Naas Racecourse: Preview and tips for day one of the flat finale
There is racing at Naas Racecourse on Saturday Photo: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
It’s Naas Racecourse’s final Flat meeting of the year before they welcome back National Hunt racing in November. The first day of this weekend fixture brings us seven races, including a Premier Handicap and a Listed race.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Naas card, brought to you by BetVictor Online Casino.
Racing opens with a mile Smullen Series race for two-year-olds (13.40). There are nine newcomers here, so it’s not going to be easy to pick a winner, particularly with some smart looking prospects in the mix here. Island Bloom went well on debut here and should do so again, while Ted’s Turn can probably handle the conditions and could do well.
Next is a mile maiden (14.15). Tax Me Later has shown plenty in three starts so far and is the one to beat on existing form, but Winter Adventure is beautifully bred and might have a good chance for Noel Meade. Zelani improved for better ground last time too and should be a player for Dermot Weld.
Race three is a premier nursery handicap run over six furlongs (14.50). Equus Victor is making his handicap debut here and can handle ground with a bit of give, which puts him in contention, while Pink Venom seeks a hat-trick on a highly raised mark. Oristown Boy could go better than expected, given his demonstrable ability to handle ground like this.
Our fourth race is the Listed Steels Stakes, run over six furlongs (15.28). Bamako Beach and Two Stars are the top-rated, but the latter hasn’t been seen since September last year. If going well fresh as he usually does, which could be an advantage at this stage of the season, he could be a big player. Big Gossey is more likely the talking horse here, but he has been yo-yoing in trip this term.
A five-furlong handicap follows (16.08). Stag Night last won on ground like this and he’s now a pound below that mark, so looks highly positive on this occasion. The same might be said for Allsortz, who hasn’t been in the winners’ enclosure since May when the ground was comparable. He’s on the same mark as that day now and could be at least the placings.
Second to last is a seven-furlong fillies’ maiden (16.40). Therewillbeglory was second of 22 on this ground last time and should get involved now, while Abiding Memory has an excellent pedigree and can enter calculations on debut.
Last of all is a seven-furlong handicap (17.15). City House is at a very attractive handicap mark now and should be a factor, while Storm Ready make his handicap debut after just one winning run at Listowel in September. Zenford, though, is drawn inside, on the ground he likes and is within a pound of his latest winning mark so cannot be ignored.
13.40 - Island Bloom
14.15 - Tax Me Later
14.50 - Oristown Boy
15.28 - Two Stars
16.08 - Stag Night
16.40 - Therewillbeglory
17.15 - Zenford
