A FIELD of seven have been declared for the Grade 2 Paddy Power Onside App Novice Hurdle headed by the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now, who will look to extend his unbeaten on Paddy Power Festival Trial’s Day at Naas Racecourse on Sunday.
Walsh expressed surprise with the manner in which JP McManus's son of Oscar won his maiden hurdle on his racecourse debut in Navan in December and with an SP of 66/1, he wasn't the only one.
He stepped up on that when coming late to land the spoils in a Grade 2 contest at Punchestown six weeks ago. The gelding's inexperience showed as he took some time to get going. Crack Mome, who was favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at that stage, was back in second, while the third, Runfordave didn't do the form any harm with a facile victory in an admittedly much lower class affair subsequently.
Any Second Now looks like he might appreciate a step up in trip in time and is obviously a chaser in the meaking. With that in mind, the emphasis on stamina in the heavy conditions is unlikely to inconvenience him and with this just his third run, it is reasonable to expect him to know more about the racing game.
Noel Meade’s Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle winner Joey Sasa and the Henry de Bromhead duo of Conrad Hastings and Peace News are also due to line up in the €46,500 contest which has been previously won by horses of the calibre of Go Native, Annie Power and Ball D’arc.
Gordon Elliott is represented by the talented but hugely frustrating Labaik, who is a two-time winner over hurdles but refused to race on his last two outings. Sheikh Fahad al-Thani had no problem getting him going in a charity race on the flat earlier this year and maybe they'll have to get the Qatari a full licence to get him going once more! All joking aside, if he jumps off, he could be very dangerous as Elliott has consistently said that there are few horsers that work like him at Cullentra.
"Labaik runs at Naas and he’s in good form at home so please God, he’ll be able to produce that on Sunday" said Elliott. "He’s a very talented horse and we wouldn’t have too many like him at home but he does have his own views about things and it’s obviously frustrating to have a horse with his ability who didn’t want to start his races. We’ve tried a few things with him and he was out hunting this week so hopefully he’ll go with them and we’ll see what happens."
De Bromhead has won the Grade 3 We Show All Live Racing Chase three times in the last four years with Days Hotel but this weekend the Waterford-based trainer will try to win the race with Alisier D’irlande, who is one of the few Knockeen charges to disappoint over fences.
Grade 1 winner Clarcam is the highest-rated entry in the field and Elliott is hoping he can go one better than his effort behind Ballycasey at Gowran Park last weekend.
"Clarcam takes his racing well and he ran well last weekend so we said we’d let him take his chance at Naas again on Sunday as it’s a nice prize."
There is an interesting English entrant in Michael Hammond's Just Cameron, who has finished behind Un De Sceaux at the Punchestown Festival and is coming in off a handicap victory.
Cheltenham Festival entry Edwulf tops the weights in the Woodlands 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Handicap Chase and Joseph O'Brien will be hoping that he can put in a clear round and justify his place in the four-miler.
Meanwhile three-time winner Monbeg Worldwide is the class act in the concluding Paddy Power Track My Bet Pro/Am Bumper.
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