2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Meeting Tips – DS
2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Preview
We had our first blank for a while on Saturday. However, even though we went home empty handed there was enough promise in the runs of Rumstar, She’s Hot, Ararat and Raintown in particular to suggest we’ll get our money back on them in the coming weeks and months. Checkandchallenge didn’t run terribly either, he probably just needs a bit of easier ground. Today we have the 2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials meeting, check out our preview and tips below.
2.15 – Sole Power Sprint Stakes (Listed)
Only five run in the Calyx so we’ll start with what I think is the best race on the card. I’m a big Moss Tucker believer and it’ll be very interesting to see how he fares on this faster ground. The last time he raced on it, a short head separated him and Tees Spirit at Tipperary over 5f. Adrian Nicholls’ charge has travelled over to take on Moss Tucker again but he is a pure speedball and on this stiffer track, Ken Condon’s sprinter may just turn that Tipp form around.
Mooniesta was a superb sprinter for Jack Davison and she is now in the hands of Joseph O’Brien. She has never run a poor race at Naas and if they go too hard early doors, she’ll be staying on to pick up the pieces. She does lack a recent run though and odds of 3/1 don’t appeal. Ladies Church beat Mooniesta a head at the Curragh in a G2 last July (5f gd) and she had a couple of spins in Dubai in the Spring. She’s another one that likes Naas and if she is in peak form, she’s another obvious contender.
Fit And In Form
The only one of the outsiders that makes any appeal is the fit and in form Big Gossey. This 6yo son of Guitafan has always been talented but last season was his best ever. From a mark of 87 in June he ended up rated 97 and he signed off for the season with a very decent effort in a Cork Listed contest behind Moss Tucker. That was on heavy, as were his three runs this season. He hasn’t had a chance to run in pattern company on good ground yet, he’ll have his optimum conditions today.
The last time he had 5f on good he hacked up off 94 at the Curragh. He was a head behind Mr Wagyu in the Scurry in July on good and he was only a neck behind Moss Tucker when they met on good ground in Fairyhouse. He was getting 4lbs from him that day, he gets 3lbs today so theoretically, there shouldn’t be a huge amount between them on that form. Charles O’Brien’s stable star was only 2.5L behind him on heavy here last time, on this quicker ground Big Gossey is worth backing e/w at odds of 33/1.
2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Tip: Big Gossey e/w @ 33/1 (4 places W Hill)
2.45 – Coolmore Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3)
The Top 6 in the betting all have form on soft or heavy ground. None of them have raced on good or better yet so this is a bit of a guessing game. I’m a big Kevin Coleman fan and he runs West Of Wichita here. Seamie is booked so that usually means a big run is expected but unfortunately, the 16s that was available last night is well gone and she’s no bigger than 9/1.
Instead, Making Time is the e/w pick at around 22/1. Trained by Natalia Lupini, this filly was a huge eyecatcher here on debut (6f gd/yld). By Kessaar, she was held up in behind the leaders and she didn’t get the clearest of runs. Once Billy Lee switched her to the outside and gave her a flick she quickened up very smartly and ran on strongly for 3rd, 3L behind Johannes Brahms.
It was a very promising debut and Wayne Lordan now takes over in the saddle. He is 12/47 when riding for Lupini and on 2yos for her he is 2/10 with four Top 4 finishes. Unlike the market leaders Making Time is proven on ground with good in the description and you’d imagine she’d have learned plenty from that debut run. So, at odds of 22/1, she is the e/w selection.
2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Tip: Making Time e/w @ 22/1 NAP (4 places)
3.15 – Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed)
A tricky looking race and one that will likely be dominated by the market leaders. New Energy is the fav for Sheila Lavery and he deserves to get his head in front after some fine efforts in defeat at G1 and G2 level last year. This drop in class may be just what he needs.
Mutasarref was very progressive last season and the ground is ideal for him on his return. Panic Alarm will appreciate the return to good ground and his trainer is now flying. Yerwanthere is undefeated after two starts, including a win on good, and she’s another potential danger. This is a race I’m happy to just watch, no bet.
2023 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Tip: No Bet
3.45 – Goffs Lacken Stakes (Group 3)
Ocean Quest was hugely impressive on heavy at Navan last time out. Previously, on her last run of 2022, she was beat a short head in a Curragh G3 on good ground by Treasure Trove, so she should be fine with today’s conditions. That last win was a clear career best though so you’d worry that she might be at her very best when the mud is flying.
We backed The Antarctic in the Middle Park last season where he chased home Blackbeard (6f gd). He was well behind Ocean Quest at Navan but back on better ground, he will surely get a lot closer. He’s rated 5lbs higher than the Harrington filly and on paper, this looks to be between the top two in the market.
Form In The Book
At bigger odds, Maria Branwell has the form in the book to figure here. Formerly trained by David O’Meara, this filly won the National Stakes at Sandown last season. She then ran a blinder at Royal Ascot when 3rd in the G2 Queen Mary behind Dramatised. Her form then tailed off somewhat for the rest of the season and she was sold for 180k and moved to Joseph O’Brien.
The daughter of James Garfield will be fit after finishing 4th in a Cork Listed race on unsuitably heavy ground. She was only beat 3.5L so it wasn’t a bad run at all in those conditions. Her best form is on ground with good in the description and she hasn’t much to find with Mauiewowie on that Cork run. On this faster ground she may well turn that around and sneak into the money. At odds of 16/1, Maria Branwell is the e/w selection.
