Katie Midwinter (05/01/24)
12:30pm – Mares Beginners Chase, 2m4f
Brandy Love sets the standard in the field on form, despite being well beaten by Harmonya Maker on chase debut at Gowran Park. The classy mare was unable to build on a promising novice hurdling campaign last year but could improve for her first run of the season to land her first victory over fences.
The soft to heavy ground expected at Naas may not be in her favour but she is 23lbs superior on hurdle ratings and may win by default.
A possible danger is seven-year-old Tophill Law, who had shown potential over hurdles. She must improve on her recent run at Fairyhouse however, and may just be outclassed by the favourite.
Brandy Love 4/11 – W P Mullins, Paul Townend
1:00pm – Novice Chase, 2m
There has been plenty of discussion about Mister Policeman, whose reputation now recedes him. He has done little wrong with two wins in as many starts for Willie Mullins since making the switch to Ireland but made hard work of his chasing debut to beat stablemate Feu De Bresil.
The €120,000 purchase has coped with softer conditions in the past, suggesting the ground won’t be a problem at Naas, however he’ll have to show further improvement against some higher class competition if he is to remain unbeaten for his new yard.
Former Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios has been seen sparingly over the past couple of years but made a winning return to action on chase debut at Limerick in the autumn. He was exposed in the Grade Two Florida Pearl at Punchestown the following month but has since had a break and could return back to form, with the drop back in trip likely to suit. If he is back to his best he poses a threat to the odds-on favourite.
Sa Fureur was a faller on chasing debut at Navan, in a race won by Facile Vega, and was fortunate to win on his subsequent appearance, when Hunters Yarn took a tumble at the last. He copes with softer conditions and has shown a decent level of form in the past, therefore could be one to take advantage if the two main principles aren’t at their best.
Quilixios 4/1 – Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore
1:30pm – Handicap Chase, 2m
Patrick Flynn’s Walnut Beach returned over fences in a hot beginners chase won by Il Etait Temps when last seen. He was prominent up until the final stages, jumping soundly overall, but failed to stay with the leading trio in the closing stages. He is on a workable mark of 123 and, with proven form on the ground, holds each-way claims.
Bythesametoken wasn’t successful on a trip to Haydock last month but was reported to have lost a shoe. He was in a rich vein of form prior to his English visit, including when putting in a successful performance at Killarney under top-weight. Proven in testing conditions, he could go close off a mark of 124 and jockey Keith Donoghue has a 25 percent strike rate when riding for Ross O’Sullivan in Ireland this season.
James O’Sullivan claims 3lb aboard Union Park for Philip Rothwell. Recently seen winning a handicap hurdle at Cork, he reverts back over fences and has form on softer ground.
Walnut Beach 33/1 (EW) – Patrick J Flynn, Shane Fitzgerald
Bythesametoken 15/2 (EW) – Ross O’Sullivan, Keith Donoghue
2:00pm – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m4f
The feature race of the weekend has attracted a field of eight, five of which represent Willie Mullins’ Closutton yard. Ile Atlantique appears the yard’s first string, although he will need to reverse form with Firefox if he is to land the Grade One prize.
Firefox beat Ile Atlantique in a bumper at Fairyhouse last spring, staying on well, and subsequently ended Ballyburn’s unbeaten run in a maiden hurdle last month. The step up in trip could suit as he looks a strong Ballymore contender. The softer surface will definitely suit Ile Atlantique however, and he made and emphatic start to his hurdling career with a nineteen-length victory at Gowran Park when last seen.
Gordon Elliott-trained Croke Park is bidding for a hat-trick of wins, following two hurdling victories, most recently in Grade Three company at Navan. He appears to thrive in soft ground and has proven form over the trip.
An Tobar beat subsequent winner Champagne Admiral convincingly on debut for Henry de Bromhead in November, before finishing third to Farren Glory in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Whilst he is more exposed than some of the others, he has prior experience at this level and proven form on a heavy surface.
Chapeau De Soleil suffered two defeats in his debut season for Mullins but has plenty of ability and could improve further with experience. He also made a comfortable start over hurdles with a win in heavy ground at Clonmel, suggesting that conditions will be no problem for him at Naas.
Lecky Watson finished second to Slade Steel in a Navan Grade Two when last seen and remains over 2m4f despite having winning form over further. His strong stamina capabilities will hold him in good stead over this trip on testing ground, and he could be one to take advantage if others tire in conditions.
Having been absent since July, Mystical Power may be worth watching on reappearance but is a classy gelding with an exceptional pedigree and is one for the future.
Ile Atlantique 11/4 – W P Mullins, Paul Townend
2:35pm – Maiden Hurdle, 2m
The race revolves around Willie Mullins-trained Tullyhill, who had shown great promise before disappointing on his seasonal reappearance and hurdling debut at Punchestown. There were excuses for his below par performance, given he was keen early on and didn’t jump with fluency at times, however he was beaten by twenty-four-lengths and will have to show significant improvement if he is to reach the level expected of him.
The £220,000 purchase won a bumper last spring before finishing second to A Dream To Share at the Punchestown Festival, beating the likes of King Of Kingsfield and It’s For Me. The Martaline gelding now drops back in trip, which could help his cause, and he is likely to bounce back if he is able to settle and travel better this time around.
