5.10pm Naas Tips & Betting Preview 09/04/2017

This is an interesting maiden over 1m 2f furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: You won’t find many better bred horses than BELGRAVIA and he gets the vote to show big progression from last season. This once-raced colt is a full-brother to the Derby winner Ruler Of The World and he could have a huge season ahead of him as a 3yo. Tocco D’Amore is a filly that could be really smart this year whilst Lightening Fast is another with a beautiful pedigree that should do well as a 3yo.

1 AFRICAN – Dubawi colt who should do better as a 3yo having found life tough in two contests late last year. He was well-beaten at Navan and Gowran Park in two decent enough maidens but it was disappointing he couldn’t get closer having been supported on both occasions. He will have a lot more to do here and whilst he should progress, others are preferred until he shows something more positive.

2 BELGRAVIA – Full-brother to some sensational horses including Derby winner Ruler Of The World, Giovanni Canaletto and he’s also a half-brother to Duke Of Marmalade. He had one run at the end of last season and he had a nice introduction to racing with a 9 1/2 length defeat in a maiden. He should come on a huge amount for that and he’s got entries in the Dante, Irish 2,000 Guineas and the British & Irish Derby. Could be an extremely nice sort this year. Respected.

3 CLONGOWES – Son of New Approach who finished ahead of Belgravia in a maiden at the end of last year. He had shown enough ability in three starts to suggest he has more than enough ability to win a race of this nature and it’ll be interesting to see how he’s done over the winter. There could be lots to come from this horse (Derby entries) and worth consideration.

4 DIODORUS – Officially rated 103 and he’s one of the highest-rated maidens in training. He was only beaten half a length by a nice sort in a listed contest at the end of last season and he should be capable of more as a 3yo (by Galileo) which makes him of interest here. The step up in trip should suit and he’s the ride of Ryan Moore so plenty of positives to be taken from his profile.

5 DOWNTOWN REBEL – Finished twelfth of fourteen on debut at the Curragh last October and he was gelded over the winter. He made his comeback run in late March and was pulled up over a similar trip to this at Dundalk and it’s hard to fancy his chances here on the back of those two runs. Conditions should be fine but tricky to support on all known evidence.

6 ENSIGN – Fourth and final runner for Aidan O’Brien in this. He’s a 190,000GNS yearling purchase and showed a decent bit of ability in two starts last year. The Heavy ground may just have caught him out when sent off 8/11 at Listowel in September and this better ground should certainly aid his chances. Takes a big step up trip which is positive and more to come. Bookings suggest he’s not the main fancy of the yard.

7 FONTAINBLEAU – Beaten a long way in two starts to date at Dundalk, both earlier this year. He steps up in trip here which looks like a smart move (by Fastnet Rock) and he’s almost certainly one for handicaps later down the line. He’s owned by his trainer and it would be a shock to see him beat some of these. Avoided here.

8 LIGHTENING FAST – Only runner for Qatar in this and he’s a son of Frankel out of a Group One winning mare. He’s run with credit on three starts to date on Good ground and it was a tad disappointing he couldn’t finish closer in a Curragh maiden over a mile in August last year. Conditions today will be softer than anything he’s faced to date but the step up in trip is a positive and he’s impossible to rule out. Interesting.

9 TOCCO D’AMORE – Cost an incredible 2,000,000 Euros as a yearling and she’s a half-sister to some extremely smart types. Although she fetched a huge price tag, she will have to be clued up to get the better of a few here without the advantage of racecourse experience and she’s one to watch on debut for a yard that does well here (15% strike rate). Should do better with time and racecourse experience.