Naas best bet: Cheltenham regular Arabian King to star in lower quality field

15:45 Naas: Full Circle Series At Punchestown Festival 2024 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 2 1/2 furlongs)

The most attractive bet at the early prices is the attractively handicapped eight-year-old, Arabian King.

A significant pointer to the chances of Arabian King comes from the fact that trainer Cian Collins has gone to the trouble of sending this hurdler over to Cheltenham on three occasions over the last two seasons.

Those visits include Arabian King’s last two runs, which have been in very decent Class 3 handicaps, as was the race he contested at this course last year.

He never finished further back than midfield in any of those big-field handicaps and two of his three Cheltenham runs saw him produce very solid fifth place finishes.

Those two runs, over 20f, were in 0-133 (in 2022) and 0-138 (October 2023) company which was far superior to today’s field

He contested them off marks of 122 (in 2022) and 118 (last October) and he most probably would have preferred deeper ground than the good ground he got both times.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet minimum £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Holdbrook is in the first four, get a £5 free bet

His latest success, which came in a staying event on the Flat last September, was on soft-heavy, so today’s surface could be just what he is looking for.

The emphasis on those Cheltenham runs is because that track is an undulating, left-handed track with a stiff, uphill climb to the line, just like today’s is.

If his trainer went to the trouble of sending him over the water three times for races that were stronger than the one he contests today, on a very similar track just 35 miles away from his base, then he has to be of interest, especially now that it looks like the ground is in his favour.

A repeat of either of his 20f Cheltenham performances would give him a big chance in this lesser event, especially as he runs off a career-low hurdling mark of 111 which is reduced further by Tom Harney’s 7lbs claim.

Suggested best bet: Arabian King in the 15:45 at Naas

• Tips and analysis provided by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr

Of the others, American Money comes here in winning form, having recently won an 18-runner handicap over this course and distance on soft ground.

Only two runs earlier, he finished second out of 18 in a 21f soft-ground handicap at Punchestown, so he clearly likes these big-field testing-ground handicaps.

Indeed, his previous win came in a 22-runner handicap over 20.5f at Punchestown (on soft), so he has plenty going for him, not least his current wellbeing, even though this event is a bit tougher than the one he won over c/d earlier in the month.

Next Best bet: American Money in the 15:45 at Naas