Naas best bet: Willie Mullins quartet to yield to Gordon Elliott’s Croke Park
Sweeney considering Naas assignment for Churchstonewarrior
This is the re-scheduled Grade 1 contest which was postponed because of the weather last weekend, and Tipstrr pundit Steve Jones is happy to stand by his original selection for the race.
13:42 Naas: Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle - Grade 1 (2 miles 4 furlongs)
It seems highly significant that Croke Park won a Grade three on testing ground at Navan last time because that track has a very similar configuration to this one, being another undulating, galloping, left-handed track with a stiff, uphill finish.
Indeed, eight of the last ten winners of this contest had won at Navan over the previous few weeks, eight of them over this distance and six of them in Graded events over this trip.
Of today’s line-up, only Croke Park and Lecky Watson have any hurdling form at Navan to their names, with Croke Park being the only one to have won there in this sphere.
His recent Grade three success at Navan very much matches the pattern of recent winners of this prize, and he won it over this distance and on ground that was virtually identical to today’s.
The market has noted that Jack Kennedy, Gordon Elliott’s main rider, is aboard Firefox today, but when the yard’s What’s Up Darling won a Grade three prize at Navan recently, he was ridden by Sam Ewing, with Kennedy aboard the beaten favourite for the same stable.
There is no reason why the same thing couldn’t happen again with Ewing holding a good chance on Croke Park.
Suggested bet: Croke Park each-way in the 13:42 at Naas
- Tip advised by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
Of the others, Lecky Watson isn’t even in the top two of the Willie Mullins runners in the early market, but he could easily out-run his big early prices after beginning the season by winning a 23-furlong maiden on soft ground at Thurles on the back of a 188-day absence and on his hurdling debut, proving that he has plenty of stamina in the process.
Mullins’ main rider, Paul Townend, is aboard Ile Atlantique today, but Danny Mullins, who rides Lecky Watson, won this race for his yard last year on Champ Kiely whilst Townend finished well-held on the favourite.
Next Best bet: Lecky Watson each-way in the 13:42 at Naas
READ MORE: Sedgefield racing tips: Best bets for Friday January 12
