Horse racing betting tips for Naas on Sunday January 30

Stattler is a hopeful choice for the ultra-competitive, Grade 3 Naas Business Club Novice Chase which opens Sunday’s action in Naas.

The Willie Mullins-trained Stowaway gelding, a bumper and hurdle winner, came up short of the top level in the staying novice hurdle ranks last season.

But he has always looked likely to reach his potential as a chaser and made a pleasing start in the new discipline at Fairyhouse, a performance which suggested he’d be more than capable of making an impression in graded company. And he gets his chance in this intriguing three-miler.

Stattler won his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown before finishing in the frame in a couple of Grade 1 events last spring, fading after hitting the final flight when fourth to Vanillier in Cheltenham’s Albert Bartlett before finishing third to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Ronnie Bartlett’s gelding impressed on his fencing bow in Fairyhouse, easing clear to beat Fighter Allen and looks a very promising chasing prospect.

But he’ll have to take a step forward and prove his ability to stay this extended three miles fully in decent company if he’s to land this prize.

Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier, a Cheltenham Festival winner, must shoulder a hefty 8lb penalty for his Grade 2 win at Punchestown in November.

Vanillier ridden by Mark Walsh on their way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Tim Goode - Pool/Getty Images)

And he must also bounce back from a below par effort in the Grade 1 won by Fury Road at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

On the latter occasion, he was beaten 18 lengths and finished 10 lengths off runner-up Run Wild Fred, winner of the Troytown in November and the standard-setter here, with an official mark of 158.

Run Wild Fred looks rock-solid, but could be vulnerable to an improver. And it would be folly to ignore his stable-companion Farouk D’alene, pipped by Master McShee in a Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas.

Meanwhile, Robbie Power, out of action since October 14, will hope to make a successful return to the saddle on board Gordon Elliott’s unbeaten five-year-old Saint Felicien in a Naas Grade 3, the BetVictor Limestone Lad Hurdle.

Successful in his only start in his native France, at Auteuil, this Saint Des Saints gelding triumphed, when favourite, on his Irish debut at Gowran Park in November, beating Slip Of the Tongue (subsequently third in a Grade 2) comfortably.

A difficult horse to place, Saint Felicien was forced to miss an engagement at Punchestown four weeks ago and has plenty to prove against this sort of battle-hardened opposition.

Peter O’Hehir's tips for Naas

12.40 Stattler

1.10 Handsworth

1.40 Saint Felicien

2.10 Champion Green

2.40 Brunello

3.10 The Nice Guy (Nap)

3.40 Womalko

4.10 Santonito

Next Best

12.40 Run Wild Fred

1.10 Krabat