Unfortunately Saturday’s racing fell foul of the freezing weather. Amazingly, the BHA didn’t have an alternative all-weather meeting scheduled that could be broadcast free to air instead so ITV had no racing to show. The forecast wasn’t great for Naas on Saturday night into Sunday but thankfully, the card goes ahead. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2025 Naas Lawlor’s Meeting preview and tips below.
1.25 – Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 2)
Nothing really leapt out in the first two races. I was
half-tempted by Miss Pronunciation in the opener because of her record on
testing ground but all her best form is on right-handed tracks and she’ll
likely be out for a spin to get a mark to qualify her for handicap chases. There’s
only two places on offer in the second race, a handicap chase, so we’ll start
off with this Grade 2 Novices’ Chase.
Only five run in this contest and Inthepocket is even money
to follow up his easy win at Wexford in November (2m, sft). A Grade 1 winner
over timber at Aintree in 2023, he won as he liked on his first chase start and
it would be no surprise were he to follow up.
Ile Atlantique was also impressive on his chasing debut at
Navan last month, making all to beat Waterford Whispers by 9l over 20.5f on soft
ground. He’ll be suited by a strongly run race at this trip and he should get
that, but he wasn’t as talented over timber as his main market rival.
Firefox is the only other one in here with a realistic chance
on all known form. His fans would have been very disappointed by his defeat in
the Drinmore but in hindsight, it looks like ok form after seeing what the winner Croke Park and Heart Wood (fourth in the Savills) have done since. He probably represents
a bit of value against the top two in the market at 3/1 but he’s too short for
the blog. No bet.
2025 Naas Lawlor’s Meeting Tip: No Bet
1.55 – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
Last year’s Champion Bumper winner, Jasmin De Vaux, is a
warm order in this 2m4f Grade 1 novice. His jumping wasn’t great on his hurdling
debut at Navan but the second and third have won since and the fifth, beaten
24l, ran a blinder in a maiden at Fairyhouse for Eddie Cawley on New Year’s
Day.
The Yellow Clay is 3/3 over hurdles, including wins at Grade
3 and Grade 2 level. He finished 12l behind the fav at Cheltenham but reversed
the form at Punchestown and I’m not sure he should be 11/4 if Jasmin De Vaux is
priced up at 13/8. In fact, given his experience advantage over hurdles, I’d probably make
the Elliott horse favourite.
The plunge horse is Supersundae, who opened up at 25s with
one firm last night. He’s been backed all the way into just 7/1 but whether
this tacky ground will be up his alley, I’m not too sure.
Bigger Odds
Is there anything capable of spoiling the party at bigger odds?
Spasiba won his maiden here back in November but that was on much better ground
than he’ll encounter here. Plontier also has ground concerns so that leaves us
with Wingmen.
A two-time bumper winner last year on soft and yielding (including a race here), he
got off the mark at the first attempt over hurdles at Navan in November (20f,
gd/yld). However, he failed to follow up dropped back in trip at Cheltenham to
2m1f on good to soft ground and the horse that beat him there has since come up
short in Grade 1 company.
That being said, the step back up to 2m4f is in this son of
Kayf Tara’s favour and the ground could be a plus for him too. He is unraced on ground with heavy in the description under
rules but it was soft to heavy for his sole start in points and he hacked up at
Ballycrystal that day by 12 lengths.
At odds of 40/1, Wingmen is a speculative each way selection.
He’ll probably need one or two to misfire to sneak a place though, so keep
stakes small.
2025 Naas Lawlor’s Meeting Tip: Wingmen e/w @ 40/1
3.05 – Adare Handicap Hurdle (110 = 11st 12lbs)
Giant Haystacks looks too short here given that he has been
well beaten both starts on soft ground and his win last time came on yielding.
This is admittedly a weaker race but given that he has to prove he handles
these testing conditions, he could be worth taking on.
At massive odds, maybe Cornmarket can challenge for a place
if he comes on for his seasonal reappearance at here last month. The 2m trip
and good to yielding ground were not in his favour that day and he was beaten a
long way, but there is cause for optimism now that he steps up to 2m3f and
returns to heavy ground.
His best efforts last season came on heavy ground. He stayed
on for a remote fourth of 10 off 86 at Clonmel in October 2023 and then on his
next start over hurdles upped to 2m4f on heavy, he finished an 8.75l fourth of
10 behind Kiln Time at Wexford off 84. He was again fourth at Cork in March,
beaten 9l on soft to heavy and not quite getting home over the 2m4f trip.
This 2m3f trip could be ideal for him and while he is racing
from 4lb out of the handicap, his rider’s 4lb claim negates that. If he can
repeat those Cork or Wexford efforts in this weak race he might be able to sneak
into the frame and with five places on offer, Cornmarket is worth chancing each
way for small stakes at odds of 33/1.
2025 Naas Lawlor’s Meeting Tip: Cornmarket e/w @ 33/1 (5
places)
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