Naas Racecourse: Preview and tips for Thursday’s eight-race meeting

The Flat action is still in full swing as the season begins to work up towards its crescendo in early November. Today’s card at Naas brings us eight races across the afternoon; six maidens and two handicaps. It’s sure to be competitive and tricky to decipher.

Read on for a preview of and tips for the Naas card, brought to you by BOYLE Sports, who have all the horse racing betting.

We begin with a six-furlong two-year-old fillies’ maiden (13.50). There are some good horses in here as well as some highly promising newcomers, including two from Ballydoyle. Pirate Anne Bonny is very well related but is drawn wide here, while Destiny Calls might make some progress from a promising debut at Navan.

Next is a six-furlong two-year-old colts and geldings’ maiden (14.22). Salt Lake looks the leding contender for Amo Racing after being beaten just a short head on debut at the Curragh, but we have a whole host of newcomers in the mix who could turn out to be anything. Bold Commander should make the placings but hasn’t shown enough to win a maiden.

Race three is a two-year-olds’ maiden run over five furlongs (14.52). This is a fairly warm looking contest at the top end of the market, with comparable form coming from New Bond Street, Abletai and Cyclone Code. New Bond Street, though, has managed to place in Listed company as of last time out and could outclass the rest if all goes to plan here.

Next is a five-furlong nursery handicap (15.22). Annie Batt was only narrowly beaten last time and is given seven pounds by her rider here, while Summer Sent You is on a nice looking mark now but is sharply down in trip. Invincible Irish could be more within his comfort zone on handicap debut and could be a nice each-way pick.

Race five is a mile claiming maiden for two-year-olds (15.52). The bottom end of the market looks fairly hopeless on this occasion, and the favourite seems justifiably so. Ferronniere might be the only one to pose a question at an attractive price, provided he improves on his debut, but he is another who could be selected each-way.

Next is a mile handicap for two-year-olds (16.25). Elyatta did well at this mark last time and has Billy Lee back in the saddle again, which should help. Old Joanie made a good show of herself last time at Killarney and could perform here, a pound lower than last time and given five pounds by her rider.

Second to last is a seven-furlong two-year-olds’ maiden (16.56). Rosiliane was good on debut at Down Royal and could get involved once again here, while Consenza might enter calculations for the placings. There are a number of newcomers, though, making this race hard to get a true grasp of.

Finally, racing concludes with a seven-furlong two-year-olds’ maiden (17.32). All of the 13 runners are debutants, so the market must be followed in this case. Ballydoyle’s King Cador is the favourite but not to the exclusion of others. Joseph O’Brien’s season is going too well to ignore and his Raqi makes some appeal, by Lope De Vega and out of a Galileo mare.

Naas selections - Thursday:

13.50 - Destiny Calls 

14.22 - Salt Lake 

14.52 - New Bond Street 

15.22 - Invincible Irish e/w 

15.52 - Ferronniere 

16.25 - Old Joanie 

16.56 - Rosiliane 

17.32 - Raqi