Dirt one to note at Naas Colm Murphy expects Empire Of Dirt to be "there or thereabouts" in the Paddy Power Shops Better Value Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday. Since making a winning debut over timber at Punchestown at the end of October, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old has held his own in good company, notably chasing home the exciting Faugheen at Navan in December. He finished a good second behind Zabana in a Leopardstown handicap at the end of last month and returns to novice company for this weekend's Grade Two assignment. Murphy said: "It's a fair little race. He hasn't too much to find off his mark - a little bit - and if he runs up to that he should be there or thereabouts. "He has plenty of experience coming back to a novice. Probably two miles is on the sharp side, but the ground will make it more of a test of stamina." Gigginstown are also represented by Real Steel, trained by Philip Fenton. Champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles City Slicker and Vicky De L'Oasis, while Eddie Harty's Minella Foru also features in an interesting affair.
