Naas preview: Funiculi Funicula may get backers off to a winning start

Runner-up on his sole start in France, he made an immediate impact when scoring at Clonmel on his first start for Willie Mullins.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025 - 07:54

Tommy Lyons

Naas hosts a decent card on Monday afternoon and Funiculi Funicula can get backers off to a winning start by taking the opener, the BAR 1 Betting New App Out Now Beginners’ Chase.

Runner-up on his sole start in France, he made an immediate impact when scoring at Clonmel on his first start for Willie Mullins. Thereafter, he was pitched straight into Grade One company, and remained there for his final three starts of the season.

The best effort he produced in those three was a close third behind Honesty Policy in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, though his fourth to Final Demand at Punchestown was also a decent effort.

The ground will be very different on Monday, but his sole win came on soft ground in Clonmel. He is a high-class recruit to chasing and can get off to a flyer, doing so at the expense of Prends Garde A Toi, King Alexander and Meet And Greet.

The highlight on the card is the return to action of Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever, who contests the Care At home Services Mares’ Maiden Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ mare is unbeaten in five starts under all codes, having won a point to point before embarking on a perfect season in bumpers.

From winning her debut bumper on New Year’s Eve at Punchestown, she won a Grade Two at the Dublin Racing Festival and followed up in Cheltenham and back in Punchestown. As well as the obvious ability, she has everything required to become an equally high-class jumper, and it will be great to see her in action.

Oldschool Outlaw, who ran away with a bumper on her first start for Gordon Elliott, is an interesting rival, while Joseph O’Brien introduces Comelienne, who was rated in the 90s on the Flat in France and the half-sister to Zoffanien cost €250,000 last December in Arqana. The latter would be interesting if he market spoke in her favour.

Open Secret has shown enough in two outings over hurdles to reason that he is up to taking the Bar 1 Betting Merry Christmas Maiden Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott’s horse didn’t look entirely straightforward in the finish on his most recent outing but was also a shade unlucky as he stumbled a couple of strides after the final flight. A winner on soft ground on the Flat, he will be hard to beat if better for that run and if coping with conditions.

Willie Mullins’ two runners, Larzac and Lincoln Du Seuil, are of obvious interest, as is Nirisque, who makes her debut for Henry de Bromhead.

Naas

11:50 Funiculi Funicula (nap)

12:20 The Big Cloud

12:50 O’Grady Cracker

1:20 Open Secret (nb)

1:50 Blazing Duke

2:20 Bambino Fever

2:50 En Or

3:20 Think It Through

Next best

11:50 Prends Garde A Toi