Naas afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 11

There are eight races at the Co. Kildare venue, running from 13:25 - 17:25, with the Group 3 Jannah Rose Stakes (1615) the feature contest.

Our Irish racing expert Enda McElhinney has tips for all eight races at Naas on Saturday.

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Naas Saturday quick tips:

13:25 (Naas) Make Haste

14:00 (Naas) Keke

14:35 (Naas) Snapdragon

15:05 (Naas) Mount Ruapehu

15:40 (Naas) Perfect Judgement

16:15 (Naas) Madam Celeste

16:50 (Naas) Messerschmitt

17:25 (Naas) Red Viburnum

 

13:25 (Naas) Make Haste

Ballydoyle newcomer Celtic Chieftain makes plenty appeal on paper and is worth noting, as is Michael O'Callaghan's Mehmas colt Tommy McJohn.

But it could pay to side with Make Haste for trainer Diego Dias in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

He's doing well with his juveniles and this 75,000 gns daughter of Make Believe is bred to be useful.

 

14:00 (Naas) Keke

Handicap newcomer Bold Optimist has shown enough to merit a very close look on return from a break dropping to five furlongs.

A maiden winner over this trip at Bellewstown (heavy) last September, Keke has twice shaped well in handicaps at the Curragh and Navan either side of a break for Eddie Lynam.

With the benefit of a run behind him, and Billy Lee taking over in the saddle, the Dandy Man gelding has a good chance now.

 

14:35 (Naas) Snapdragon

Just one of these nine runners has previous form and No Straight Swaps doesn't set a high bar.

No Nay Never colt Snapdragon has plenty going for him on pedigree and the 240,000 gns could be set for a winning start now in the hands of Wayne Lordan for Aidan O'Brien. He's an obvious sort on paper.

 

15:05 (Naas) Mount Ruapehu

The TRM Kurasyn Handicap could be a chance for Mount Ruapehu to get on the scoresheet for Andy Slattery.

He ran well in a trio of 2022 maidens at this venue over this six furlong trip and after scoring at Cork (5f, good) on his final outing that year, was probably paying a tariff last season having opened off a handicap mark of 85.

He switched yards and won at Dundalk in January first time out for this handler and his Curragh fourth of 17 from this mark recently was another good effort.

He's off 73 and should get a second turf win before long.

 

15:40 (Naas) Perfect Judgement

A prize of €27,000 comfortably ensures the Declan Landy Fencing Handicap is the second-most valuable race on the card and a strong field of 15 are down to contest the prize.

Ado McGuinness could be the man to saddle the winner in Perfect Judgement.

He's been consistent in his eight-race career, winning at Dundalk in January over six furlongs, and did some good late work last month at the Curragh on ground that was probably more testing that optimal.

From the same mark with Cian MacRedmond again claiming 5lb, he should have a leading challenge in him.

 

16:15 (Naas) Madam Celeste

Je Zous sets the standard on last autumn's Listed Newmarket second but she was a long way below that on her return in France last month and has to prove herself on a faster surface.

Both Sea The Boss for Jessica Harrington and the Ger Lyons-trained Madam Celeste are making seasonal comebacks and the latter, a once-raced Galileo filly, could take a significant step forward having landed a Dundalk maiden from a dual subsequent winner back in November.

Colin Keane's partner is open to plenty progress.

 

16:50 (Naas) Messerschmitt

Just four runners in the Alto Equine Building Solutions Rated Race and none are dismissed in haste.

Noel Meade saddles Messerschmitt and may have found a decent opening for last season's Thurles maiden winner.

That was his debut and, following 204 days off, he ran about as well as could have been expected amongst smart rivals at Cork (1m2f, soft) in his comeback a fortnight ago.

He can step up on that and land this from the more exposed Old Faithful for Aidan O'Brien.

 

17:25 (Naas) Red Viburnum

Dermot Weld saw Red Viburnum go very close in a Curragh Fillies Juvenile Race over seven furlongs last August.

She was edged out by a pair that have combined to win three Group 3 races in as many outings since.

Just under a month later the Frankel filly contested the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, on her second and final 2YO run, and was pushed out of third place in the final strides.

On that evidence, she is going to set a very high bar now tackling a maiden on her comeback.

 

READ MORE: Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock on May 11