This is a really tricky stage of the year for punters. Most NH races are filled with horses making their seasonal reappearances and it can be difficult to predict which ones are fit, and which ones will need the run. That’s my excuse anyway…
At Naas today the Brown Lad handicap hurdle is the race of the day and there’s a fair few in the 21 runner field that are making their seasonal returns. One horse that shouldn’t be lacking for fitness is the Yvonne Latta trained Tinto De Verano and he’s a horse that I think could be progressive over hurdles this year.
He’s a homebred half-brother to Thisistheway, a horse we
backed at big odds when he finished second in this year’s Galway Hurdle. I put Tinto
up for the Racing Post’s ‘40 to follow’ in The Big Jump Off supplement and my
reason for doing so was because I thought he had some wriggle room off his
opening handicap mark of 123.
He finished off last season with two excellent runs. He was
beaten 3l into third behind Quinta De Lago (fifth in the Fred Winter off 128)
at Punchestown in April and he was conceding 2lb to that rival. Quinta is now
rated 138 after winning a rated hurdle at Fairyhouse this week.
Tinto went on to prove that was no fluke by absolutely
bolting up in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle on his next start. That form has
admittedly taken a few knocks but he could only beat what was in front of him. It
turned out to be his last start of the campaign and afterwards, he headed off on his summer
holidays.
Listed Novice
Latta ran her charge in a 21.5f Listed novice hurdle on his
seasonal return at Limerick three weeks ago and he came home in fourth, 11l
behind the winner Tountinna. Now, you could say that was a disappointing run
but to my eye, it looked like he was badly in need of the run and he should be
much fitter now. As an added bonus, the handicapper has dropped him 1lb to 122.
Now, I usually don’t like tipping handicap debutants but
this horse has already run in a very competitive race at Punchestown and while
it was a smaller field than this, I am hoping that experience will stand to
him. I think eventually, this horse will stay 3m but for now, a stiff 2m4f at
Naas should suit and he’ll no issues on the good to yielding ground. My main worry is will he be as effective going left handed but he did run okay in a bumper at Leopardstown so hopefully, he'll be okay.
Even if he doesn’t win this, or go close, I am convinced
this horse has the ability to rate a fair chunk higher than his current mark. So, if things don’t go his way this afternoon, we will hopefully get our money back later in
the season. If the ground stays on the decent side, maybe he’ll head for the
Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown in a couple of weeks.
Either way, I’ll be backing Tinto De Verano on his next few
starts, and while my decision to wait until this morning to tip him in the hope
of a drift hasn’t worked out, I am still going to take 9/1. He might still
drift before the off and we’ll get best odds guaranteed if he does.
2026 Naas Brown Lad Hurdle Tip: Tinto De Verano e/w @ 9/1
(5 places)
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