16:05 Naas

Sunday 4 November 2018

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:05

Finale Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 2m 33.42s

(3)

Hall Of Fame^b1,t⁹⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Leonard| T: D Hogan| OR: 94

40/1

Showed good deal of promise for Jim Bolger as a two-year-old but has been lightly raced since. Had a short and unsuccessful racing career in Qatar and, having been off since February, he now has a bit to prove on debut for new yard.

Form: 4/75/0

(5)

Massif Central¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: M Halford| OR: 97

20/1

Ran well here in defeat over 1m2f last month but best previous form posted on the Aw surface at Dundalk. Now 3lb below his solitary winning mark but may need a drying wind to be seen to best effect.

Form: 908434

(7)

Mustajeer^h⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108| C

11/4

Big chance on his highly respectable effort to finish fourth in the Ebor at York in August. Has gone well here in the past and acts with some give underfoot. Sound claims.

Form: 13-4244

(4)

Riven Light⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 112

9/4

Won three times in 2017, all with plenty of cut in the ground; impressive when making his seasonal reappearance at Galway, winning a valuable handicap. Showed very little in South Korea last time but worth another crack at this grade.

Form: 5117-10

(2)

Law Girl³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 92| D

4/1

Useful handicapper and respected on the pick of her form. Sixth in a fillies only Listed race on the AW at Lingfield last time needs to be improved upon though. Raven Light may be the better hope from the Mullins yard.

Form: 015206

(1)

Normandel²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103

16/1

Winner in this grade during her time in France was found out when upped to Group 2 company. Off since April but respected on the pick of her form. Debuts for a top yard so has to merit a betting check.

Form: 18635-U

(8)

Whirling Dervish^p1⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 91

10/1

Winner of a Tipperary maiden as a juvenile and not disgraced when third of seven at this course in May. The ground should be fine but needs to better his last two starts; the betting can guide.

Form: 31-2308

(6)

Romiyna^b1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld| OR: 95| D

7/1

Highly tired since making a winning start at Gowran Park in May; signs of a return to form when fourth of twelve in this grade last time out. The first-time blinkers can help sharpen her up. One to consider; yard won last year's corresponding race.

Form: 16684

(9)

Snowflakes⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 87

16/1

Over-faced in last season's Albany Stakes and has struggled at this level since winning a moderate maiden at Cork. Improvement needed after being twice brushed aside at this level.

Form: 08-9197

Forecasts

Riven Light (9/4), Mustajeer (11/4), Law Girl (4/1), Romiyna (7/1), Whirling Dervish (10/1), Normandel (16/1), Snowflakes (16/1), Massif Central (20/1), Hall Of Fame (40/1)

The final race of what has been a highly entertaining Flat season at Naas can go the way of MUSTAJEER, whose fourth placed effort in the Ebor is a solid looking piece of form and enables the gelding to get the seal of approval ahead of Riven Light, who has also performed well in a valuable handicap this season and looks the biggest threat. Romiyna represents last year's winning trainer and, if the first-time headgear works as expected, she won't go down without a fight either.