Horse racing tips: Naas – Eamonn Hames’ top betting preview for Sunday, February 25

NAAS

2.40

A cracking novices’ handicap chase that is very much a head-to-head between the big owners Gigginstown and McManus.

Fitzhenry in the famous green and gold seems to be the one getting all the attention, but this could be one for the boys in maroon courtesy of SUTTON MANOR.

Gordon Elliott’s lad is a proper chaser, but he’s been facing the best of the best coming up against the leading RSA Chase players in his first few starts. He’ll find this much easier.

Minella Till Dawn is attractively weighted and Coeur Joyeux is very much still on the upgrade, but the aforementioned Fitzhenry is understandably Barry Geraghty’s choice of the three.

He has done little wrong when a narrow second each side of his win at Thurles and he is by far the biggest threat to the selection.

1

3.10

TRAINER Jessica Harrington won this last year with Forge Meadow, but her IMPACT FACTOR looks to be in a totally different class to that mare and he can prove that by winning this in style.

The six-year-old had the misfortune to run into the likes of Paloma Blue and Getabird in his first two maidens, but he showed he was more than just a bridesmaid to the big guns when beating a well-touted prospect easily at Punchestown.

He comes here with confidence sky high and he will be hard to beat.

Hardline may not be a Grade 1 horse, but he’s a damn good one. The six-year-old won well at Punchestown when dropped in class and he has every chance of picking this up before tackling fences next year.

The likes of Discorama, Speak Easy, Cartwright and Defi Blue all have attractive profiles, but they will need to seriously up their games to land a glove on Harrington’s Impact Factor.

3.45

IT would be a huge shock if BALL D’ARC fails to do the business here. Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old is a class apart at this level, and goes particularly well for Jack Kennedy.

He really should be the long odds-on favourite, but the market thinks otherwise.

There was a time that American Tom was thought of as the next Rich Ricci big thing, but those days are long gone.

Alisier D’Irlande was a runaway winner of this last year under David Mullins, but he’s too inconsistent to predict and Tell Us More is likely to struggle.

Doctor Phoenix has leading claims on the figures, but never looked a superstar before joining Gordon Elliott and that has likely not changed.

He may have improved, but he was also clobbered by the handicapper for winning so easily at Fairyhouse and he will find this a lot tougher.

Eamonn Hames' top tips for Naas

NAP 2.40 Naas - Sutton Manor: 'This is much easier than his recent tasks'

NEXT BEST 3.45 Naas - Ball D'Arc: 'Looks a class apart at this level'

NAAS

1.40 Whisperinthebreeze

2.10 Best Behaviour

2.40 Sutton Manor (nap)

3.10 Impact Factor

3.45 Ball D'Arc (nb)

4.15 Mick The Boyo

4.45 On The Shannon

5.15 Carefully Selected