Racing on Sunday comes from Fontwell, Naas, Sedgefield and Southwell, with all four meetings over the jumps.
Our fancies this afternoon include a Willie Mullins runner who is looking to maintain his 100% record over fences when he steps up in class for the Grade Three Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase.
Selections
Tip 1
RAMILLIES (2/1) made an impressive start over fences when he scored at Thurles last month over an extended 3m trip. He jumped well on that chase debut and he was full of running at the finish, beating Tenzing by just over two lengths.
The eight-year-old rose to the highest level over hurdles, but his best may still be to come as he looks like a natural chaser. He has entries in several races at the Cheltenham Festival, including the National Hunt Challenge Cup over 3m6f.
Mullins’ novice chaser features on the Betfred Betfinder as one of the distance winners on the card at Naas. He can come out on top in this small field to enhance his reputation further ahead of the Festival in March.
Tip 2
BOB OLINGER (6/4) is dropping down in class when he lines up in the Grade Three Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle at 14:42. Last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase winner remains over hurdles on his third start of the campaign as he bids to score for the first time this season.
The 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner made a mistake three hurdles from home in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out, which resulted in him finishing a long way off the winner Home By The Lee. He should bounce back from that performance in this Grade Three contest.
Henry De Bromhead has opted to drop his horse down in distance for this latest assignment. As he has shown in the home straight at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, this horse does not lack any speed.
In what is a close match-up on paper with Echoes In Rain, this a great opportunity for Bob Olinger to get his career back on track.
Tip 3
SKYHILL (3/1) comes into the class five handicap chase over 3m3f at Sedgefield at 15:45 looking to complete a hat-trick of victories. Since stepping up to distances above 3m, this horse has been unstoppable.
Alison Hamilton’s runner scored over this C&D two runs back in what was his first success of the campaign. He then defied a 3lb rise in the ratings to prevail by six lengths at Catterick. His jumping was very impressive at the North Yorkshire venue and he used it to his advantage, putting distance between himself and his rivals with every jump in the closing stages of that race.
A new career-best will be needed from the 10-year-old for him to concede weight to the rest of the field. However, this horse has not finished improving over these staying distances over fences.
