Naas looking forward to its big day The executive at Naas are looking forward to tomorrow’s Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, when the centre-piece is backed up by some interesting fare. The two and a half mile highlight was upped to Grade One status in 2015, justifiably seeing as Naas has earned a reputation for staging key Flat and National Hunt trials — most notably ahead of the Royal Ascot and Cheltenham meetings. “It’s uphill, the last two or three furlongs are uphill, which is a great test of any horse,” said Chairman of Naas Racecourse, Dermot Cantillon. “When they’re tiring they have to go up the hill of Naas and it’s left-handed so it ticks the same two boxes as Cheltenham. “If you want a horse that’s going to go to Cheltenham and has been tried and tested there’s no better place than Naas. “It’s a tight venue and I think that’s one of its big assets. You can stand on the little balcony we have upstairs in the Circle building and you can look out at the horses parading in the parade ring. You can look down the course, having your food and your drink. “It’s all right there. For the type of profile crowd we get here it suits our purposes a hundred percent. “We’re absolutely delighted with how well it’s gelled in. “If you’re talking about coming here on the 5th of January it’s going to be for one of the best novice races of the year.”
