Word on the Street

LOOK FOR THE VALUE IN BIG NAAS RACE

STREET VALUE could be the one to side with in the Grade B BetVictor Novice Handicap Chase at Naas this afternoon.

Some interesting types line up in this €45,000 contest and John Flavin’s charge makes plenty of appeal.

He transitioned from beginners chase company to win a handicap chase at Cork in good style early last month.

He does have to deal with an 11lb rise in the weights but he could easily have more to offer.

As a hurdler he started to progress very well on testing ground this time last year and it might be a similar story over fences.

Among his key rivals is the talented mare Ballyshannon Rose (inset) who bagged a Grade 2 success at Thurles a month ago.

On that occasion Paul Fahey’s charge turned in a really nice effort to get the better of the classy Jeremys Flame. This mare sets a fine standard on that form and Street Value will have to be at his best to succeed.

Also worth a mention is the bottom weight Krabat who has been improving with every run lately and bolted up at Clonmel last week.

The day starts with an interesting Grade 3 where Captain Guinness is the choice even though he has to give seven pounds to his three rivals.

The Henry de Bromhead inmate won a

Grade 3 over this course and distance in November and has since performed well at the top level.

On his latest outing he was third to Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown and that effort gives him a clear edge over Cash Back who was fourth that day. The biggest danger to Captain Guinness could come from the hardy Darasso who won a Grade 3 hurdle at this track last month and only last weekend ran a creditable second in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran.

In the Grade 2 novice hurdle the Pat Doyle-trained Flame Bearer is put forward to see off rivals from some of the bigger yards.

This gelding has progressed well with every run over hurdles and he was an impressive winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last month. In the first of the maiden hurdles it is hard to look past Highland Charge if he can replicate his second to Sir Gerhard at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Bring On The Night looked quite a decent type on the flat in France and he can land the other maiden hurdle even though he hasn’t run for almost two years.