5:40 Naas Tips

He finally shed his maiden tag on his 20th attempt last time out, which came in a 21-runner field at Navan. That was his first drop to 5f since April and his first 5f fast-ground start since August. He relishes big fields, having a record of 3rd, 3rd, 1st in his last three runs, all achieved in fields of 17+ runners, and will enjoy today's as well.

Whatswrongnow has gone up another three pounds following his latest third place at Fairyhouse, where he lost the lead in the last half-furlong and was not beaten far. That was his third-placed effort in his last four runs. Seven-pound claimer Adam Browne-Souza is retained as jockey, and he is well drawn in stall 19 alongside the favourite on the favoured stands side.

Course winner Hero Of The Hour is a distance winner racing off a winning mark. He looks to have a decent shout on the book and is the call at 9.50.

Trainer P. Donohoe holds an extraordinary 67.6% strike rate when placing basement-grade handicap sprinters within this exact sub-40 OR bracket. This experienced eight-year-old gelding is already a Course and Distance winner over this sharp track layout and has posted highly encouraging consecutive fourth-place efforts on turf recently. Launching from a wide tracking plane in Stall 22, his target-optimized handicap mark makes him a severe late threat.

Katy Brown's 8-year-old gelding Ballysax Lil' Mick outran his 40/1 odds 17 days ago here at Navan after returning from a 135-day layoff to finish 3 lengths off the winner (and today's rival) Happy Henry, who receives 8 lb for that win. This son of Prince of Lir was only 3 lengths off when last seen here in August last year off a mark of 55 (now 51). This contest represents a slight drop in class. Should this charge strip fitter now, he could be match fit. Jockey Killian Leonard knows how to get the best out of this horse and remains in the saddle.

Andrew Slattery secures a lethal 47.0% micro-bracket score when launching specialized three-year-olds into older handicap company. Making her highly anticipated first appearance in a standard handicap setup off an opening mark of 45, this unexposed filly receives a massive weight-for-age physical relief. Armed under the master course guidance of Andrew Slattery from Stall 6, her hidden tactical progression ceiling commands respect.

Poor last time at Fairyhouse, but has put in one or two decent efforts this year, including when sixth on penultimate start at Navan over 6f. Class 6 handicap winner at Newcastle over 6f on debut for this yard last December (OR 46). Descending handicap mark now down to OR 45 makes this 5yo Dark Angel mare look a feasible bet. Drawn 16 which is a plus and Robert Whearty rides.

This is very open and at 40/1 Spiced Gold looks terrific value. He has been running better than his finishing positions suggest. He drops in the handicap and in trip and has a lot more scope than most of these. He also has a plum low draw.