16:20 Naas

Sunday 28 January 2018

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Naas Rebrand (Pro/Am) Flat Race

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 5m 14.20s

Batcio^h1⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh

25/1

Point-to-point winner in November and has now joined this yard. Hood on for debut and need monitoring in the betting for this debut under rules.

Form:

Darcis Boy^e/s1,h1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J M Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke

66/1

Ran out when not particularly fancied for his debut at Thurles last time. Tough to recommend off the back of that performance.

Form: R

Voix Des Tiep³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

1/1

Sent off favourite for two bumpers so far and has placed in both of them. Should be capable of winning a race of this nature on the evidence of that form as he steps up in trip.

Form: 2-3

Dent De Lion⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Nolan

100/1

Well beaten in two bumpers so far (by 198L and then 60L), and it's difficult to see him improving from that to mount a challenge here.

Form: 06

Gallant John Joe²⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Deegan⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan

11/2

Fourth in what appears to have been a very strong bumper at Punchestown last April. Might not have to build on that much to get off the mark here as long as the lay-off isn't an issue.

Form: 4-

Mount Pelier³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: A Fleming

11/4

Showed improvement from a fair hurdling debut to finish second in a bumper at Leopardstown last time. Seems progressive and could improve again here.

Form: 52

Ronald Pump⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith

33/1

Didn't really show much improvement despite a better placing when third at Thurles last time out. Seems to handle testing ground but others hold stronger claims.

Form: 083

Smoking Gun³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

33/1

Not particularly impressive when fourth (of only eight) on debut at Down Royal in December. Should come on from that but will need to.

Form: 4

The Big Dog³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie Walsh| T: Peter Fahey

7/1

Ran a fair race to finish fourth on debut under rules at Leopardstown last time. Good form in bumpers suggests further/obstacles may see him do better in time.

Form: 2-F4

Love N' Peace²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: F J Flood

12/1

Has run in far more races (including maiden hurdles) than the rest of these but has had her limitations in this sphere exposed. Will probably be seen to best effect in handicaps.

Form: 97-0032

Spirit Of Medina

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: F J Flood

40/1

€14,000 purchase as a three-year-old but doesn't have the most exciting pedigree nor the most obvious connections for a first time out win.

Form:

Forecasts

Voix Des Tiep (1/1), Mount Pelier (11/4), Gallant John Joe (11/2), The Big Dog (7/1), Love N' Peace (12/1), Batcio (25/1), Smoking Gun (33/1), Ronald Pump (33/1), Spirit Of Medina (40/1), Darcis Boy (66/1), Dent De Lion (100/1)

The lay-off may be a mild concern but the form of the bumper GALLANT JOHN JOE ran in at last year's Punchestown Festival really couldn't have been stronger. Traditionally a very good contest he had the likes of Vision Des Flos and Hollowgraphic ahead of him on that occasion and Rapid Escape behind him. As long as he can run to that level after the absence he could prove tough to beat here, while Willie Mullins' Voix Des Tiep and recent Leopardstown second Mount Pelier are others for the shortlist.