NRC member Colin Malone has kindly agreed to update the club newsletter and web site with his personal racing diary in Ireland during the year.

Naas Races March

With the plight of racing at the moment, Nass racecourse has put an offer in place at the course this year that everyone paying E15 gets a E5 betting voucher, a E5 food voucher, bring admission to E5, putting them all together.

Students are also let in free this season. It is a good policy, as hopefully it will bring more people racing. Both great ideas.

I am a member at the course this year. But I have to wonder what exactly the courses are doing for, Owners, Trainers and Members. The Owners, Trainers and Members bar, is in front of the parade ring. It is basically half of a bar the other side being a public bar.
With ownership down, Trainers handing in their licenses are the powers to be missing out on the major imput, that these people generate?

I have been to a number of course’s as an owner, etc and been treated to free tea, coffee,
sandwiches, cakes or biscuits. But no there is none of that at Nass.

We need to start looking after the people that come racing regularly, and not those who come 3 or 4 times a year.

On to the racing, a decent crowd had turned up for the meeting, the above policy working. The ground as it has been all winter was soft to heavy.

The first race looked between Whodoyouthink, Stonemaster and Silver Friend. Whodoyouthink ran out an easy winner, but at short odds. Silver Friend made a bid for home 2 out but did not seem to last home. He will probly be better on some decent ground.

Race 2 saw my old friend Zaarito at heavy odds on win easily. Having not backed him this time I watched him, closely. He is no doubt a really good horse but he tends to jump very low at his fences, which I am sure has caused the number of falls that he has had.

Race 3 was a competitive handicap hurdle won by Dancing Tornado. Like most of the races this year they crawled along and end up sprinting for home.

Race 4 was the big race of the day the outsider of the 2 Willie Mullins horses Ballytrim won, Bluesea Cracker finished second. Rare Bob finished 3rd but is weighted up to the hilt.

Race 5 brought us the real entertainment for the afternoon, with Oliver Brady having the winner in Seeability. For those who don’t know him he gives a rousing speech from the ring to a large crowd who enjoy every minute, there is usually a poem or two thrown in.
One of the characters of the game.

Race 6 was won by Jack The Bus, always traveling well in a poor field
Race 7 was won by Willie and Patrick Mullins with A Fine Young Man who started @ 3/1, due to a big word for Oscars Well who ran no sort of race.

THE IRISH AT CHELTENHAM

Being as the Irish correspondent, I thought I would nail my head to the post and look at the chances of our horses heading over.
What better way to start than the supreme novices and Dunguib.There is no doubt that he is the Irish banker? If he wins, which I think he will, the roof will be raised. He looks to me that the faster they go the better he will travel. Take no notice of John Francome's sore shins comment, as Ted Walsh said to him,” how would you know sitting in a box”? It is hard to see what will beat him, as I have not seen anything that looks good enough in the race.
Blackstairsmountain could be a lively outsider who Willie Mullins thinks highly off, but would have liked to get another run into him before the big day He worked very well after racing the other day and looks the sort who may improve, @14/1 represents a bit of e/w value
The Arkle is an open race with a few Irish hopes in it. Captain Cee Bee leads the market ridden by A.P.I am afraid that I am in the Tom Segal camp, as 12 months ago I wrote exactly what he has said in the past few months. He also makes a fare few mistakes and is to short for me.
I thought Sizing Europe was going to be the real deal, but I have my doubts that when he is put under pressure he will fold. Henrys yard is under a cloud at the moment with rumors of a virus, so again not for me.
I do not fancy Osana as he has a lot to make up on the main players, so that leaves Sports Line @10/1. His run at leopardstown impressed me in bad ground and having gone to fast he was still there on the run in. I expect a good run from him.
With the first 2 in the betting in the Champion Hurdle, I have to side with Go Native who will travel better than Solwhit in a stronger run race. I hope Davy Condon keeps the ride, as I am not a Carberry fan. But the race looks wide open and my fancy for the race is Khyber Kim @10/1.
The cross country is dominated by the Irish horses It is hard to look past the front 2 Garde Champetre and L’ami, but Silver Birch could be a big e/w price @ 20/1.
The mare’s hurdle sees last years winner Quevega head the market, but I am a big fan of Voler La Vedette, who I think will win. She has some good form this season and should be around 3/1 on the day.

DAY TWO

Novices hurdle. Rite of Passage has side stepped a challenge with Dunguib for this longer race. He has improved in each race, but the 2 horses behind him at leopardstown have both faltered since which does worry me, as he is short enough. Having backed him in the bumper last year, I never thought that he was traveling well at anytime, which has to be a worry back on this track, so I would sway him for that reason. Having said that he may still be the best of the Irish horses.
I can’t see Weapons Amnesty or Umhiraceathair, being good enough to win the RSA Chase; it will take a good horse to beat Long Run.
The Queen Mother looks a hard race again for the Irish. Big Zeb makes to many mistakes in fast run races, Barker needs soft ground, Tranquil Sea is not Good Enough, which leaves Forpadydeplasterer, who is good e/w at 14/1, as I don’t think we have seen Master Minded anywhere near as good when he won this 2 years ago.
The bumper looks a hard one to call, as both the front two are from Dermot Weld’s camp and there is not much between them. The jockey bookings will tell its own story. But it does look an open race.

DAY THREE

The Pertemps final has two decent e/w chances, with Prince Erik @12/1 who won well at leopardstown, and Dorset Square @20/1who won last time out, but caught a tarter in Colbert Station the time before.
The Ryanair chase is decent looking race, Tranquil Sea will have a major shout @9/2, the horse he has to beat for me is Barbers Shop.Shindlers Hunt has always looked just short of top class, but could sneak a place @12/1, if things go his way.
I don’t think we have anything worthwhile in the world hurdle, but I really do fancy Tidal Bay @8/1. He has the same profile as last year’s winner Big Bucks and will give him a run for his money.

DAY FOUR

The Triumph Hurdle looks a decent race. Not quite sure about Alaivan, as he beat nothing last time out but had fluffed his lines the time before, Secant Star would be my choice @8/1 but it looks wide open.
Shimrock Paddy could run a decent race in the Albert Bartlett @8/1 as Paul Nolan holds him in high regard; he was impressive last time out.
Cooldine for me is an excellent e/w bet in the gold cup @12/1.He has improved since his last run and is coming on at the right time. He has to improve to beat Kato, but I can’t see him not being in the first three.
I have left out most of the handicaps as they are a minefield with so many horse entered up more than once.
I hope some of the horses mentioned give us a good run. I have looked for a bit of value in the races, as all these hotpots rarely all come in

Good luck to everyone for next week.