Four strong fancies in Ireland this weekend to put into your Lucky 15 Hopefully we’re going to have another informative weekend on the racing front and we have two fascinating fixtures to look forward to in Ireland. Naas hosts a seven-race card on Saturday and the feature race there is the Listed Opera Hat Mares’ Chase, where defending champion Dinoblue will seek to make it two in a row. The action moves to Navan on Sunday and they are offering up a couple of Grade 2 events, including the Boyne Hurdle, where Honesty Policy will be the big favourite. Our expert has taken a close look at both cards and picked out four strong fancies to consider adding to your Lucky 15s. 13:05 Naas - Highland Crystal @ SP Naas’ opener on Saturday is a competitive-looking juvenile event and Gordon Elliott’s Highland Crystal is surely the one to beat. She started off in an academy hurdle at Punchestown and whilst the jury’s out on the form, she still won in fine style, kicking 14 lengths clear. The daughter of Crystal Ocean then headed over to Britain for a Listed contest at Newbury and was an impressive winner once again. This race does look a little bit harder so she might need to improve, especially with a penalty, but she has the scope to do so. Unfortunately she got loose prior to the race at Doncaster last month and was withdrawn but provided there are no lasting effects, a big run should be on the cards as she looks to complete the hat-trick. 14:15 Naas - Jalon d’Oudairies @ SP Another one for Gordon Elliott, Jalon d’Oudairies was a very smart bumper horse a couple of seasons ago and beat a subsequent Grade 1 winner despite carrying a penalty at Leopardstown in December 2023. He then went on to finish third in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival but missed the entirety of last season through injury. It was a good effort when second on his return in a Cork maiden hurdle in November and the winner has boosted the form since. Narrowly denied over a longer trip at Leopardstown over Christmas, it’s surely only a matter of time before he gets off the mark in this sphere. 16:35 Naas - Hunters Yarn @ SP Hunters Yarn used to be trained by Willie Mullins and was deemed good enough to run in the Arkle as a novice chaser, and he wasn’t disgraced when finishing fifth. Things didn’t quite go to plan after that but he’s been rejuvenated by Pat Doyle in the point-to-point scene. An easy winner of three of his four starts, the step up to three miles has done him the world of good and the nine-year-old definitely has his confidence back. Hunter chases could be right up his street and he looks well set for a big run here. 2.50 Navan - Honesty Policy There’s only one winner of this race if Honesty Policy lines up, as Gordon Elliott’s promising stayer should improve plenty for his seasonal reappearance at Ascot. He didn’t appear to be fully revved up for the Long Walk Hurdle but there are no excuses this time around. Progressingly quickly through the novice ranks in the spring, he got the better or Regents Stroll in the Mersey Novice Hurdle at Aintree, before winning a Grade 1 over three miles at the Punchestown Festival. Currently 4/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, expectations will be high.
