Naas Racecourse: preview and tips for Sunday’s seven-race afternoon jumps card - including the Leinster National

The final meeting in Ireland before the Cheltenham Festival gets underway next week takes place at Naas on Sunday with a seven-race offering which includes the Leinster National at 4.45pm.

Punters heading to the track can get stuck into the action from 2.10pm with a class five maiden hurdle, before the card comes to a close at 5.20pm with a bumper over the two-mile trip for four-year-old’s and older.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full preview of the Naas card on Sunday courtesy of Sporting Life.

The opening contest on the Naas card sees a big field of 25 looks set to take their place in the two mile and three furlong maiden hurdle (2.10). Trainer Gordon Elliott looks to hold a strong hand in the opener and his form pick Kainsbourg could be the way to go and get his first win in this sphere ahead of stablemate Grey Pharoah, who can build on a promising Punchestown second. Willie Mullins cannot be ruled out and Redemption Day should also be very much on the premises with his sights lowered here.

A Grade 3 contest is up next on the Naas card (2.40) with the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle. Beloccio, trained by Mullins and will be ridden by nephew Danny, was only fifth in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last time having landed a valuable Royal Ascot contest on the level last summer but in top hands, should bounce back to form in the discipline.

A two-mile handicap hurdle marks race three on the Naas card (3.10) and the Sean Aherne-trained King In Love could be the way to go here and build on an encouraging third last time out at Punchestown just under a fortnight ago, while race four of Sunday’s meeting (3.40) can head to Cadatharla, who is now 3lb lower than when last seen in this sphere and he is taken to get back to winning ways returned to this venue, with the hat-trick seeking Duke of Leggagh heading the list of dangers.

Sir Argus, trained by Mullins, ran with promise on his chasing bow at Galway in October and should have learnt plenty from that so he can open his account in this discipline in race five at Naas (4.12) and get the better of stable companion Olympic Man, who rates the chief threat.

The feature race of the day is the penultimate race on the Naas card at 4.45 and 14 runners are set to take on the three-mile Leinster National. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Tyre Kicker caught the eye again with the way he travelled off the pace when second at Leopardstown last week and looks well up to winning a handicap from this sort of mark. Kinturk Kalanisi for trainer Tom Gibney has taken well to fences and his opening mark looks a fair one, so is next best ahead of the veteran Any Second Now.

Finally, the card comes to a close at 5.20 when eight runners take on the two mile bumper contest and preference in the finale heads the way of Switch From Diesel, who is the one to beat having finished second in a Grade 2 mares bumper at Leopardstown five weeks ago. Blue Velvet disappointed in the same race but remains with potential, while Apples Jane, who is the first foal of prolific Grade 1 winning hurdler Apple's Jade, offered plenty to work on when second on debut here last month.

Naas selections - Sunday (via Cheltenham odds) 

2.10 - Kainsbourg 

2.40 - Beloccio 

3.10 - King In Love 

3.40 - Cadatharla 

4.12 - Sir Argus 

4.45 - Tyre Kicker 

5.20 - Switch From Diesel