Sunday 27 February · Naas, Eire
17:00 Naas Racecourse Handicap Hurdle
- Distance
- 1m 7f 101y
- Going
- Soft (Yielding in places)
- Class
- 0
- Prize
- EUR 16000
- Runners
- 21
Race preview
CURIOUS TIMES gets the vote in a competitive handicap. The Shantou gelding has been lightly raced since beating Black Tears, winner of the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, in a Down Royal maiden hurdle back in 2019. He's shown promise in two recent outings including when only weakening close home into sixth behind The Very Man in a valuable 2m4f Navan handicap and can reverse places with runner-up Palace Rock over this shorter trip. Prengarde is a multiple winner of cross country chases at Compiegne in France and it will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market for his Irish debut. Cosa Ban ran well on her first start for Shark Hanlon after a 14 months absence at Punchestown, while The Gradual Slope and Stormy Judge (rated 139 over fences) are others to consider.