Monday racing tips: Vauban a confident bet at Naas
Rob Eddy's best bets for Monday's racing include selections from Windsor, Cork and Naas.
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It’s a Bank Holiday Monday in Ireland and Scotland, with meetings at Cork, Naas and Ayr, plus there is some competitive action in the rest of the UK. We have a selection in the featured Fitzdares Sprint Series Final at Windsor plus one at each of the Irish tracks.
Indian Creak @ (Windsor 19.30)
Sequoiaspirit @ (Cork 14.33)
Vauban @ (Naas 16:35)
After the unseasonable amount of rain that we have had, the going is heavy at Windsor but that won't bother our selection, INDIAN CREAK , in the valuable Fitzdares Sprint Series Final.
The Jack Channon-trained 6yo is a four-time C&D winner, including twice on soft ground and came back to form when winning at Epsom last time. He is 4lb higher now off a mark of 87 but has gone close in the past off even higher marks and that shouldn't be enough to stop him winning again.
Rose Dawes claims 5lb off his back and she has already won on him this season, so that is another positive. His draw in 14 isn't such a big drawback when the ground is slow here and he looks a solid each-way wager. The improving 3yo Knebworth is an obvious danger in the next-door stall while the consistent C&D winners Haymaker and Magical Merlin are also likely to go well.
At Cork, SEQUOIASPIRIT , trained by Ray Hackett, is worth a bet in the Fermoy Handicap Hurdle.
He is a much-improved Flat performer this season, rising 16lb in the handicap after two wins and a placed effort, but his hurdles mark has only risen 3lb after a close second place in a Downpatrick novice event.
The winner of that is now rated 122 but our selection is racing off 109 in this race and has a fine 5lb conditional aboard in Kieran Callaghan, so really should get off the mark in this sphere. He is ground versatile, so it won't matter much what the weather does.
At Naas, the 2022 Triumph Hurdle winner VAUBAN continues on a path that may take him to the Melbourne Cup in November.
He found life tough in open hurdle company last season but is still progressive on the Flat after only five starts in that sphere.
A 1m4f Listed winner in France before joining Willie Mullins, he reverted to the level with a sparkling win in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. Though he is stepping up to Group 3 company, he should take it in his stride and win this Ballyroan Stakes. The ground is soft but he has already won on a similar surface and Irish Champion jockey Colin Keane takes the mount, so he rates a confident bet.