Naas – Thursday 31st March

Stick to what you know will be the mantra I will be trying to adopt over the next few weeks as a desperate need for a change in fortunes is required as this month has limped across the finish line. Sometimes, it is better to start afresh and I for one won’t be too sad to see the end of March and get cracking into a new month from tomorrow. However, the only thing pulling me into having a couple of bets this afternoon is a juicy card at Naas, with plenty of good action and competitive handicaps to get the teeth stuck into. I have nominated three horses that might be worth chancing at the prices. 

Starting with the 3.05 race, which is arguably the best race on the card and this rated novice hurdle over 2 miles has brought together a good looking 6 runner race. Goven is the favorite, and rightly so – given his impressive win here in a maiden last time out and coming from his source, you would have to think improvement is likely. Ballykeel also did it nicely at Leopardstown last time out, outgunning a smart horse in Chiricahua over 2m4f. He showed a tendency to stay well that day, so the drop back to 2 miles is a bit of a concern, and can perhaps be watched on that basis. 

Although he has been set some lofty targets by his trainer since winning his maiden, I have been a shade disappointed in the efforts of Gatsby Grey, who I honestly thought would make up in to being a graded novice hurdler this year. Perhaps for my sins, especially with these types of horses – I can be a forgiving type, and this race does represent a drop down in class and in theory also represents his ideal conditions. Having been bought for decent money having won his bumper at Navan, connections will be hopeful that this horse can improve a little on what he has achieved thus far. His trainer, Oliver McKiernan, often has a patch of good form for around 3 or 4 weeks each season, and this might be the time to catch him right. At a price of 6/1 with Bet365, with 2 places available for this small field – I make him an each way bet. 

The following race is the first handicap on the card and this 3.40 race is the first division of the 2m handicap hurdle for horses rated 80-95. Gargouille looks to have a massive chance at the top of the market, given he would have won at Clonmel recently for coming down, but his price is very skinny and one can let him win at those odds without losing sleep. I am going to take a chance on the top weight instead, and hope the return to better ground can see an improved effort from Sundrenched, who was a smart bumper performer for connections last season and has clearly been in search of a handicap mark in recent runs. He has been down the field in all five of his hurdle runs, over a variety of trips – but this will be the first time he encounters what looks like ideal conditions. At a price of 14/1 with Bet365, who are offering 5 places, he might be worth a chance. 

And finally, the 4.15 race is the second division of the aforementioned 80-95 handicap over 2 miles and this time around, I am going to be siding with a horse more found in the market. This does look like an incredibly average race and the efforts of the four year old, Bregagh, have been worth noting. He was third last time out at Down Royal, having shaped okay in a good standard race at Navan the time before that and looks worthy of a crack at handicap company on this occasion. His rider takes 7 pounds off his back which is a big bonus, while his four year old allowances give him a smashing chance at the weights. He does have to forfeit plenty of experience to his rivals today, but he might be a step ahead of them from the assessor and would have to have a chance in this race. At a price of 6/1 with Sky Bet, who are offering 6 places, he is another each way bet.