Speedy sorts heading to Naas
Speed will be to the fore at Naas on Wednesday as entries were released today for the two Listed contests on the card, the Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes and the Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes.
The Yeomanstown Stud Stakes is run just short of six furlongs and is for three-year-olds and upwards but is a race that has proven very rewarding for three-year-olds recently with the last four winners being of that age.
Among the three-year-olds entered for the latest renewal is the dual course and distance winner Sacred Bridge, who triumphed in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh last year after landing the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas, having previously also won her maiden at the venue.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Contarelli Chapel is another interesting course and distance winning entry, while Johnny Feane has given Ano Syra the option to continue her fine season.
Ano Syra has bagged two Premier Handicaps on her last two starts at the Curragh and her fine campaign began in April with a win over Wednesday’s course and distance.
Feane said: “She’s in good order. She’ll love the ground. She’s obviously a progressive three-year-old so it’ll be interesting to see how she goes in it.
“She’s got an entry in a Group 3 in a few weeks’ time after Naas so we’ll see how she goes but they’re the plans and the natural progressions if she keeps doing the right things. We’re just taking baby steps with her.
“She’s giving us the right signs all along that she can be a filly to be competitive at this sort of level. Early on in the year, the jockeys thought she’d get plenty of black type. I hope they’re right, you never know. We just wanted to take it step by step and she’s done it well winning four of her last five now so we’ll see how she goes in Naas next.”
Fourteen juveniles have been entered for the Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes and the Alice Haynes-trained Lady Hollywood adds particular intrigue the field. The dual winner in England may face Charming Lady, Mauiewowie and Treasure Trove, who all won on their most recent starts.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained Badb has already earned a rating of 99, while Kieran Cotter’s speedy Matilda Picotte is another interesting contender.
Lady Tilbury has won twice so far this year for David Marnane and the Bansha-based trainer is hoping she can learn from a creditable effort at Group 2 level at Royal Ascot last time out to make her presence felt.
“At the moment she’s pencilled in to run,” said Marnane this afternoon. “She’s in good nick and we’re happy with her. We gave her a little bit of time off after Ascot and this is a nice fit for her now. She likes quick ground too so it looks a good race.
“We were very happy with her in Ascot. She was a little bit immature. She hit the gates and did a bit too much in the early part of the race and paid the penalty for that but she showed plenty of ability. She travelled very well in a Queen Mary so she obviously has plenty of gears.
“The negative is she tried hard in the wrong way, which isn’t like her, but the positive was that she hit the line well and it’s no disgrace to be beaten five or six lengths.
“She went away for a gallop the other day and was very relaxed and very good so we’re happy with her. She needs to keep progressing but she has the size to do it.”
The evening fixture also features the Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances Handicap, the O’Neill & Co. Apprentice Handicap and the Hurling For Cancer Is Back August 16th Race.
Live music on the evening comes from the extremely popular band After Dark, who will take to the stage after the last race.
Admission tickets are just €15 and Beer & Burger packages are available to book online at www.naasracecourse.com.
