4.10pm Naas Tips & Betting Preview 26/03/2017

A field of twelve go to post for the first graded action of the season in Ireland on the flat, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Well clear on the ratings, even if she wasn’t at her best, SOMEHOW should be far too good for these. She rounded off last season when winning a Grade 3 at the Curragh for Aiden O’Brien with ease and can continue her progression by getting this season off to the perfect start under Donnacha O’Brien on ground that will suit her fine. She can be chased home by Czabo who won a listed race on softer ground and Ce La Vie, who looks interesting after a good debut at Catterick last season.

1 SOMEHOW – Four year old filly who  progressed nicely last season for Aiden O’Brien, finishing second behind Best In The World at Cork in August before winning a Group 3 at the Curragh in comfortable fashion (1m 1f, Good). She travelled brilliantly throughout and eased clear when asked a question, leading us to believe she has much more left in the tank for this season. She’ll handle this ground fine and is away and clear on ratings, so even if she isn’t at her best on seasonal reappearance, she should have no problem dispatching these with the minimum of fuss.

2 CAMELLIA JAPONICA – Won a six furlong maiden at the Curragh back in June but failed to build on it in two subsequent runs, last seen well beaten in an average looking Fairyhouse handicap in July (7f, Good to Yielding). Rated thirty-nine pounds inferior to Somehow and looks very unlikely to land a blow in this, especially as she returns from a 259 day absence for this. Best to look elsewhere in this.

3 CHILLI SPICE – Won a handicap at Roscommon back in August when pulling nicely clear (1m 2f, Good) but has failed to build on that in three subsequent runs, well beaten at Dundalk when last seen in October (1m 2f, Std). Has a lot to find on ratings even to place and she hasn’t raced below the 1m 2f trip, so it’d have to be of concern she may not have the tactical speed in a race like this. If this turns into a hard run affair she may be able to sneak a place but hard to make a big case for her.

4 CIRIN TOINNE – Made a very possible start for JS Bolger when winning on debut at Leopardstown in November (1m 2f, Good) and improved on hat two finish a close second at Gowran Park in August (1m 1f, Good). She didn’t however go on from these good efforts and was brushed aside in both her last two runs, most recently at Dundalk in October (1m, Std). She’s hard to rule out due to the fact she could resume her progress but she’s not guaranteed to go on the softer ground and others have seemingly much more pressing claims. Likely best watched.

5 CZABO – Three time winner at this trip for Mick Channon, with the most recent of those coming when winning the Prix des Lilas at Deauville in June (1m, Soft). That was a career best and although she failed to build on that in two subsequent runs, she still remains of interest at this level with further improvement not discounted. She’ll relish the softer ground and looks a lively place contender under Graham Lee, so is respected.

6 DEW LINE – Four time winner but this five year old is completely exposed compared to most of the field, though she does relish softer conditions and should be staying on strongly towards the finish in a truly run race. Although disappointing on her latest start, she was a good fourth here in a listed race back in October (1m 4f, Soft to Heavy) at bigger odds and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her snatching a place in this. She is vulnerable for win purposes, though.

7 FLYING FAIRIES – Won three times when with Joe Murphy in a busy three year old campaign with the latest of those coming at Leopardstown in October (1m 2f, Yielding), winning a listed race comfortably. First start for John Oxx today and she looks one of the main contenders with Declan McDonogh taking the ride, as she could very much be anything on her first four year old start for this new year. She’ll appreciate the softer conditions and looks a solid place contender, so should be considered.

8 WILD AS THE WIND – Four year old who was a no show on debut for Will McCreery when seventh at the Curragh in September (1m 2f, Yielding), though did improve nicely to win a maiden at the same venue three weeks later, albeit a weak contest. She’s open to any amounts of progress with Billy Lee taking the ride but she looks up against it in a tough race, especially as she’ll need to improve massively just for the placings. Others far more interesting.

9 CE LA VIE – Only raced once for Keith Dalgelish, winning on debut at Carlisle comfortably under today’s rider Connor Beasley (7f, Soft). She’s hard to assess pitched straight into Grade 1 company as she’ll need to improve massively to be competitive in this, though that cannot be discounted as she gave the impression much more could be expected as she continued racing. She looks to have place claims but she may struggle for win purposes in this at such an early stage in her career.

10 LEGITIMUS – Hit the frame in several Group 3 races at the Curragh as a two year old, most recently when third in the Weld Park Stakes in September, beaten by six lengths (7f, Heavy). She should appreciate the step up in trip and this softer ground will be perfect for her. She’s looks a lively place candidate at bigger odds under Ronan Whelan and should pay her way at this age, so deserves a second look.

11 QUEEN ANNE’S LACE – Made a very promising debut at Gowran Park in December (1m, Soft), running out a comprehensive winner after giving the impression much more could be expected in the future. Since then, she has been beaten favourite in two listed races and although she was well beaten on her latest start, she was far from disgraced on the first listed start when a close third at the Curragh (1m, Good). She’s likely to be much happier on softer ground and can build upon those two runs to mount a strong challenge under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld, has to be respected.

12 SHES RANGER – Only four races thus far so still early days and she has been steadily improving, though not at the rate needed to win a group race. She won her second start at Dundalk in October (7f, Std) and can boast she does have a recent run under belt, racing ten days ago at the same venue when second (1m, Std). That said, she was comfortably beaten in a median auction race and looks set for a struggle now raised in class. Others far more likely.