Final Cheltenham clues to be gained at Naas this afternoon

Naas hosts its Cheltenham Trials Day meeting this afternoon where Dinoblue is the headline act on a seven-card beginning at 1.05.

The JP McManus-owned mare will go off a very short price to repeat last year’s win in the BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Chase, and she went on to follow up in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The opening SR Ventilation Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle has proved a good guide to the ‘Fred Winter’ at Cheltenham with Band Of Outlaws, Aramax and Brazil all going on to score at Prestbury Park in March. Highland Crystal has won impressively on both starts and is currently the 11/10 favourite, while four of her five rivals were useful on the Flat and have already shown promise over hurdles.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy have another short-priced favourite in the shape of Jalon D’oudairies in the Cavan Developments Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle while Hunters Yarn Panda Boy and last year’s winner Ryehill are three interesting contenders in the QuinnBet Hunters Chase.

Following 3mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the going remains soft to heavy (heavy in places) on the hurdle course and heavy (soft to heavy in places) on the chase course.

There are six yards of fresh ground on the hurdle course, and the forecast is for a dry day with temperatures around 8C.