Naas Racecourse: preview and tips for Sunday’s Spring Festivals Trials Day

There is a cracking eight-race offering, including three Grade 3s and a Listed contest to boot at Naas Racecourse on Sunday.

The action gets underway at 1.50pm with a big field maiden hurdle over the one mile and seven furlong trip before the card comes to an end at 5.20 with the final Grade 3 on the card.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full preview of the Naas card on Sunday courtesy of BoyleSports, who offer the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds at the Festival next month, A big field of 22 look set to take on the opening contrast on the Naas card (1.50) and Closutton maestro Willie Mullins looks to have a strong hand in the opener. Kalix Delabarriere was an excellent second in a novice hurdle at this track 25 days ago and sets a very high standard here so is taken to get the win ahead of stablemate Road To Home, while Joseph O’Brien also reveals an intriguing sort in Walk On The Beach, off for six months having won a 12-runner bumper at Killarney when last seen.

The first Grade 3 of the day arrives at 2.20 as a field of five head to the start for the one mile and seven furlong juvenile hurdle. Good To Be Alive for trainer Gordon Elliott was a comfortable winner last time out on debut 18 days ago at Fairyhouse and sets the standard here as Declan Queally's Bacchanalian, also a winner last time out over course and distance, has to concede weight all round to his rivals.

The second Grade 3 of the day is up next at 2.50 with the two and a half mile novice hurdle. Fleur Hill brings some useful form to the table and can see off last month’s Navan winner Jacob's Ladder. Mullins cannot be discounted in any race and he has Joystick entered here, pulled in a Grade 1 novice at the DRF three weeks ago but remains with a lot of potential back in slightly calmer waters here.

Plenty are in with chances in race four on the card (3.20) but recent course scorer Duke of Leggah rates just the pick of these weights so edges the vote from Leopardstown runner-up Kimy for trainer Tom Mullins, while race five (3.50) can head the way of Bridie’s Beau, who is thriving at the moment for the Gavin Cromwell team and can defy a 9lb rise in the weights to complete the hat trick here having already defied a 14lb hike to win at Gowran 8 days ago.

A five runner bumper is up next at 4.20 the Elliott-trained Spinningayarn looks the way to go here, a winner of his sole point to point start and followed up in a Navan bumper on rules debut so is the clear one to beat, while the penultimate race of the day (4.50) can head the way of Shannon Royale, who got a bit found out in the Thyesetes at Gowran last time out but is taken to bounce back here to the form shown when landing a chase at Punchestown in December.

Finally, the card comes to a close at 5.20 with the Grade 3 Newlands Chase, a race on last year by Ferny Hollow for trainer Willie Mullins and he can land the spoils again in this year’s renewal with Blood Destiny, who shaped encouragingly after nine months away when third in a Grade 2 at Thurles last time out so he can resume winning ways here.

Naas selections - Sunday 

1.50 - Kalix Delabarriere 

2.20 - Good To Be Alive 

3.20 - Duke of Leggah 

3.50 - Bridie’s Beau 

4.20 - Spinningayarn 

4.50 - Shannon Royale

5.20 - Blood Destiny