The National Hunt season at Naas climaxes on Sunday as some of Ireland’s top chasers clash in the €100,000 Bar One Racing Leinster National (4.52). Noel Meade has trained the winner in two of the last three runnings and is in Sunday’s renewal represented by Farceur Du Large. It’s a big week ahead for trainer Barry Connell with Marine Nationale and Good Land both holding big chances in the Supreme and Ballymore respectively and the Kildare handler has the favorite Espanito Bello in the Leinster National. The 9-year-old was last seen finishing fifth in the Thyestes. We’re paying FOUR PLACES in the race. We’ll also be Price Boosting the fav in every race on the live show (shops & online).
The card on Sunday begins at 1.57 with the 2m3f Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Multiples All Shops” Maiden Hurdle. Gordon Elliott has won two of the last three editions of the race and has two runners this time in Clodders Dream and He’s Ultimate. Clodders Dream was never catching the winner at Clonmel last time when badly blundering at the last but he would have likely been much further clear of the field only for that error. Ultimate Dream was second to a subsequent bumper winner in his only PTP start and has since been purchased for £105,000. Lets Go Champ is a PTP winner who was a good third on debut at Punchestown last time for Henry De Bromhead while Willie Mullin’s Nick Rockett won a strong PTP and has since won a bumper at Thurles.
The Grade 3 Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Overnight Prices” Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle follows at 2.32. Having competed extremely well at Grade 1 level this season, Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point will be expected to have too much for his rivals stepping down in grade. Ollie McKiernan’s No Looking Back beat last season’s Boodles winner Brazil in a match at Limerick last time and appeals as the biggest danger.
The first handicap of the day follows at 3.07 with the Bar One Racing “Price Boosts All 28 Favourites At Cheltenham” Handicap Hurdle. Thomas Gibney’s Wee Charlie was beaten a shd in a handicap at Fairyhouse recently and makes plenty of appeal off three pounds higher. Tony Martin’s Falvio has an interesting background having won on the flat in both Poland and France and also holds claims having been a runner-up over the C&D on his penultimate start. We’re paying SIX PLACES on the 3.07.
The 2m3f 2m3f Bar One Racing “Mobile Betting At Cheltenham” Handicap Hurdle goes to post at 3.42. JP McManus is represented by two runners in handicap debutant Hands Of Gold, who’s won on his last two starts, and Drop The Anchor who won on the flat here two starts ago. Cash Back was best of the rest behind stablemate and Mares Hurdle contender Echoes in Rain in a Grade 3 here at the end of January.
There’s a Grade 3 on the card at 4.17 as the Bar One Racing “Extra Places At Cheltenham” Directors Plate Novice Chase takes place. Dual Grade 1 winner Saldier bids to extend his unbeaten run over fences to 2/2 but it’s Journey With Me who looks the one to beat after his narrow defeat in a similar race at Punchestown last time. Limerick Lace landed a valuable handicap over the C&D last time and also features on the shortlist of likely contenders.
The Bar One Racing Leinster National is the penultimate race of the day with the concluding race being the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euros Get 50 Euros Sign Up Offer” Mares (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. Willie Mullins Fancy Girl will go off a short price in the bumper.