TIME TO WIN A BATTLE
CHARGE at the old enemy in the feature Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Naas with the BATTLE IT OUT (2.25) off bottom weight in this afternoon’s most valuable event.
One of four entries for JP McManus, the six-year-old was a fair novice hurdler, his best run coming when stepped up to two and a half miles to land his maiden at Cork.
Since then the selection is zero for four over fences but crucially this will be his first start over the extended trip since going chasing.
There was plenty to like about his running on fourth of 10 behind Midnight It Is at Fairyhouse last time out and he looks a solid each-way play off the same mark against the likes of Evies Vladmir and the mare La Malmason.
All eyes will be on the return of Ferny Hollow in the Grade Three Newland Chase following 791 days on the sidelines.
The fact Willie Mullins has kept him in training tells you plenty and he is likely to dominate the market alongside Galway
Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow.
However, for various reasons, they could be vulnerable and the veteran REBEL GOLD (2.55) could be the play here.
He has plenty to find on the ratings, but ran a cracking race on his comeback behind Madara at Leopardstown and has less questions to answer than the top two. Whacker Clan is chasing a hat-trick in the two-mile handicap hurdle but will need a career best to go in again and with a fast pace guaranteed I fancy a huge run from
ZOFFANIEN (3.25).
Off a modest pace, he couldn’t summon a change of speed last time out at Thurles but this scenario will play more to his strengths and he gets the vote over Henry de Bromhead’s charge and Optional Mix. Maxxum heads the weights for the Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier but he had a very hard race at Leopardstown and this smaller field may not suit him so well. Ladybank and Grand National entry Desertmore House will both see this trip out well but CLEATUS POOLAW
(3.55) looks a fascinating runner.
A novice taking on older handicappers, he comes here straight from maiden company and both his style of racing and breeding suggest he will relish this big step up in distance.
The ground will also be very testing at Hereford and that should suit KEEP RUNNING
(3.40) and the six-year-old is taken to make all the running around this sharp track after finding a class three race too hard to handle at Sandown.
MISTER BARCLAY (4.40) can make amends for a below-par display when sent off favourite for a similar race at Wetherby. The bigger field and faster pace over an extra quarter of a mile should play to his strengths and he looks a massive player off a mark of 93.