Irish horse racing tips: Johnny Ward's best bets for Saturday

Given how well Natalia Lupini has been doing in recent seasons, punters must have been doubting themselves when this horse was put in at 20s on stable debut, but she duly hacked up. This is a different class of race but she looks well up to it.

Diego Dias is an endearing addition to the training ranks. He struck early with Winemaker at Listowel and his return to Naas (where he won on debut at 100-1) last time was a mess, as he was too free over a mile and simply did not perform. As such, the ratings suggest he will struggle here, but that is reflected by his price. He won well at Listowel on his penultimate start and, having had only five runs, there should still be more to come.

One would have gotten huge odds that, after 19 starts altogether, neither Fameaftertheglory nor stablemate Dutch Schultz would have won a hurdle race. Neither is progressing. As such, smart bumper horse Encanto Bruno should win this if adequately schooled. John McConnell has described him as "very good, a proper horse" and that is worth heeding.

It baffles me why this horse cost buttons as a yearling – he has a nice pedigree and does not seem to lack size – but he's worth a good deal more now. He should get this trip to judge by his latest third at Leopardstown, over a mile, and presumably is a prospective hurdler. He was game under pressure last time, eating up the ground in the straight, and the extra quarter of a mile is likely to suit him.