Naas target for Upmanship

Small fields are the order of the day in the graded races at Naas on Sunday, but there is no shortage of quality on offer.

The featured Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase (Grade Two) has just four entries, with all eyes likely to be on Native Upmanship.

The 11-year-old took the Kinloch Brae Chase for the third consecutive year on his most recent start, having chased home Beef Or Salmon earlier in the season.

Arthur Moore’s charge finished second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last year’s Festival and has a repeat crack at the two-mile contest on the agenda.

The competition on Sunday includes recent Grade Three winner Native Scout, course-and-distance winner Strong Run and the Ted Walsh-trained True Blue Victory.

Jim will be trying a third trip in as many starts when contesting the Anglo Irish Bank Nás Na Ríogh Novice Chase.

The Jim Dreaper-trained seven-year-old has raced at two and three miles on recent outings, finishing second on both occasions.

He seemed to fail to stay the longer trip and was done for speed over the minimum distance last weekend.

Already a winner at similar distances, the two-and-a-half mile trip should suit the gelding on what will be his sixth start of the season.

The Mullins family look set to play a strong hand in the Grade Two contest, with half the field trained by them.

Paddy Mullins is set to run Emperors Guest, while Willie and Tony will saddle Boneyarrow and The Galway Man respectively.

Inexorable will have to see off five rivals to win his fourth race on the bounce in the Grade Two betfair.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle.

The six-year-old managed to bag two Grade Three races in December but faces some smart competition on Sunday, including Newmill and Collier County.

The former has been in great form this season and was just touched off by Brave Inca in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle two weeks ago, while the latter is having his first try at this level.