Naas's first juvenile of the season is scheduled to take place today and while stronger contests are generally held at other venues in Ireland, this race has not been without its useful sorts. Sayo made a winning Irish debut ahead of a third in the 2018 Triumph, Ivan Grozny won in 2014 before following up at Fairyhouse over Easter, and Newberry New finished second here in 2016 prior to taking the Winning Fair. Ebadiyan and Hisaabaat also took in this contest when it was held earlier in the month. This season's renewal features potentially useful newcomers for Gordon Elliott and Joseph O'Brien, while the best hurdling form is brought by Coltor and Zoffanien who renew their rivalry from Punchestown a fortnight ago. Naas is a galloping track with a stiff finish, and its average winning DIs of 1.05 median, 1.10 mean are among the lowest in the country, although its clear round rate of 98.33 is also the kindest in Ireland. The going is currently heavy but raceable, but the meeting is subject to a 7:30 inspection as rain is forecast overnight.
Triumph odds
Coltor 50/1
Fred Winter
Coltor 33/1
Anno Maximo bg David Harry Kelly f6-0-1 (62) 64 j1-0-0 (-) 36 35
Maxios (Singspiel){7-f}(0.76) 2/2 Aachen 2nd Veterans' Chase Final (146), Sandown 2016
Although he has the second lowest flat rating in this field, Anno Maximo's profile is not a hollow one. Placed on his penultimate flat start in a Bath handicap off 60, he left Michael Bell for 10,500 guineas at the Tattersalls August Sale. Those who leave Fitzroy House have a solid winners to runners rate of 32.14% including Allmankind, Ruacana and Grumeti, all of whom were successful in Grade Ones. Maxios has well above-average figures across the board including a winners to runners rate of 43.75%, and the damline includes useful veteran chaser Aachen (2/2), and Atlaal (3/1) who was a decent juvenile ahead of winning the Lanzarote Hurdle the following campaign. However, only one of the trainer's ten runners in the sphere has been a winner, and Anno Maximo showed a tendency to hang on the flat. His best form came on firm, though he is bred to handle softer conditions, but he did not cover himself in glory on his hurdling debut at Punchestown where he made minor errors without ever escaping the rear.
Baltinglass Hill bg P J Rothwell f3-0-0 (75) 62 j3-0-0 (-) 60 67
Cable Bay (Iffraaj){16-a}(2.00) 3/0 Wheeler's Wonder 1st Juvenile Claiming Hurdle, Wincanton 1993
Though rated 75 on the flat, Baltinglass Hill did little to justify such a mark after three outings for Michael Grassick last summer. He ran an abysmal race on his hurdling debut in November, but did better last time at Punchestown by virtue of not being immediately detached. His jumping was also reasonable, but he still failed to leave the rear of the field and was ultimately tailed off.
Charlie Bassett bg Noel Meade f10-0-7 (80) 86 j3-0-0 (-) 100 116
Lawman (Xaar){13-b}(2.00) 0.5 Lambeau Field 3rd Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2016
Though without a win in thirteen races in either code, he has been running to a respectable level and was in the process of running a decent race on his hurdles bow at Down Royal before being brought down two out. Following three runs on the flat, he returned to hurdling at Fairyhouse in December where he jumped well after the first two flights and was still in touch three furlongs out. However, his questionable stamina told as he faded late on and finished a thirteen length fourth - eleven lengths behind Toughari. He was next seen at Leopardstown where apart from not getting particularly high at the fourth, he put in another acceptable round and was disputing second place just before the elbow. However, if anything can be held against Charlie Basset, then it would be a lack of stamina and it was this deficiency which saw him fade quickly in the closing stages, and finish nearly seventeen lengths behind Coltor. He is capable of better, but will need a considerably sharper test to be seen to better effect.
