Highland Crystal can sparkle at Naas

Stablemate Dunleer Crystal, also by Crystal Ocean, can get off the mark in the second race, the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle.

Down the field on his first two starts, Dunleer Crystal ran far better at Down Royal last time out, finding only Los Blanco too good.

In Grey Jude, a winner at Cork when last seen, Dunleer Crystal faces a talented, consistent horse but the selection will be carrying 7lb less than his rival and, in testing conditions, that could tilt the balance his way.

Elliott and Jack Kennedy also have leading claims in the Cavan Developments Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle but Jalon d’Oudairies may find Poetisa too good if the Gigginstown House Stud-owned five-year-old continues the trend of Willie Mullins-trained horses taking a big step forward from their first of the season to their second.

Poetisa did plenty wrong at Punchestown last month but he still managed to finish second, a whopping 35 lengths in front of the third. He should have learned plenty from that run and may be able to put the experience to good use.

From a punting perspective, the feature, the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares’ Chase, is a non-event as Dino Blue is almost impossible to oppose and will be priced accordingly.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old has won four of her last five starts including this race last year, a win that teed her up perfectly to land the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham on her next start.

She had to pull out all the stops to beat Allegorie De Vassy in last year’s Opera Hat but looks to have a more straightforward task in front of her this time. That being the case, it’ll be a big surprise if she fails to win decisively.

In the finale, the QuinnBet Hunters Chase, Hunters Yarn, a horse who has excelled on the point-to-point circuit in recent months, can get the better of recent Thurles victor Panda Boy.

Sunday’s Navan card must survive a 3pm inspection on Saturday and should it get the go-ahead Staffordshire Knot can get back to winning ways by landing the Grade Two William Hill Boyne Hurdle.

Victorious at Punchestown in November before following up in Clonmel a month later, Staffordshire Knot’s hat-trick bid was thwarted by a defiant Home By The Lee in the Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last time out.

Staffordshire Knot ran a fine race in defeat and a repeat of that performance should see him home in front this time.

The William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase is the other Grade Two on the card and Gold Dancer, second in his last starts (both at Grade One level), should be hard to beat.

NAAS (Saturday) 

Darren Norris 

1.05 Highland Crystal (Nap) 

1.40 Dunleer Crystal (NB) 

2.15 Poetisa 

2.50 Moudan 

3.25 Apache Peak 

4.00 Dino Blue 

4.35 Hunters Yarn 

Next best 

1.05 Kilmeaden 

1.40 Grey Jude 

2.15 Jalon d’Oudairies 

2.50 Half A Chance 

3.25 Todo Bien 

4.00 Bioluminescence 

4.35 Panda Boy 

Navan (Sunday) 

Darren Norris 

1.50 Coyote Spirit 

2.20 Zanoosh 

2.50 Staffordshire Knot (Nap) 

3.20 Wakey Wakey Man 

3.50 Gold Dancer (NB) 

4.20 Mighty Oak Lad 

4.50 Soul Asylum 

Next best 

1.50 Whinney Hill 

2.20 Ill Raise A Glass 

2.50 Hiddenvalley Lake 

3.20 The Miracle Man 

3.50 Oscars Brother 

4.20 Gringo d’Aubrelle 

4.50 In A Sonnet