Horse racing tips for Sunday: Angus McNae has four fancies at Naas

Naas provides the action on Racing TV on Sunday and my four selections come from there. Willie Mullins has a great record here and I fancy him to have a double.

This horse has some potential as he makes his first step into handicap company over fences on just his fourth start over the larger obstacles.

He was a useful hurdler, finishing third in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 139 two years ago. He races here off 135 here, having already shown that he retains all of his ability in his first three starts over fences.

Last time out at Navan, he finished fourth in a beginners’ chase over three miles, which really tested his stamina. Dropping back in trip here is a plus and it is interesting that trainer Gordon Elliott fits him with a tongue-tie for the first time.

This Willie Mullins trained mare was a facile winner of a maiden hurdle here in December and then was considered good enough to contest the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown.

She was not disgraced there in finishing fourth to Dreal Deal, having been too keen early on. This is a drop in grade and she should be able to take advantage, particularly if she settles better.

Willie Mullins has a 32 per cent strike-rate here and this mare looks set to enhance that impressive statistic.

This Willie Mullins-trained gelding shaped well on his hurdling bow 14 months ago and is clearly open to plenty of improvement.

He finished second in a bumper at Limerick on his debut before once again finishing runner-up on his first start over hurdles, where he jumped and travelled well and pulled more than 20 lengths clear of the third-placed horse.

The level of form that he has already achieved is good enough to win this maiden hurdle and if he overcomes the long absence he should take this on the way to better things.

Aarons Day won this race last year and shaped well after a lay-off at Naas last time, when he did really well to finish in second place having been badly hampered at the start.

The way he smoothly made headway into contention there was most eye-catching and he looks sure to go well here provided he does not recoil from that effort.

He has looked to be something of a quirky but talented sort and that effort last time shows that he retains plenty of ability. He can win this off top weight at a decent price.