3.00pm Naas Tips & Betting Preview 05/11/2017

A competitive staying handicap for a nice prize of €59,000. Read on for expert analysis and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: SHARE THE HONOUR has the typical look of a Tony Martin plot, he flew home under a tender ride last time and that should have put him spot on for this, he can account for impressive last time out winner Wonder Laish and take home the spoils.

1 SONG OF NAMIBIA – The Ger Lyons stable has been in great form all season as has champion jockey-elect Colin Keane and they have a live chance here, beaten just over a length in a very competitive Leopardstown handicap and races off the same mark; considered.

2 WONDER LAISH – Charles Byrnes is a canny operator and this former William Haggas horse landed a nice gamble when bolting up last time after he was a non-stayer in the Irish Cesarewitch, up seven pounds but he won easily last time and should go well again.

3 SWAMP FOX – An extremely likeable horse who has been running in all the most competitive handicaps both on the flat and over hurdles recently, he ran brilliantly in the Galway Plate and was a good sixth in the Cesarewitch; each way chance.

4 THE GRADUATE – Tony Martin is a master of handicap plots but this one has been handily beaten in each start for this stable so far and in a race this competitive you’d like to see him coming here in slightly better nick; can be overlooked.

5 LANDSMAN – Another for the shrewd Tony Martin and probably has a better chance than his stablemate, ran decently well when twelve lengths behind Wonder Laish at Leopardstown last time and won’t mind the extra distance; not out of it.

6 LORD ERSKINE – Has won his last three including when hacking up in the Irish Cesarewitch, now lies on a mark thirty-three pounds higher than at the start of his winning sequence and this demands more but very dangerous to discount.

7 GRAND PARTNER – Won a big field handicap last time out which is always a big positive coming into a race such as this, still not completely exposed on the flat and a seven pound rise doesn’t seem too harsh, considered.

8 TUDOR CITY – Runs in all the big handicaps and is often quietly fancied, was behind Wonder Laish last time but ahead of stablemate Landsman and gets the services of Kevin Manning here which is always a positive; each way option.

9 WESTERN BOY – Ran well in some handicap hurdles last season including when winning at the Punchestown Festival, he is also useful on the flat and was not given a hard time once hampered in the Irish Cesarewitch last time; a lively outsider.

10 BRAZOS – Has had just two runs under rules which is often a negative in big fields such as this and a mark of 90 is certainly no gift but he looked distinctly useful when winning by three lengths going away at Listowel last time; an unknown quantity.

11 SHARE THE HONOUR – The last of the Tony Martin runners and probably the most interesting, won his maiden nicely before running a couple of moderate races over hurdles, he reappeared on the flat with an eyecatching staying on fourth and will have been primed for this – dangerous to ignore.

12 AUTOMATED – It isn’t always easy to come back the back in races like this and that is the style of running which we can expected from Gordon Elliott’s charge but he won two starts ago and ran respectably in a Galway handicap the time after so can’t be ignored for his in-form stable.

13 DALTON HIGHWAY – Dermot Weld has had a torrid time of things this season with a virus but has a reasonably live contender here, just under ten lengths behind Wonder Laish last time he was staying on and he should relish the extra two furlongs here, runs off the same mark and could go well at a big price.

14 DEOR – Has won just one of his fifteen appearances on the level but has been in great form as of late over timber and based on that form he is not that badly treated, he’ll have no problems with the trip and at a massive price isn’t the worst shout.

15 SHE’S A STAR – Was out of the race from the get-go behind Wonder Laish and a few other of these when badly missing the break and is a risky proposition following that, a mark of 81 looks steep enough for what she has done and she can be passed over.

16 GUSTAVUS VASSA – Was well fancied for the Irish Cesarewitch when stepped up markedly in trip by Willie Mullins on his first start for the stable but blew out badly when seemingly not staying the trip, twelve furlongs fits his pedigree must better however and he should be feared.

17 EMPEROR WALTZ – Never looked like seriously getting involved when tenth at Leopardstown on his last start and he may be under the grip of the handicapper since being raised ten pounds for a half length success in a Gowran Park handicap; an unlikely winner.

18 HIGHLAND FLING – Gets in here off a feather weight of 8st 9lbs but has work to do on the formbook if he is to get involved, Gavin Cromwell has been in good form as of late but this requires a major step up and others are preferred.