Four key horses to look out for at Naas on Thursday

The Festive period is firmly upon us and Naas Racecourse stages a winter warmer on Thursday afternoon with an excellent seven-race midweek card, live on Racing TV.

Ireland’s powerhouses, Messrs Mullins, Elliott and De Bromhead are all well-represented with a litany of stars on show at the track, including Grade One winning hurdler Gaillard Du Mesnil who makes his eagerly awaited chasing debut.

We have previewed the best of the action and picked out four key horses to follow, and you can watch every race from Naas live and exclusively on Racing TV throughout the afternoon. Enjoy!

Trainer: Paul Nolan

Race: 11.45am - Betvictor Loyalty Club Maiden Hurdle

It has been a tough couple of weeks for trainer Paul Nolan following the sad passing of his stable star Latest Exhibition. However, the yard enjoyed a heart-warming winner courtesy of Sandor Clengane’s emphatic 15-length success at Punchestown earlier this month.

The County Wexford trainer unleashes another potentially exciting contender in the opener at Naas in the shape of Daily Present. Winner of a Tipperary point-to-point by four lengths in April this year, the four-year-old was subsequently bought for £80,000 and comes from the family of the classy chaser Time For Rupert.

Nolan also saddles Chiricahua who fell on his hurdling debut at Listowel in September, before finishing a respectable second at Wexford in October. He is another interesting runner, but in the long-term Daily Present could be the one to watch.

Trainer: Willie Mullins.

Race: 12:50pm - Extra Places Everyday at Betvictor Mares Maiden Hurdle

An interesting Mares Maiden Hurdle in which Willie Mullins looks to hold the key with two exciting prospects. Brandy Love and Take Tea were third and sixth respectively in a Grade Two Mares bumper at Leopardstown in February behind stable companion Grangee.

On form, there is little to separate the pair and it is interesting that Mullins has decided to run them against each other on their hurdling bows. However, Brandy Love particularly catches the eye. Successful in a Cragmore point-to-point, the daughter of Jet Away was bought for £200,000 in February of 2020 and created a big impression when scoring by seven lengths on her Rules at Fairyhouse in December last year.

She interestingly started favourite for that Grade Two event at Leopardstown and looked the likely winner turning in before fading into third.

That experience will have stood her in good stead, and she looks a very exciting prospect.

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Race: 2.00pm - Get a Run for Your Money with Betvictor Beginners Chase

The race of the day with a number of fascinating runners in this event. Grade Two scorer Roseys Hollow, Punchestown handicap scorer Capodanno and Crosshill are all interesting contenders, but this race centres around the hugely exciting Gaillard Du Mesnil.

The galloping grey recorded two Grade One victories over hurdles last term, including victory on his final start at the Punchestown Festival. Those two wins were sandwiched in between a respectable second to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Given his size and scope, fences could be the making of Gaillard Du Mesnil, who is 20-1 with MansionBet for the newly sponsored Turners Novices’ Chase (formerly the Marsh Novices’ Chase) and with his Ballymore foes Bob Olinger and Bravemansgame already impressing over the larger obstacles, this looks a good test of his credentials going forward.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Race: 3.00pm – Betvictor Proud to Support Irish Racing I.N.H. Flat

The Willie Mullins-trained Sir Argus is sure to have his supporters on debut, but Nonbinding looks a fascinating contender for Gordon Elliott.

A son of Kalanisi, the four-year-old cost €135,000 and is bred in the purple, counting Ferny Hollow as a half-brother. Sent off the 100-30 favourite for the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival, he was far too keen and was beaten 115 lengths, with connections confirming afterwards that the “gelding had coughed once post-race.”

That was clearly a disappointment for all involved, but he remains a fascinating contender who is taken to show his true running in the finale.