Irish Eyes selections for racing at Naas

Recommended bets: Irish Eyes

2pts win Total Recall in 3.20 Naas at 8/1

1pt win Kolumbus in 2.20 Naas at evens

0.5pt e.w. Thelobstercatcher in 4.50 Naas at 14/1

Given current conditions, Kolumbus would be an apt winner of the opener at Naas this afternoon and his formlines offer up hope that today could be the day he strikes gold. 

As a son of Robin Des Champs he is likely to be far superior when he gets good ground so today’s conditions – this is goingto be something of a slog even over two miles – are a worry but he is still the most likely winner given his excellent runner-up effort behind stablemate and subsequent Grade One winner Bacardys when he was beaten a mere length-and-a-half at Leopardstown.

The obvious worry is that Kolumbus was put in his place by Gunnery Sergeant on his next start but given that horse was beaten some 66 lengths by Bacardys in the aforementioned Grade 1, there is reason to believe that Kolumbus didn’t bring his A-Game last time out and he is given a second chance today, despite the ground.

One horse who will absolutely relish the conditions it the second-favourite Never Off Duty, trained by Robert Tyner for JP McManus.

Mark Walsh is favourite to deputise for the injured Barry Geraghty later but whomever is on board is likely to lead from flag fall and attempt to make Never Off Duty live up to his name and make every post a winning one.

Judging by the manner of his victory at Dromahane, Never Off Duty may just be a decent horse but at the current prices, even-money about Kolumbus and around 3/1 about Tyner’s charge, Ruby Walsh’s mount just gets the edge.

The Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase at 3.20 looks competitive but with three of the first four in the betting having fallen on one of their last two outings, the eye is taken by the Sandra Hughes-trained Total Recall at 8/1.

The son of Westerner isn’t without sin in the jumping department himself, having fallen on debut and unseated his rider three runs ago but the latter occasion can be put down to sheer exhaustion rather than his jumping technique, as he had attempted to make all, and in any event his jumping has improve from run to run.

He has plenty of experience under his belt now - today will be his sixth run over fences - and his last two runs were very good.

A seven-length win over course-and-distance here in December was followed by a much better run that it may appear on paper next up at Leopardstown.

As a relatively raw novice, he took on experienced handicappers there last month and was only beaten a little over 12 lengths, and that was after being hampered, almost losing his rider, and having to be eased down as a result.

Back in novice company here today and on his favoured soft to heavy ground, 8/1 is much, much too big.  Take the 8/1, back him each-way if you want, Total Recall gets the nap vote.

Thelobstercatcher gets the each-way vote in the penultimate contest, despite his advancing age.

He has won three staying handicaps since his transfer to Ireland off marks of 102 and 109 (twice) and the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him by 6lbs for his last two runs to a mark of 107 today.

Granted he will have to leave those runs far, far behind him if he is to get involved today, but at 14/1, it’s worth risking a small few quid that he might be able to get closer off his revised mark today with the trip and conditions very much to suit him.

His trainer Pat Fahy had a winner at Punchestown on Tuesday and a second at Fairyhouse yesterday (his most recent two runners) so the yard is in form and while it is far from guaranteed, Thelobstercatcher is unlikely to ever get a better opportunity to earn some further prizemoney for his connections.