2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle Meeting Tips – DS
2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle Meeting Tips
After falling victim to dense fog on Sunday, the 2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle meeting has been rescheduled for Friday. The ground has improved since last weekend. It is now soft on the hurdle course and soft, soft to heavy in places on the chase course. Does that change things? Find out what Dave Stevos thinks below.
1.12 – Race And Stay Handicap Chase (130 = 11st 12)
I decided to swerve this race on Sunday and to be honest, I am was tempted to do the same again. The outsider is Good Time Jonny and while he is a good horse, this 16f trip is surely on the sharp side for him. The trip should suit Walnut Beach but will the track? All his best form has come going right handed and he ran poorly on his sole previous visit to this track.
The only one that makes any appeal at double figure odds is Itwasfate. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, this son of Passing Glance isn’t exactly easy to win with. He is 1/17 under rules but he has finished in the places seven times, including off 111 back in October at Wexford (16f yld/sft).
In two runs since he has had a quiet outing at Down Royal and then last time at Thurles, he fell. He went well up to a point that day but the 18f trip maybe just stretched him and he dived at the last fence. This drop back in trip should suit, he has form going left handed and with Mikey O’Connor’s claim he is effectively 4lbs lower than when beat 1L at Wexford. At odds of 18/1, Itwasfate is the e/w selection.
2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle Meeting Tips: Itwasfate e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)
1.42 – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
Previously won by the likes of Rule The World, Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger, the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle tends to be won by pretty decent animals.
I put Lecky Watson up for this race on Sunday and I am keeping the faith today. Yes, he isn’t the most fluent of jumpers but if you read my original preview, you’ll see he has the form in the book to be competitive here. The fact he has won over further than this 20f trip is a bonus because this race can often suit horses with stamina.
The bookies more or less make it a match between Ile Atlantique and Firefox and they could well be right.
However, Lecky Watson has the engine to be competitive here and if his jumping is just a little bit slicker he is more than capable of making his presence felt. With some firms paying three places, he is worth backing e/w at odds of 16/1.
2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle Meeting Tips: Lecky Watson e/w @ 16/1 (3 places) NAP
2.42 – Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (80-95)
A low grade handicap that won’t take much winning. Very few of the runners come into the race in any sort of form, bar the top three in the betting. None of that trio look ultra reliable though. So, I’m going to take a small chance on the top weight, Moulane West.
Formerly trained by Richard Foley, this 8yo son of Jet Away is having his fourth run for Mark McNiff today. He came to the yard rated 102 and after his first three runs, he is now down to 95. That enables him to drop into an 80-95 for the first time in his career.
Bumper Winner
This fella’s sole win came in a Killarney bumper back in July 2021 (17f gd). He has yet to score over hurdles but he has run some big races in defeat, including on soft ground. He was second to Desert Friend in a Listowel maiden hurdle in June 2022 (16f sft) and he also ran well in a maiden on soft at Leopardstown on Stephen’s Day 2021.
On New Year’s Day in 2023 the money was down on him at Fairyhouse (16f sft) for the first time in a handicap hurdle. Sent off at 9/2, he ran arguably his best race in handicap company. He pulled a shoe and he ended up sixth, 12L behind the winner Kashi. That run came off 104 and he is in off 95 today.
On his first three starts for McNiff Moulane West was ridden by Ryan Treacy, JJ Slevin and inexperienced claimer Alan King. Treacy is 0/1 for him, Slevin is 0/9 and King is 0/6. Philip Enright gets the leg up today and he is 13/143 with 42 top 4 finishes when riding for McNiff. In a race where form angles are thin on the ground, the fact that Enright is booked for this drop in class is enough for me to warrant an e/w bet at 33/1.
2024 Naas Lawlor’s Hurdle Meeting Tips: Moulane West e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)
3.12 – Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-109)
My NB on Sunday was Elusive Guy at 20s and he has been chalked up at 25s this evening. The same reasoning stands as it did at the weekend and he slightly better ground is a plus. You can read why I fancy him here.
