On the eve of Punchestown, Naas stages an eight-race flat card, with the listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes an intriguing feature event.
Make A Challenge (110) is the highest rated in the field but would prefer some ‘cut’ in the ground and might not confirm recent Cork form with the Ado McGuinness-trained Laugh A Minute, a far from confident selection as he’s unproven over the minimum trip.
Gavin Ryan’s mount travelled strongly before seeing off Fiscal Rules in Cork and, over this stiff five, might have the edge over Make A Challenge and Johnny’s Murtagh’s ultra-consistent Urban Beat, who normally improves from his seasonal debut.
Elsewhere on the card, Dermot Weld’s Moktaffy, a close second to the progressive Sir Lamorak – raised 16lb after a handicap win at Leopardstown off 86 – in a Dundalk maiden, is preferred to Ballydoyle hope Sir William Bruce in the finale.
With a record of three wins from four runners with two-year-olds, Aidan O’Brien might take the opening maiden with Fancy Blue’s half-sister Contarelli Chapel, from the first crop of Caravaggio.
And Johnny Murtagh’s topweight Fourhometwo, third in the Madrid at the Curragh on his seasonal debut is marginally preferred to Dermot Weld’s filly Eylara and the Ballydoyle colt Hms Seahorse in the Blackwater 3-Y-0 Handicap.
Peter O’Hehir's tips for Naas
1.25.Contarelli Chapel
1.55.Ecclesiastical
2.25.Laugh A Minute
2.55.Fourhometwo
3.30.Muraahin
4.00.Coill Na Sionainne
4.35.Flora
5.10.Moktaffy (Nap)
Next Best
1.25.Freedom Of Speech
1.55.Coill Avon
2.25.Make A Challenge
2.55.Eylara
3.30.Little Camacho
4.00.Silk Cravat
4.35.Umneyaat
5.10.Sir William Bruce
Double : Contarelli Chapel and Moktaffy.
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Arcanears (1.55.)