Another expensive purchase, Undeniable Alibi, is on a recovery mission after a below par performance at Fairyhouse when sent off as the even money favourite. The gelded son of Saint Des Saints cost €170,000 as a three-year-old and won a point-to-point last February but couldn’t justify strong market support on rules debut.
The pace was perhaps too slow for him when last seen however, with Patrick Mullins making all aboard eventual winner Petit Secret. With a stronger pace to aim at, Undeniable Alibi could fare much better on his debut over hurdles, and could pose a considerable threat to Tullyhill.
The well-related Union Station makes his debut for trainer Gavin Cromwell, who has a 40 percent strike-rate with his jumpers at Naas this season. The gelding’s dam, Acoola, was a point winner and is a sister to three-time Grade One winner Tidal Bay. The debutant could be capable of making the frame based on his pedigree.
Howdoyalikeherhome was a surprise second to Iron Allen at the track last month when sent off at odds of 80/1. In his prior run he was badly hampered by a loose horse and failed to jump with fluency but improved plenty to stay on well, showing promise.
Mastercraftsman gelding, Master Otis, makes his eighth career start for Thomas Mullins. He had shown plenty of promise and a maiden win looked imminent, before two substandard performances. With the benefit of a recent run, and Danny Mullins in the saddle once again, he could return to form and challenge for the places.
His stablemate, Spellacy’s Cross, who cost €75,000 as a three-year-old, is a brother to Listed bumper winner Rapid Escape, who thrived on heavy ground. Despite showing little in two point starts, he could improve plenty on his hurdling debut and is one to watch in the colours of JP McManus with Mark Walsh aboard.
Henry de Bromhead saddles debutante Stoneyford Lady, a half-sister to the highly effective Captain Guinness. He was a debut winner of his maiden hurdle at Navan, when beating Belfast Banter by seven-lengths, which bodes well for the chances of his close relation in her first appearance.
Six-year-old Milan mare Eire Comes Tribsy was well supported when finishing tenth at Tipperary on debut and was declared a non-runner at Sligo due to unsuitable good ground. Now switched to Pat Fahy’s yard, she is a sister to Captain Morgs and could be better than her first run suggests.
Stagecoach Mary was second in a Downpatrick bumper in August, finishing ahead of point winner Kalanisi Flash, who had shown useful form prior including when fourth to Fact To File at Leopardstown. She went on to finish fifth to Aurora Vega in a Listed bumper at Gowran Park before switching yards to Garry Caldwell’s, finishing fifth again on her subsequent run.
Her dam showed promise to finish a close second to four-time Grade Two winner Snow Falcon, in a Fairyhouse bumper on her second run of a three race career, and Stagecoach Mary could prove a useful type going forward for her connections.
Tullyhill 1/2 – W P Mullins, Paul Townend
Master Otis 20/1 (EW) – Thomas Mullins, Danny Mullins
3:10pm – Handicap Hurdle, 2m3f
Elusive Guy won his maiden hurdle on soft at Limerick last season and has dropped down to a mark of 105 now, with 4lb claimer Peter Smithers aboard. He could run well and holds each-way claims.
American Money has put in two good performances on testing ground at Punchestown this season, including when second to Hunting Brook on reappearance, with Blenheim Belle in third. He copes well with conditions and is on a workable mark of 104 with Conor Stone-Walsh claiming 2lb.
Joeswayornoway is on a handy mark of 91 with 4lb claimer Shane Fenelon aboard. The mare struggled at Clonmel when last seen, failing to travel comfortably, but finished her race well. She has proven form on a softer surface and the step back up in trip could allow her to be more competitive.
Politicise finished a surprising third at odds of 66/1 on heavy ground when last seen and could build on that performance.
Circus Act could improve enough in first-time blinkers to make the frame on a mark of 97 whilst Butty O Brien is up 4lbs for winning at Navan last month but is in good form.
American Money 13/2 (EW) – Eddie & Patrick Harty, Conor Stone-Walsh (2)
Joeswayornoway 33/1 (EW) – E Sheehy, Shane Fenelon (4)
PLUMPTON
2:15pm – Stayers Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Annual Invictus 10/1 (EW) – Chris Gordon, Freddie Gordon (5)
The gelding is 5lbs higher than his last winning mark but has 5lb claimer Freddie Gordon aboard. He reverts back over hurdles after a couple of appearances over fences and should go well if the softer ground isn’t too much of an inconvenience.
2:50pm – Sussex National Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Iceo Madrik 25/1 (EW) – David Pipe, Jack Tudor
The French-bred gelding had shown a good level of form in France, including when third in a Grade Three at Auteuil, before making the switch to England. Since joining David Pipe he has failed to complete twice in three runs, and was declared a non-runner on account of extremely testing ground in the Welsh Grand National last month.
His declaration for the race indicated that a step up in trip has been the plan for the six-year-old, who could be on a good mark of 127 and may the scope for plenty of further improvement. He is making his second appearance following wind surgery and could have a part to play.
WOLVERHAMPTON
7:00pm – Class 4 Handicap
Shoot To Kill 20/1 (EW) – Robyn Brisland, Finley Marsh
The experienced seven-year-old is 2lbs higher than his last winning mark and runs over an adequate trip. He is often overlooked but is a consistent type when getting his desired conditions, and is a generous each-way price at 20/1.
*prices correct at the time of writing.
THE CONDITIONAL 