NATIONAL SERVICE FOR MY BONNY
Kate can land the Leinster big one at Naas
BONNY KATE can ensure that Noel Meade heads to Cheltenham on a high by landing today’s Ladbrokes Leinster National Handicap Chase at Naas.
This €100,000 contest headlines an excellent pre-cheltenham card and this mare would be a deserving winner.
She has yet to strike this season, but has run a series of fine races in quality handicaps.
Her third to Empire Of Dirt in the Troytown is a cracking run, while she ran just as well when filling the same position behind Champagne West in the Thyestes.
Last time the daughter of Beneficial took third behind Baie Des Iles in the National Trial at Punchestown. That ran wasn’t quite as good as the other two, but she was the only one to make a race of it with the winner that day.
Furthermore, that run came quick enough after the Thyestes so she is entitled to do better.
The soft to heavy ground here will be more testing than it was at Gowran in January and that could see her turn the tables on Ucello Conti.
That one was second to Champagne West in the Thyestes. He commands huge respect as he is a major contender for National glory at Aintree this year.
Earlier, Oscar Knight is taken to overcome the Gigginstown challenge in the Grade 3 novice chase.
This eight-year-old finished an excellent third to Noble Endeavor in the Paddy Power Chase on his most recent start.
Prior to that he defeated today’s chief rival, Ball D’arc in a Navan handicap, and he is now only 4lb worse off with that opponent.
Oscar Knight doesn’t have as much to find as official figures would suggest.
The card begins with an interesting novice hurdle where Indian Monsoon might upstage some better fancied rivals.
He was an early casualty last time, but before that he impressed at Cork when trouncing the useful handicapper Veinard.
That effort suggested that he could hold his own in better company and his canny connections believe the same.
Minella Till Dawn is a threat having won like a nice type at Fairyhouse prior to Christmas.
He is dropping down in trip from two and a half miles which is something of a concern.
In the handicap hurdle, Moores Road might follow up his fine win at Cork in January which was achieved against a highly-progressive rival.
Moores Road has a light weight to aid his cause and he might just see off the much improved That’s A Wrap.
Willie Mullins can take the beginners’ chase with Townshend who looks different class to his three rivals.
The champion trainer could also strike with Mystic Theatre, who can follow up her successful Fairyhouse debut in the mares bumper.