Irish Racing Review: Naas, May 15th 2013

Naas Review

Meeting Review: Naas – Wednesday, May 15^th

6f 2yo Maiden

The action took place up the centre of the track. Heart Focus is one that would find the stiff 6f here her minimum and trainer of same opinion afterwards; step up to 7f will suit though had looked limited before this. Pulled clear with Bye Bye Birdie who travelled the better with Homeric Hymn getting an easy time in third; stayed on from rear (only one to get involved from off the pace), not subjected to any sort of hard race, better than the form. The John Joseph Murphy horses are going through a purple patch, Dimity another to outrun her odds. Tap Dancing was strong in the market and travelled quite well, Little Sweetheart was one that took a fierce hold. Moss Nation may not be straight forward; quite keen, head to side, inclined to hang.

6f 2yo Conditional

Big Time another winner for the Murphy yard, pretty professional found plenty off the bridle. Fountain Of Youth travelled well and found a bit while Saakhen went best of all (hit 1.37 IR), not see it out having been a little keen, failed to build on promising debut, perhaps some better ground will suit. The one to take from it and in a negative way is Visit Wexford; clearly well thought of as heavily backed, plenty of ability as travelled well but attitude to boot, swished tail each time got the whip and only ran on when whip put down, type that is going to need finessing which he’s unlikely to get with Manning up. Sudirman was never travelling.

6f 3yo Handicap

There was plenty of predicted pace here and they looked to go a good clip; the time was much faster than the preceding 2yo races and the winner came from rear though the ones behind him were always up there. Strong pace would have suited Gathering Power and while one with ability wouldn’t be sure to reproduce this as hard to win with; Lynch is the sort of jockey that would suit. A couple of the pacesetters – Abstraction and Boom And Bloom – looked 5f horses as they travelled better than most; the first-named is particularly interesting as having first start back and marked looked stiff, this was promising. Toccata Blue is one that would have been suited by the strong pace. There was promise in the run of Yulong Baoju; strong in betting on just second start, keen and travelled well, tightened up about 2f and ran on looking like getting into frame before early exertions told and not persevered with; quite impressed with debut win and get impression a bit is thought of it. Lightnin Hopkins not show much despite handicapper giving it a chance. The form of this hasn’t worked out early with both Boom And Bloom and Wexford Opera spurning winnable opportunities soon afterwards.

1m2f Group 3

Euphrasia has gotten the run of this in front with nothing taking her on; that said, she is better than an 85 filly and her LTO run at Limerick has worked out well. Slow pace hardly have suited La Collina; keen hold in rear and the only one to make any sort of late inroads, may not be in love with soft ground either. Princess Highway has travelled like a good horse (went like one that would improve for run) but certainly she is nowhere near as good on soft ground and she’s got a patchy overall profile anyway; reputation precedes her a little but career record now reads 3 good runs, 1 decent run and 4 poor ones. Rehn’s Nest won a rotten race FTO and is one to be against.

1m2f Maiden

Good ride from Smullen on Resolute Response, put him into lead after 4f and got first run on others, notably the second Lake Nova. There might be some temperament to the winner; ran about a little here and didn’t find very much LTO. Lake Nova got shuffled back early which didn’t suit as pace was slow and winner got first run, not beaten up and certainly promise to this run. Indian Icon shaped well, travelled nicely and not given hard time while Conan’s Rock showed little even allowing for things not going right from the stalls, got messed about a bit early, knock to LTO form which looked a weak race at the time. Arch Pearl is bred for better ground.

7f Handicap

Great Ability and September Lily (travelled well on the pace, might prefer 6f but essentially one to oppose) provided a surprise boost to what looked a very poor Cork handicap they fought out LTO. Enough Is Enough had an overall patchy profile but 7f on soft ground is clearly its thing (3022 under such conditions, the 0 when totally missing the break); jockey rather let the winner get first run on him and would likely have won under stronger handling; hopefully will run under unsuitable conditions NTO and then be bigger back on suitable. Tsar Paul ran on from here but held head to side and one to take on as a rule while Glacial was very keen; Zelos Dream is very in-and-out and failed to build on promise of LTO.

1m Maiden

Pace looked steady here and there were few pointers from this. Hanky Panky travelled well but is hardly up to her mark of 93; Nabat Sultan another that travelled well and found a bit; she could improve for this (first run since June) and might be underrated, seemingly having left 2yo efforts behind; dam won on GF and by Invincible Spirit, decent siblings in dam’s family. Sharp Crisp Air looks limited and Say is one that needs to find stones to compete in the Oaks; Morga is a thief (awkward under pressure here) and showed attitude at two.

1m Handicap

More than a few suspect attitudes in here; things didn’t go right for Snakes And Ladders in terms of not getting a clear run early straight but being trapped wide probably suited here as got to come at best of ground along stands’ rail and he’s been dropped on the line which was ideal as his HC is pretty poor; could be one to oppose NTO though won’t be getting much for this. Las Encinas was a little lairy when asked for his effort; Rock On Coco travelled well on the pace but hung terribly when asked to race. Good run from Indy Gal who likely was racing on the worst of the ground nearest to the far side; made good more to get into race midway up straight and nutted on line; 65 looked harsh enough so good run; her yard is streaky but have had a few run well at big prices lately. Stephen Hero was off it sooner than most but came home well; the Oliver horses have been behind but he can win a race on this evidence. Annagh Haven has a terrible HC.