Fenway Park looking for quickfire double at Naas in Claiming Hurdle

Fenway Park & Anna McGuinness win the Nire Valley Claiming Hurdle. Pic: Healy Racing

Fenway Park can complete a quickfire double by winning the Flat Is Back At Naas Sunday 22nd March Claiming Hurdle at Naas on Wednesday.

After an unsuccessful stint over fences, the Andrew McNamara-trained seven-year-old got back to winning ways over hurdles in the hands of Anna McGuinness at Clonmel last Thursday and has been found a decent opportunity to follow-up under the same jockey given Fenway Park will be getting weight from principal market rivals Noble Birth and Rocky’s Howya.

And, if fully recovered from his Clonmel exertions, he should take the world of beating over this longer trip.

Like Fenway Park, Straight John is making a quick return to action after a win, his success coming at Punchestown a fortnight ago.

The Jumps Finale At Naas Sunday 8th March Rated Novice Hurdle looks a match between him and Raise You Up with narrow preference for the Gordon Elliott-trained son of Doctor Dino.

The Philip Rothwell-trained Bulgaden Castle, the horse Straight John beat into second at Punchestown runs in the opening race of the day, the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Maiden Hurdle, and can race fitness count over intriguing Closutton debutant Brechin Castle.

A point-to-point winner, Brechin Castle won bumpers at Sedgefield and Cheltenham before finishing second in another at Ascot for Ben Brookhouse. However, those four runs came way back in 2023 and the eight-year-old will make his hurdles debut off an 803-day layoff.

Being trained by Willie Mullins, it would be folly to write him off but many Closutton horses have come on for their run of the season and this fella has more cause than just about any of them to be rusty. For that reason, Bulgaden Castle gets the vote.

Brown Boots can send punters home happy by completing a hat-trick in the finale, the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.

The Liam Cusack-trained seven-year-old made a successful chasing debut when scoring at Navan in January before repeating the feat in similarly decisive fashion over the smaller obstacles at Clonmel last Thursday. He can continue his rich vein of form on Wednesday.

Naas

2.20 Bulgaden Castle 

2.50 Straight John (NB) 

3.20 Cry Before Dawn 

3.52 Fenway Park (Nap) 

4.22 Mini Getaway 

4.52 Teenage Kiss 

5.22 Brown Boots 

Next best 

2.20 Brechin Castle 

2.50 Raise You Up 

3.20 The Big Cloud 

3.52 Noble Birth 

4.22 Milanaway

4.52 Themorethemerrier

5.22 Let’s Go Mans