty.

Only bumped up a further 3lb for that run, his stamina could play a big part in this race and looks to have a huge chance.

The final event of the afternoon at Naas is the Mares INH Flat Race and Liberty Dance for Gordon Elliott holds leading credentials off the back of her last run.

The €54,000 daughter of Soldier Of Fortune, made a very impressive bumper debut in December at Fairyhouse when seeing off 14 rules with ease.

She was last seen in the 16 runner Grade Two Mares Bumper at the Dublin Racing festival and she was narrowly beaten by no more than a nose back in third.

That sets the standard in this race and if running to that level she should not be beat.