Coltor bg D K Weld f3-1-0 (86) 83 j2-0-1 (-) 111 118
Free Eagle (Red Ransom){14-c}(0.89) 2/2 Limini 1st Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2016
Making his racecourse debut at the end of August, Coltor twice placed fifth in Navan maidens before winning at Killarney in a soft ground, eleven furlong contest in early October. By Free Eagle and related to Limini, Call My Guest and Vintage Crop, he is bred to flourish in the sphere and was not unbacked ahead of his jumps bow in a traditionally strong Leaopardstown maiden hurdle during the festive meeting. He jumped well for the most part but shaped very much like a stayer when finishing a distant second to French Aseel. Backed into favouritism next time at Punchestown, he raced in much closer order, tracking the leaders throughout. However, he was unable to match the front pair turning for home and could only stay on the one pace up the straight. This was another commendable effort and apart from getting close to the second, posted a solid round of jumping. He is improving with each run, and although he is already looking as though a thorough test is essential to his future prospects, this is as close to one as he is likely to find in juvenile company. The trainer's few recent runners have not been running to scratch, but the sole Triumph entry in the field would still warrant respect.
Halifax bg Joseph Patrick O'Brien f1-0-1 (-) - -
Saddler Maker (Apple Tree){u}(1.00) 2/1 Parrain 3rd Prix Cambaceres (G1), Auteuil 2006
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/halifax-1
Joseph O'Brien sent Konitho and Star Max to finish first and third in this race two years ago, and he is set to saddle two newcomers here. Halifax ran greener than the very soft Landivisau turf on his sole run to date when second in a thirteen furlong maiden in October. The form is nothing special as the winner is a 55 rated handicapper who was registering her solitary success in eight starts, and those in behind are similarly moderate. Nevertheless, there is a good amount of encouragement to be drawn from the pedigree. Saddler Maker has had a fine record with his few juveniles in Britain and Ireland and can count Apple's Jade, Apple's Shakira, Bouvreuil, Bristol de Mai and Dinaria des Obeaux among his progeny. The distaff side is also useful as the dam won at Fontainebleu as a juvenile, her uncle Parrain finished second in an Adonis and third in the Prix Cambaceres, and the likes of Blazer (3/2) Osana (4/2) and Notre Pere (4/3) also appear on the damline. Espoir d'Allen is the most notable of Anne-Sophie Pacault's five previous exports into the division and Joseph O'Brien is capable of preparing top class sorts. However, the yard has gone twenty runners without a jumps win and while Halifax has a compelling pedigree and will go in the ground, his bare form is not of a high standard at this juncture.
Hisdaywillcome blg Thomas Cooper Unraced
Dragon Pulse (Lucky Guest){1-e}(1.22) 0.5 Niven 1st 1m7f Handicap Chase (122), Catterick 2020
A half-brother to two winners, and more distantly related to the likes of For Me (3/4), Shaneshill (5/4) and Darlan (5/5), Hisdaywillcome is set to make his debut here having been an unused reserve at Punchestown a fortnight ago. Dragon Pulse has had two winning juveniles from fourteen while trainer Thomas Cooper has had one from nine. None of his charges won first time, but they do have a 100% completion rate.
Iberia bc J Halley f8-1-3 (101) 108 j1-0-0 (-) 87 88
Galileo (Danehill){8-f}(0.73) 3/2 Addicted 4th Juvenile Hurdle, Wincanton 2006
Iberia is the highest rated flat recruit seen to this point, having earned a triple digit rating when third in the Royal Lodge, and vindicating same in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his return in June. Though beating just two home in the Irish Derby and finishing last in a listed race at Leopardstown on his final flat outing, even those performances were stronger than anything achieved by the opposition. His joining John Halley instead of Joseph O'Brien dampened his prospects ahead of his hurdles bow at Leopardstown, and he drifted from 15/2 in the morning to 20/1 at the start. Racing in the rear, he was slow at the third and was already getting reminders at that stage. Nevertheless, he still jumped respectably and was moving into contention with intent when getting badly baulked on landing at the last. This effectively put paid to his race and he made no more contribution beyond passing beaten horses. Taken at face value, this was a disappointing effort. However, he was the closest it got to an unlucky horse in this particular contest as it is feasible he could have improved several places but for being badly impeded at a critical stage. His prospects hinge more on speculation than substance, but they are not entirely forlorn even in this company.
Kashi bg Karl Thornton f5-0-1 (63) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 48 53
Manduro (Rahy){19-b}(0.89) 3/1 Purple Moon 2nd Scottish Triumph Trial, Musselburgh 2007
After failing to match his debut second at Kempton in four subsequent outings, Kashi was bought out of the Andrew Balding yard for 8,000 guineas . He is not unfeasibly bred for the discipline but was an unfancied 50/1 ahead of his hurdles debut at Punchestown last month. Though he went right at the first and was untidy at the second, his jumping was largely acceptable. He was unable to leave the rear however and was struggling a fair way from home before finishing tired. While he may strip fitter for the outing and is a probable stayer, he would need to run beyond his best to feature here.
