Naas Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Thursday’s Eight-Race Card

It’s Naas Racecourse’s eagerly-awaited Juvenile Day this afternoon, and the track brings us eight races for the two-year-olds; six maiden races over a range of distances and two handicaps.

Read on for a full preview of and tips for the Naas card, courtesy of Betano, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.

We begin with a fillies’ maiden run over six furlongs (2.07). With seven of the 17 runners being debutants, this will be a tough race to call due to the unknown quantities, but the ones to beat in the minds of most are likely to be You’ll Think Of Me and Tornado Kiss, who have both already performed well at this track, the former over this trip and the latter over a furlong shorter. Drawn lower, You’ll Think Of Me might have the advantage.

Next we have a colts’ and geldings’ maiden over the same trip (2.37). A higher proportion of seen-before runners makes this an easier race to get a sense of, but those with form do not offer much encouragement on the whole. The best might be Coolmore’s Savile Row, who was beaten five lengths on his debut, which is far from disastrous, and is equipped with blinkers for the first time today. Given three pounds by his rider, he should be a big player.

A five-furlong maiden is next (3.07). Rumba Club is the only runner we haven’t seen before, a filly by Coulsty, but she would have to be on point to win this first time out. Donnacha O’Brien’s Aegina was narrowly beaten on her debut at the Curragh, so will likely improve here, while Johnny Murtagh’s Namiid has placed on four occasions previously. Down in trip, Aidan O’Brien’s Controlled might be good in first-time blinkers under a five-pound claimer, while Whatastarr might also be worth a look, also in first-time headgear.

The fourth race is a five-furlong nursery handicap (3.37). There isn’t a wealth of stellar form on show here, all of the 12 runners retaining their maiden status, but the best form figures are brought to the table by Believe In Glory, Sup Of Red, The Love Machine and Final Melody. Ridden by three-pound claimer Jamie Powell, Believe In Glory might be the one to side with here, having fared best up against some opposing rivals at the Curragh in August.

Next is a maiden run over a mile (4.07). Moretothis and Leblon Sunshine are the debutants here, but it is quite an ask for them to win this. Badger’s Cove might be a revelation in first-time cheekpieces under a seven-pound claimer, while Ipanema Beach could have a chance of a place. Back into maiden company having run in two handicaps, Darwin’s Angel might be of interest up to a mile for the first time.

Race six is a mile nursery handicap (4.38). Adrian Murray’s Leblon Queen is the only runner with a win under her belt, having won on debut at Roscommon. She has since been outclassed in Group and Listed company and looks more within her range of capability here. Celestial Siren looks interesting on handicap debut, having run well at Navan last time on yielding ground, so she could be involved, despite carrying top weight. The Holy Apostle could build on a good palace last time out, though, and get to the front.

The penultimate race is a seven-furlong maiden (5.13). We have eight newcomers here, which makes this a tough race to judge due to plenty of uncertainty, but the Colin Keane-ridden Madbadanddangerous is currently the one to beat based on form. The gelded son of Coulsty was beaten just half a length on debut and is likely to improve again, but Joseph O’Brien’s Duke Of Cumberland looks a danger after a good run on soft ground last time at Galway.

Finally, racing concludes with another seven-furlong maiden (5.48). All of the 15 runners are first-timers, so this race could go in any direction. Aidan O’Brien runs Port Ferdinand and Cape Promise, the first string being the former, while Courtlough Gula looks promising, alongside Sindagan, who debuts in the prominent Aga Khan colours for Johnny Murtagh.