The Mandarin’s Naas Racecard for Sunday 5th January 2024

The Mandarin’s Naas Racecard for January 5th

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase 12.25
Karia Des Blaises
Just a fair hurdler but the future is surely going to be over fences for this Closutton inmate. Sent off an unfancied 20/1 shot in her first try fencing, she put in a decent enough shift behind the useful Only By Night to scoop up third. Entitled to come on for that run, and the choice of Paul Townend, so looks the stable first string. Henry de Bromhead’s Majestic Force is the one that can give the selection the most to think about, with Joseph O’Brien’s Goodie Two Shoes also on the shortlist.

Race And Stay Handicap Chase 12.55
Lazer Wolf
Recent Clonmel scorer Lazer Wolf might be the answer here, and this Getaway gelding wouldn’t have to improve much from that run to take this. Satblemate The Other Mozzie can also go well returned to a slower surface, while Henry de Bromhead’s Aslukwoodhavit goes well fresh and completes the possibles. Lazer Wolf to continue to progress in handicap company.

Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.25
Firefox (nb)
A cracking Grade 2 Novice Chase here, with three smart looking prospects for this division in Ile Atlantique, Firefox and Inthepocket. A case can be made for all three, with Ile Atlantique taking a Beginners Chase by 9 lengths at Navan, ahead of some nice types, while Inthepocket did much the same at Wexford the last day, a full 15 lengths clear of the smart Farren Glory. However, Firefox took his Beginners Chase before lining up in the Grade 1 Drinmore, where he was within half a length of Croke Park in third. That’s a serious bit of form to take to the table here, and with Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing combining well over the Christmas period, Firefox gets the nudge.

Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.55
The Yellow Clay (nap)
A top-class renewal of this important Grade One Novice Hurdle, positioned ideally in the calendar, just nine weeks from the Cheltenham Festival. Of course, the Champion Bumper winner from last year’s Festival, Jasmin De Vaux has garnered plenty of support this week, but the only form in the book at around this trip was a Bumper here at the end of January last year, while The Yellow Clay has graded form over this distance in the Grade 3 Monksfield and a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle, both at Navan. Throw in Henry de Bromhead’s Butch Cassidy and Ted Walsh’s Shuffle The Deck, and this is one to savour, with The Yellow Clay getting our vote.

I.N.H. Stallion Owners Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle 2.30
Joystick
This looks a wide open Maiden, but Willie Mullins’s Joystick looks easy to back. This Coastal Path grey gelding ran well enough on his first try over timber at Punchestown last month, always holding a prominent position until a bit untidy at the last, but can be expected to come on for that hurdling bow. More cut in the ground here, but with Bumper form on heavy should be right at home. Trasna Na Pairce and Los Blanco from Henry de Bromhead’s yard should be worth a market check, but Joystick is the one to follow.

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 3.05
Giant Haystacks
Ross O’Sullivan will be hoping that Giant Haystacks can repeat the performance of his Punchestown success to take this Handicap Hurdle. Different ground, and now lining up on top-weight means there’s more on his plate, but Conor Stone-Walsh now takes up the reins. Giant Haystacks has returned a better model this term, and the win at Punchestown the last day was well deserved, so he looks as good a bet as any, with Krabat likely to be in the mix too.

Fifty Stars At Sunnyhill Stud (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 3.40
Light Up The Dark
It could pay to side with Joseph O’Brien’s Light Up The Dark for the closer at Naas. On pedigree alone, this Camelot filly should be one to note on her debut under rules, while Gordon Elliott’s Test The Market has an equally attractive profile being a Cracksman gelding. The Calyx gelding, Through The Storm might want a quicker surface on breeding, while Connor King’s Good Eye is an Expert Eye filly and similarly will be seen to best effect on firmer ground. Light Up The Dark sure to get plenty of support, while market moves will be indicative.

The Mandarin