Naas Sunday: Lynam has the Power
4 min read
Eddie Lynam is hitting form as the autumn draws in and can win another big sprint handicap with Miss Power
16:00 Renaissance Stakes
The globe-trotting Gordon Lord Byron is the big draw here, and Tom Hogan’s veteran retains the vast majority of his ability, as he has shown with placed efforts in Group 3 company this season, with his second in the hugely valuable City of York Stakes especially meritorious. He is back from a jaunt to the Czech Republic last weekend where he wasn’t discredited in a local Group 3 contest, and he can return to winning ways in what is a notably weak contest for the grade.
Tip:
Gordon Lord Byron
Eddie Lynam has not had a great year by his high standards, but the trainer of Sole Power and Slade Power landed a Premier handicap at the Curragh with Soffia a fortnight ago, and was on the target at Navan yesterday, so he looks a trainer worth following at the tail end of the season. He saddles Miss Power here, who was mid-field behind Soffia in the Bold Lad handicap, but would have been much closer but for being stopped in her run late in the day. She’s been dropped by the handicapper for that run, which was just her second in 2018, and she arrives here fresh and seemingly well. She normally wears a hood, but I haven’t seen much need for it of late, and I think its removal could be another catalyst for a full return to form. She won over C&D on her 2017 return under similar conditions, and looks well treated on the balance of her form.
Tip:
Miss Power
17:05 Bereford Stakes
This is a race with a prestigious roll of honour which includes the likes of Sadler’s Wells, Azamour, Sea The Stars, St Nicholas Abbey, Capri and Saxon Warrior, so it’s most disappointing that the field appears to be missing any potential stars this time around. Mount Everest has been put in very short for a horse who has only managed a maiden win in three starts, for all he boasts an exceptional pedigree, and I can certainly give him a swerve at likely prices. I prefer to take a swing for the fences with Guaranteed who probably didn’t handle the easu ground when a disappointment in the Futurity behind Anthony Van Dyck. Prior to that he had impressed by winning a 7f maiden at the Curragh in a smart time, and while that form could have worked out better, it still looks solid. He was ahead of the odds on favourite when second to Klute on his debut at the same track, and he appears a very big price on the evidence of his first two runs.
Tip:
Guaranteed
