Naas betting tips: Peter O'Hehir's selections for…

Naas betting tips: Peter O'Hehir's selections for today's racing

Investec Derby victor Anthony Van Dyck will face a maximum of nine rivals when he bids to become the 19th colt to complete the English-Irish Derby double at the Curragh on Saturday.

And the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored classic, which carries a winner’s prize of a massive €855,000, will be an all-Irish affair, again, as there are no British-trained colts left in the race following yesterday’s forfeit stage.

The full list of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby acceptors is: Anthony Van Dyck, Broome, Il Paradiso, Norway, Sovereign and Western Australia (all trained by Aidan O’Brien); Buckhurst (Joseph O’Brien); Guaranteed (Jim Bolger); Madhmoon (Kevin Prendergast); and Rakan (Dermot Weld).

Tonight, Naas hosts the last action before the three-day Derby Festival at the Curragh.

And although 5lb worse off than her immediate victims Dean Street Doll and Trethias from their clash in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas trial, Michael Halford’s Hamariyna might confirm her superiority in the listed Naas Oaks Trial.

Hamariyna must carry a Group 3 penalty. But the Sea The Moon filly looks progressive, should improve for this step-up to a mile and a quarter and gets the vote to score under Ronan Whelan.

Since their clash in Leopardstown, Dean Street Doll went on to finish fifth to Hermosa in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas. But it’s hard to be enthusiastic about Richard O’Brien’s charge as the yard hasn’t had a winner since April.

Dermot Weld’s Fairyhouse maiden winner Search For A Song is the unknown quantity of the race. But Hamariyna looks the one to beat.

The best bet on tonight’s card is Aidan O’Brien’s (above) improving Galileo filly Simply Beautiful in the finale. Although dropping back to a mile, her recent placed efforts behind subsequent winners Hamariyna (in Tipperary) and Camphor (Navan) make her the one to beat.