Persia bbc Joseph Patrick O'Brien f7-2-1 (96) 103
Galileo (Giant's Causeway){1-x}(0.77) No jumps relatives
The second of Joseph O'Brien's two runners, Persia is his trainer's highest rated ex-Ballydoyle horse to run in the sphere this season. Twice a winner last season at Galway and Chelmsford, his best effort came when beaten half a length by Desgraves in the Group Three Eyrefield Stakes. His seasonal reappearance did not come until September when a three and a half length ninth in the Petingo Handicap off 100, and a midfield finish in another "Premier" handicap at Listowel later that month. Galileo wins his fair share of juvenile hurdles, but nothing more, and while his dam was third in her Irish Oaks, the damline is bereft of jumpers with only Brave Inca's sire Good Thyne being the only relative of note at 4/1. Stamina and ability to handle soft ground are not concerns, but while he long featured in the Triumph ante-post markets, he is without an entry for the race.
Saeer chg Gordon Elliott f4-0-1 (63) 65 j2-0-0 (-) 98 105
Australia (Pivotal){6-e}(0.88) 2/1 Persian Warrior 1st Novice Hurdle, Stratford 2009
Saeer ran four times for Sir Michael Stoute, and with a flat rating of 63, joined Gordon Elliott for 9,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn sale. Horses leaving Freemason Lodge generally struggle to improve on their flat form and he was the least fancied of his yard's three runners at Punchestown on new year's eve.. Held up in midfield, he never looked like getting competitive and still had seven ahead of him at the distance. He usurped three of those rivals but was still beaten forty-four lengths in the end. His hurdling had been reasonable prior to a slow jump at the sixth, and the round was capped off by a pair of tired leaps at the final two flights. Though the better fancied of the Elliott pair on his return to the venue a fortnight ago, he was still an unfancied 40/1. While he jumped well enough and made some headway during the contest, he was never better than midfield and finished twenty-three lengths behind the winner. This was an improvement on his debut effort, but he would make little imminent appeal beyond moderate company.
Shantou Lucky chg Gavin Cromwell Unraced
Shantou (King's Theatre){14-f}(1.40) 1/1 Hoi Polloi 2nd 2m3?f Novices' Hurdle, Hereford 2020
Out of a winning jumper, a brother to Hoi Polloi, and half-brother to Eyes Of A Tiger, Shantou Lucky fetched €19,000 as a yearling before getting knocked down for €7,000 as a store horse. While Shantou is one of the most accomplished national hunt stallions of his generation, his record with juvenile hurdlers is moderate and he is without a winner from nine runners in the sphere since 2008/09. He is the chosen mount of Jonathan Moore, but the yard is not in its strongest shape and its record with newcomers is below average with unraced charges failing to win first time from nine.
Sheer Bravado bg S J Mahon f9-3-3 (91) 94
Fracas (New Approach){2-s}(0.67) 3/1 Peoples Cause 2nd 4yo Hurdle, Navan 2006
Though showing little on his first three starts, Sheer Bravado ran a solid third on his handicap debut at Gowran Park in September off a mark of 66. He followed up with a hat trick at Listowel, Tipperary and Killarney at on good and soft ground, over distances of seven furlongs and a mile. Though he has shown a tendency to wander under pressure, he does not appear to be ungenuine as he shows little aversion to passing rivals. However, he did struggle with a rise to 92 at Limerick in October and while he was travelling well at the distance when stepped up to ten furlongs at this distance, he was unable to lengthen and lost two places before the line. Sold for 62,000 guineas out of the Jim Bolger yard at the Tattersalls Autumn sale, he joins a Stephen Mahon yard which has not had a winning juvenile from four since The Quiet Enforcer made a winning debut at Galway in September 2008. Fracas has had two winners this term in Historic Heart and Peat Moss, but the damline is fairly barren and New Approach has yet to make much of an impact as a damsire in the division. Sheer Bravado has quality about him and should have little difficulty with the ground, although this may be too stiff a test on his first run in 105 days.
