12:30
Naas
Odds correct as of 12:00pm 15th Dec
Rachael Blackmore is one of racing’s most popular figures and also one of the best jockeys on either side of the Irish Sea. Unfortunately she’s been side-lined through injury for the past couple of months but is set to return on Monday. She takes two rides at Naas and one of which is a Cheltenham Festival winner looking to get off the mark over fences.
Here we take a look at her two rides in detail and examine how likely she is to come away with a winner or two. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing, as well as our greyhound tips.
Slade Steel won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but was beaten by Better Days Ahead on his first start over fences at Navan last month. That run would have blown away the cobwebs and he should be much sharper this time around.
Henry de Bromhead’s gelding won’t have it all his own way, as Willie Mullins throws several darts and Gordon Elliott’s runner Staffordshire Knot is also hard to ignore. That being said, he remains the horse to beat and looks likely to have too much for them here.
Belle The Tigress finished fifth in a maiden hurdle at Navan on debut and didn’t quite have the pace to reach the leaders. She was far from disgraced however and is likely to have learnt plenty from the experience, meaning improvement could be on the cards.
This daughter of Jukebox Jury probably has a bit to find with the two Mullins runners in Particular. French import Karoline Banbou was very smart in bumpers and could be one to follow this season. Baby Kate won a Listed bumper at Cheltenham last term and can’t be ruled out either.
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