On Friday my pick Oodnadatta was 4th. The 5/1 shot led early but was challenged 2 out. She had a narrow lead a furlong from home being passed in the final 150 yards. She kept on at the same pace while the 33/1 chance Friendly won by 2 1/2 lengths.
The weekend begins with 8 races at Naas where there are two Grade three's with some decent horses making their season returns,the first is the 12.50 when 6 line-up for the Betvictor Fishery Lane Hurdle. Quilixios definitely wasn’t 100% when 7th in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown when last seen in May. He should be judged on his win in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a month earlier and if he is back on track he will be hard to beat. The winner of the Four Year Old Hurdle Jeff Kidder goes again here. This useful horse was a respectable 3rd in a handicap at Navan 17 days ago. He switches from the flat to hurdles here and should have a say. The other to look at is Teahupoo who's latest win was in a hurdle at Fairyhouse back in February. He returned there and was 2nd in a Grade 2 on his final start of last season in a race won by Jeff Kidder so can't be overlooked.
The other big race comes at 1.20 when 6 begin the Poplar Square Chase. Captain Guinness is a smart horse who was outpaced when 3rd in the Arkle at last season's Cheltenham Festival and was travelling below form when he unseated his rider at the last at Punchestown in April. However he is well worth another chance here on his return. Andy Dufresne is a good chaser who after winning a Grade 3 at Navan went on to finish 3rd behind Monkfish in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown back in February. He disappointed on his last start at Fairyhouse but should bounce back making him the main challenger. Of the rest Felix Desjy is the one to look at. He landed back-to-back chases this time last year but he's a temperamental horse who's hurdles return at Tipperary last month was needed. He finished 4th there but his jumping will need to improve now back over fences.
Big race predictions: 12.50: 2: Quilixios 1.20: 3: Captain Guinness.
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