talkSPORT betting tips – Best bets and expert advice for the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle
01/03/2025 10:44 AM
The first Irish Grade 1 of the new year is set to take place on Sunday afternoon via the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
A quality field of eight runners were declared for the 2m4f contest, with €60,000 on offer to the winner.
Seven races are scheduled at Naas on Sunday, from 12:25-3.40, although with a possibility of overnight snow on Saturday, the Kildare track must pass a raceday inspection.
Sunday’s tips
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12.55 Naas – Silver King @ SP
Laser Wolf won with plenty to spare at Clonmel (2m2½f, yielding) last month and Gavin Cromwell’s charge can go well again, but he’s 12lb higher in the ratings now and the yard has been a bit quiet.
SILVER KING was fourth behind him that day and Oliver McKiernan’s eight-year-old has a chunky pull at the weights this time.
Silver King was returning from 179 days off in that race and it was just his fourth start over fences. He is entitled to be fitter for the run and has some form at this 2m trip.
1.25 Naas – Inthepocket – SP
The first graded race on the card is the Racing Post Novice Chase, a Grade 2 contest set to be run over 2m. Gordon Elliott saddles Firefox, who may be suited dropping back to the minimum trip after finishing third in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last month over further, while Willie Mullins has Ile Atlantique in the mix after he won nicely over further at this track on his chase bow last month.
They are respected but INTHEPOCKET is taken to hold them at bay for Henry De Bromhead with Rachael Blackmore on board.
He was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler at Aintree in 2023 and ran just once last season when finishing second to Facile Vega in a Navan beginners’ chase over 2m1f. He returned from a year off with a smooth win at Wexford (2m, soft) from the promising Farren Glory in October and he could be set to start making up for lost time in the JP McManus silks.
1.55 Naas – Butch Cassidy – 11/2
The Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux made a pleasing start over timber when justifying cramped odds at Navan (2m, soft) last month and is part of a four-strong assault on this race for Willie Mullins, who also saddles Plontier, Spasiba and Supersundae.
Between them, Mullins and Gordon Elliott have won 10 of the last 11 renewals, and the Cullentra handler sends out The Yellow Clay and Wingmen now.
Henry De Bromhead’s win with Bob Olinger in 2021 was the only time the power-duo were denied since 2013 and his unbeaten son of Walk In The Park, BUTCH CASSIDY, may be capable of the step up needed to bag this. He showed a willing attitude in a Punchestown maiden in November on his jumping bow and could be capable of much better than that bare form.
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
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