Showbusiness bg Gordon Elliott f2-0-0 (-) FrF
Camelot (Falco){2-d}(0.86) 3/1 Kamasan 1st 4yo Conditions Hurdle, Toulouse 2004
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/showbusiness
Gordon Elliott won this contest last season with newcomer Battle Of Wills, and while he could have up to three runners here, his first string would clearly be Showbusiness. Racing twice in the summer for Pia and Joakim Brandt, his debut came in June when contesting a twelve furlong newcomers race at Dieppe. Taking a very keen hold, he pulled his way into a lead which he maintained until the turn for home. While passed quite quickly by the first four, he still held upwards of five lengths in hand over his remaining rivals. The winner would go on to twice place in listed company with the second and third winning next time, and the fifth currently rated 76. His second outing came at Clairefontaine in July where he was still keen early, but his rider was able to get him into a more conservative position and while he encountered trouble in running, he managed to eventually snatch third in the shadow of the post. Though not bursting with subsequent winners, the form has largely held up and a rating in the high seventies would not be an unreasonable measure of his performances. He would fetch €76,000 at the Arqana Deauville Summer sale and has since joined this season's outstanding team for juveniles. Though a minor winner is the closest jumps relative at 3/1, Camelot is capable of producing top class juveniles including Sir Erec and Gardens Of Babylon. The trip and ground should not be concerns, and Showbusiness is in the right hands to do well in the sphere. However, he has already been with the yard for a while without seeing the track, does not hold any fancy entries at this stage, and given how headstrong he has been thus far, he is likely to be fresh on his first run for over two hundred days and no headgear has been applied to mitigate against same.
St James's Square bbc J Halley f1-0-0 (-) 50
War Front (Smart Strike){8-f}(3.00) 3/1 Arco Felice 4th 3m Handicap Hurdle (89), Ffos Las 2011
St James's Square cost €2,400,000 as a yearling, but ran only once on the flat for Aiden O'Brien where he finished down the field in a Naas maiden as a two year old. He was withdrawn from an intended engagement last June having been found lame, and has since left Ballydoyle to join John Halley. War Front's sole juvenile to date cut little ice, and sons of Danzig do not typically make juvenile hurdling sires. Smart Strike is winless from four as a damsire and the damline is bereft of hurdling talent. While Rachael Blackmore is booked, her record with John Halley is just one win from nineteen.
Toughari bg Thomas Mullins f7-1-0 (63) 66 j4-0-1 (112) 111 109
Tough As Nails (Imperial Ballet){14-e}(1.00) 2/2 Golden Sage 1st Grande Course de Haies des 4 Ans (L), Cagnes Sur Mer 2018
Toughari achieved little in his first six starts on the flat and one over hurdles, but was able to break his duck at Fairyhouse in a handicap off 53 and put up an improved showing here next time over hurdles when an eight length fifth to Jeff Kidder in November. He was not disgraced behind Youmdor later that month and ran his best race to date when last seen fifty days ago at Fairyhouse. His jumping had already been marked by trepidation and he was still steady going into several hurdles while getting in too close. Prominent in the chasing pack, he was left in the lead turning in but was headed at the last where he was allowed to find his own stride and rewarded his jockey's trust by losing valuable momentum. Though it can not be said for certain that the mistake cost him the race, the cumulative effect of his entire round will have made a telling difference. There is a moderate race in him at a venue similar to Fairyhouse, but he might benefit more from his handicap mark being dropped a few pounds.
Willywampus chg Donal Commins f5-0-1 (73) 82 j3-0-0 (-) 84 83
Zoffany (Medicean){16-h}(3.00) 3/1 Swiss Guard 1st Handicap Hurdle (93), Lingfield 2011
Three promising runs as a two-year-old saw Willywampus begin the year with a rating of 80. He ran nowhere near that level in two starts back in June and was keen early on his hurdles debut at Limerick in early December. He faded with four furlongs to run but his jumping was decent if nothing else. His next outing came at Fairyhouse and though he started at 125/1, he had yet to be asked a question when taking off too early and falling at the fifth. Returning to Limerick on Boxing Day, he settled in the rear and though he took off a fair way from the first, he got over it alright. He also tripped over the fifth but it did not cost him any momentum. He attempted to join the leading group but tripped again over the third last and was never going forward from there, apart from passing a beaten horse on the run-in. He has not yet approached his flat form in three outings now and will need a soft mark if he is to be competitive any time soon
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