After Believitanducan’s effort in the opener at Cheltenham I feared the worst. The ground wasn’t as soft as I hoped and he was simply too slow. Thankfully, Yellow Car gave us a nice winner in the River Don at 16s. Spirits Bay ran an absolute cracker for us in the Unibet Hurdle but it was only good enough for third. Transmission was unfortunately only out for a Saturday stroll in the Cleeve. I like a trio of bets for Sunday, my 2025 Naas Limestone Lad Meeting preview is below.
1.00 – Novice Handicap Chase (130 = 11st12)
Petit King would be tempting on a right handed track but going
this way round, I’ll be leaving him alone. The one that appeals most at a
half-decent price in this 2m4f handicap is the dual course winner, American Money.
He took a 2m3f handicap hurdle off 104 at this meeting last year and he then
followed up a month and a half later off 7lb higher over 15.5f.
He ended up with a rating of 121 over the smaller obstacles
and after a summer break, he has returned with two below par runs in beginners
chases. The handicapper certainly wasn’t impressed by those efforts at Navan
and Fairyhouse and has rewarded him with an opening chase mark of 113, just 2lb
higher than he was when beating Lazer Wolf over timber here last February (and
he won a novice handicap chase last month off 116).
Kieran Buckley was on board for his last win and he’s ridden
him in both chases so he knows the horse well. Given his course record, you’d
imagine he’ll be doing his best so at odds of 16/1, American Money is worth
chancing each way.
2025 Naas Limestone Lad Meeting Tip: American Money e/w @
16/1 NAP
2.00 – Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3)
A pitiful turnout for the feature with just three runners
declared. The great Limestone
Lad would not be impressed. Anzadam is prohibitive odds to maintain his
unblemished record and given the manner of his Fairyhouse win, the Champion Hurdle
hopeful will likely be hard to beat.
The form of Laafi’s Limerick maiden win has since taken a
couple of knocks but he might make a race of it. The veteran Beacon Edge has a
big experience edge but two miles is not his thing and a clear round and a nice
bit of prize money for third will be on his agenda. No bet.
2025 Naas Limestone Lad Meeting Tip: No Bet
2.30 – Novice Chase (Grade 3)
Dancing City is short odds to complete a rapid fire Donnelly
double in this race. However, I am going to take him on with Good Land. Trained
and owned by Barry Connell, this son of Blue Bresil managed to win a Grade 1
over hurdles at Leopardstown in February 2023. He followed that with a creditable
fourth in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, finishing 11.5l behind Impaire Et Passe.
This horse missed the whole of last season with a tendon
injury. He has gone straight over fences since returning to action and he wasn’t
disgraced on either start. Last time out he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Faugheen
Chase at Limerick, 14 odd lengths behind Impaire Et Passe. He got badly
outpaced on the turn for home before running on again after the last and on
that evidence, this longer trip looks well worth a try.
Given his achievements over hurdles, and that last chase run,
I’m not sure he should be fourth best in the betting here. He has plenty of
class and if he stays, he could be a danger to all. At odds of 9/1, Good Land
is the each way selection.
2025 Naas Limestone Lad Meeting Tip: Good Land e/w @ 9/1
3.30 – Punchestown Festival Qualifier Handicap Hurdle
(120 = 11st12)
I tipped up Must Go Now for the Racing Post on New Year’s
Day and he hacked up. Unfortunately, he’s too short for the blog today. We had
our fingers burnt by That’s All at the Thyestes Meeting on Thursday but
hopefully we can gain some compensation with her stable companion Answering here.
A maiden winner at Thurles last March on heavy (2m), a month
later he pitched up at this venue for his handicap debut off 116 (2m, soft). Outpaced at the top of
the straight, he ran on very nicely after jumping the last, staying on into
fourth, beaten just 3.5l for the win.
He hasn’t had soft ground for his three runs since then so I
am willing to forgive those tame efforts. The return to Naas is a plus, it
looked like this trip would be right up his alley here last season and he’s now
4lb lower than he was for that run. He had a pipe opener at Thurles last month,
hopefully that has left him spot on fitness wise and if it has, Answering is
capable of outrunning his odds of 25/1.
2025 Naas Limestone Lad Meeting Tip: Answering e/w @ 25/1
(5 places) NB
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