2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday Preview & Tips – DS
2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday Tips
We landed a superb 33/1 winner with Blazing Soldier on Saturday. Unfortunately, things went downhill subsequently. Clinton Lane raced lazily and he remains a work in progress. Kinder Kid got outpaced but he was only a neck off fourth and handicaps will show him in a better light. Torosay finished third but non runners meant we didn’t get the place. Hasty Parisian and Donso Star ran no sort of races. Dave Stevos is back in action this afternoon, his 2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday tips are below.
2.00 Naas – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
The best race of the weekend by some distance. Previously won by the likes of Rule The World, Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger, it is a contest that often produces a top class winner. Mullins and Elliott have won every renewal bar one since 2014 and they provide seven of the eight runners but at least they all have different owners.
The top two in the betting, Firefox (9/4) and Ile Atlantique (5/2), both come into the race on the back of winning maiden hurdles. They met in a Fairyhouse bumper last season (16 yld/sft) off level weights and Firefox came out on top by half a length. Ile Atlantique is proven on heavy ground and Firefox isn’t so I’d probably prefer the chances of Tony Bloom’s horse for that reason.
G1 Form
An Tobar brings Grade 1 placed hurdle form into the race. He ran really well behind Farren Glory and King of Kingsfield in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse (16f sft). On pedigree, this 20f should suit and he won his maiden on heavy so the ground should be fine. He is definitely overpriced at 15/2 when you consider he has the best hurdling form in the race.
Of the remainder, Lecky Watson also looks too big. He won’t lack stamina having won a maiden over 19f at Thurles and he ran a huge race upped to Grade 2 company at Navan last time out (20f hvy). He finished just 0.5L behind Slade Steel and Stellar Story was 5L behind in third. Stellar Story gave the form a boost on Stephen’s Day at Limerick when chasing home Loughglynn in another G2.
Stellar Story also beat Ile Atlantique in a bumper last year so that form puts Lecky Watson right in the picture. Paul Townend has abandoned ship but Danny Mullins has done us no harm in the past (Street Value, Tornado Flyer) and he is a more than able replacement. Mystical Power is another one to keep an eye on but at 16/1, Lecky Watson is the e/w selection.
2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday Tips: Lecky Watson e/w @ 16/1
2.50 Plumpton – Sussex National Handicap Chase (Class 3)
The feature race at Plumpton on this Premier Raceday is the Sussex National. Soft ground and a trip of 3.5 miles means that stamina will be at a premium. We backed Dom Of Mary last time out when he was stepped up to 27.5f for the first time.
I thought he would relish the trip and he was a strong fancy but it looked like he didn’t get home to me. This is an easier race, which might help him see it out better and I couldn’t write him off. However, I also couldn’t back him at 4/1.
Locally Trained
One trainer who will be desperate to win this is Andy Irvine. He took over the licence from the late Zoe Davison and this is the yard’s local track. He relies on Gold Clermont and she has form figures of 112 at Plumpton.
She absolutely dotted up by 14L on her first attempt at this sort of distance at Fakenham (29f sft) so her stamina is proven and she loves a cut in the ground. She only got a 6lb hike for that facile Fakenham win and that may not be enough to stop the 8yo daughter of Balko. Irvine’s mare is a 6/1 shot, so too short for us, but she has the credentials to run a huge race.
Course Form
The only horse at double figure odds that makes any appeal is Special Acceptance. Trained by Paul Webber, he has previous in this race. He was beat 2L off 118 on soft ground and he is back for a repeat bid off 8lbs lower. The 11yo son of Malinas has Plumpton form figures of 123P52, the last second coming over 25.5f on December 18.
He has finished runner up both starts this term and also on his last run of the previous campaign. Seconditis has been a recurring issue for this lad, he has filled that position on 8 of his 26 starts under rules. His sole win did come on soft ground at this track, off 114 in December 2020.
I’d imagine this is his main aim for the season given the size of the pot so he should be trying and he will have the assistance of Gavin Sheehan in the plate. To be honest, Gold Clermont and Dom Of Mary might be hard to beat but Special Acceptance most definitely has place claims so at 11/1, back him e/w.
2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday Tips: Special Acceptance e/w @ 11/1 (4 places)
3.10 Naas – Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-109)
Long time followers might remember me giving a good mention for a horse called Elusive Guy on course at Punchestown just under a year ago. He ran a cracker that day in what turned out to be a very hot race but it is fair to say, things haven’t gone to plan for Jarlath Fahey’s charge since.
In that Punchestown race he was beat 11L into 6th but he was upsides some solid yardsticks. Meetingofthewaters was 3L behind him and he has since won the Paddy Power off 130 at Leopardstown. Time Marches On was 0.5L in front in 5th and he is at least a 120 horse in my opinion. Changing The Rules was 2.5L ahead in 4th and he’s rated 119 over fences.
Lost Form
Elusive Guy lost his form after that run. He ran poorly on his final three starts of last season before being sent on his summer holidays. After a six month break he returned with two lovely runs on the level and I thought he would go close on his return to hurdling at Navan. He finished 8th of 17 but he was beat 25L and I’m hoping he was just a bit rusty on his first hurdle start for 8 months.
He is now down to a mark of 105 and this represents a drop in grade compared to Navan. Peter Smithers is in the plate and I am hoping he rides this horse a bit more quietly today.
The son of Elusive Pimpernel came from midfield when winning his maiden and he was in the process of running a huge race when coming from the back at Limerick when he unseated two out. A repeat of that run, or his Punchestown effort, should be enough to land place money at least today.
2024 Naas & Plumpton Sunday Tips: Elusive Guy e/w @ 20/1 NB (5 places)
3.25 Plumpton – Hayley Turner Handicap Chase (Class 4)
Andy Irvine runs three in this 19.5f handicap chase. On recent form, Brown Bullet and Shaws Cross look to have the best chance of giving him a victory. However, Stan Sheppard gets the leg up on Godot and that could be a good omen. He has had 5 rides for Irvine, returning two winners and a second.
Those two wins came aboard this horse on successive starts in the Spring of 2023. A 20.5f soft ground maiden hurdle here in April and then a 21f handicap hurdle win at Kempton on good off 108. He has had a couple of runs over fences this season and the handicapper has dropped his chase mark to 106.
His chasing debut on heavy ground at Southwell was poor. It was a better effort back here last time but he just seemed to hit a flat spot between the fourth and third last fences and he never recovered. He jumped well enough for the most part and he is down to a dangerous mark. Brown Bullet is a nice horse too but this 7yo has the potential to be much better and at odds of 18/1, he is worth chancing e/w.
