Naas betting with William Hill

Naas is a hugely popular dual-purpose racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland, which is approximately 30km from Dublin. Naas betting is extremely competitive under both Flat and Jumps’ codes, with the track attracting big fields on a regular basis.

In 2018, Naas staged racing in every calendar month apart from August. The track staged a total of 18 meetings in 2018.

Naas staged its first Grade 1 contest in 2015 when The Lawlor`s of Naas Novice Hurdle (formerly known as the Slaney Novice Hurdle), was upgraded to the highest level. The race was dominated by Willie Mullins from 2009 to 2018 (six wins).

The feature Flat contest is the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes, run in May, and is a contest that often throws up a filly that goes on to compete at Group 1 level.

The great Arkle, a three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, won over hurdles at Naas in 1963.

Naas betting – the big meetings/races

The Lawlor`s of Naas Novice Hurdle is the only Grade 1 event staged at Naas and it has had a few different titles in recent years, but the 2m4f contest for smart novices, run in early January, has long been regarded as one of the most competitive Naas betting events run all winter.

It’s a race that has been dominated by Willie Mullins in recent years, but in 2013 it was plundered by trainer Mouse Morris with a horse called Rule The World, who went on to win the Grand National at Aintree three years later.

The old Newlands Chase, run as the WhatOddsPaddy? Chase in 2019, is a Grade 3 event (downgraded from Grade 2 in 2017) that can throw up a horse who goes on to compete on the big stage.

2019 winner Cadmium, trained by Willie Mullins, ran away with the Topham Chase at Aintree a couple of months later.

The big Flat race at Naas is the Blue Wind Stakes, a 10f event for fillies and mares in May. It can sometimes serve as a trial for the Epsom Oaks, as it did in 2012 when Was finished third in the Naas contest before going on to spring a 20/1 surprise in the fillies’ Classic at Epsom the following month.

Naas odds – impact on ante-post betting for future races

The Lawlor`s of Naas Novice Hurdle is a race that nearly always throws up a major contender for the big spring festivals. 2017 winner Death Duty was sent off a red-hot 13/8 favourite in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on his next start, although Gordon Elliott’s star was unable to justify his starting price.

Willie Mullins’ hugely talented 2009 winner Mikael D'Haguenet (sent off a red-hot 1/3 favourite in the Naas betting) went on to win at both Cheltenham and Punchestown, landing the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle before dropping back slightly in trip to easily bag the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Speedier types would drop back in trip for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Because the Blue Wind Stakes, the biggest Naas betting event of the Flat season, is open to three-year-olds and up, it can throw up a filly that could go on to run in the Oaks at Epsom or the Irish Oaks at The Curragh.

In 2012, Princess Highway skipped Epsom and instead went straight to Royal Ascot, where she won the Ribblesdale Stakes by an emphatic six lengths under Pat Smullen. She was unable to repeat the trick in the Irish Oaks later that month, but was far from disgraced in third, one place in front of Epsom heroine Was.

Naas course characteristics

Naas is a left-handed circuit of around 1m4f, with a stiff home straight of 4f. There is a 2f chute at the entrance to the home straight where the 5f and 6f races begin.

Naas is regarded as a galloping track that really tests stamina and suits horses that stay well.

Grinders and resolute types would generally do better than nimble, speedier types, which is a key factor when studying William Hill’s Naas betting.

Runners in races over 1m2f are immediately on the turn, so those drawn wide (high) tend to be at a disadvantage. There is no draw bias in races over 7f and 1m, with the field only having to negotiate one left-hand turn at around halfway.

When the ground becomes soft, runners on the sprint course tend to edge over to the stands’ rail so high-drawn horses can often be at an advantage. Otherwise, the draw isn’t really a factor in races over 5f and 6f.

Naas betting tips

No one comes close to Aidan O’Brien when it comes to the number of winners he trains at Naas – the Ballydoyle maestro is by far the most successful trainer at the track in recent years.

However, despite saddling over 50 winners at the track between 2016 and 2018, O’Brien’s runners still showed an overall level-stakes loss, so following his runners blind in Naas betting lists is not an advisable strategy.

Jim Bolger is the trainer to follow in the Blue Wind Stakes. Bolger saddled the winner six times between its inception in 2001 and 2018. Every one of those winners was partnered by Kevin Manning.

Ryan Moore and Donnacha O’Brien ride a good number of winners at Naas, but many are very short in William Hill’s Naas betting lists, and someone like Seamie Heffernan, who so often rides the stable’s second string, rides bigger-priced winners at the track.

In terms of National Hunt jockeys to follow at Naas, Mark Walsh stands out. Walsh is the retained jockey of top owner J P McManus so gets to ride a lot of smart horses at the venue.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are longstanding regulars in the Naas winners’ enclosure but an emerging force in the National Hunt training ranks is Joseph O’Brien, who has wasted little time in proving adept at sending out both hurdles and chase winners at Naas. His runners need close attention in Naas betting lists.

Naas racecourse – how to get there

Naas is conveniently located on the edge of the town, just off the M7 motorway linking Dublin with Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and Waterford.

If travelling from Dublin, take the N7, R410 and depart the N7 at exit 9 (around 40 minutes). From the south, join the M7 and take exit 9. The racecourse is five minutes from exit 9 and is clearly signposted.

There’s ample free car parking available on a first come, first-served basis.

The nearest train station to Naas is Sallins, which is easily accessible from Heuston station, Dublin. The racecourse provides a free shuttle bus service from Sallins Station on all race days before and after racing.

There’s a direct coach service, run by Dublin Coach, from Dublin Airport via the Red Cow Luas, to the Roseville stop in Naas.

Boost your Naas betting experience

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