William to have the last word?

A seven race card at Naas this Sunday opens with a fascinating looking four year old hurdle,a race where the market may well be the best guide. JP runs two in the race .Gentleman Duke, who debuts over hurdles and the Eddie O’Grady trained Sportsmaster ,who was well fancied for a better quality contest at Leopardstown just a few weeks back. Gordon’s Musawama ran above expectations for a 25-1 chance when fifth to One Cool Shabra at Gowran while the Weld runner Hisaabaat was easy enough to back on his hurdling debut and is probably one that will improve for better ground.

The two mile novice chase at 1.10 affords a nice opportunity for Lambro to follow up a recent course win. He looks a real prospect over fences although a couple of things are nagging (forgive pun)  me about the horse. I think he’d ideally prefer two and a half miles and amazingly Ruby partners him for the first time today. Peter Casey’s Flemenstar looks a big danger .This  seven year old was fancied to beat no less a horse than Bog Warrior at Navan a few runs back and on his latest start he absolutely sluiced in at the same venue. An intriguing contest where with Cotrellsbooley and Flemenstar in the race you can be sure there will be no hanging about at the start.

The Tony Martin trained Dedigout looks for a hat trick of wins in the two and a half mile novice hurdle at 1.40. Wins at Navan and Punchestown confirmed him as a progressive staying novice and who knows, if he comes through this today, he could be a lively longshot against Fingal Bay and Boston Bob in the Neptune race at the festival. I also thought Flycorn had a chance. Tom Hogan’s gelding followed up a win, in what looked like an ordinary Tipperary maiden, by running a sledger at Cheltenham when finishing fourth in a classy race won by Steps To Freedom.

The Gigginstown colours will also be carried by Beef To The Heels in the maiden hurdle at 2.10 .A more than useful point to point horse he lost nothing in defeat when running into a Willie Mullins steering job at Downpatrick on his latest start. Hats and Heels finished third in a winners bumper at Navan on her latest start and is another to consider in a race where a line can be put through the majority of the field.

An open looking handicap chase follows at 2.40,a race where if the ex Fanshawe trained La Sarrazine has retained a modicum of her old form she would be a shoe-in off 96 in her first handicap chase. Others to consider could be the progressive Luke’s Benefit and Abbey Glen, a horse that racked up a nice sequence over hurdles last spring and is relatively unexposed over fences.

The shamen of the betting ring may disapprove of Gordon’s decision to pitch the four year old Szabo’s Destiny in against his peers in the handicap hurdle at 3.10. Plenty early in the year for a four year old to be taking on his elders but it is an ordinary looking race which might not take too much winning . Jimmy Lambe’s Regal Warrior could have a chance also if reproducing the run which saw him finish a decent fifth in a Leopardstown maiden over Christmas while don’t rule out top weight William Wordsworth . He may have wandered lonely as a cloud for the last few months, but he did land a right old touch in this same race last year.

Racing draws to a close with a real treat for racegoers with the four year old unraced bumper. Jessie introduces Director’s Forum a rare runner  under this code for high profile owners Ballymacoll Stud farm.  Willie’s recent good bumper form continued at Thurles on Saturday courtesy of Mozeltov and his entry Un Atout commands the utmost respect with young Patrick in the plate.  Final mention for Silver Concorde ,a well bred relation to the great Ridgewood Pearl, who could be one to consider if the market speaks in his favour.

Enjoy your racing today and don’t forget to call us here at Star Spreads for all the latest market positions available to you.  You won’t be disappointed !

Donal