Joy overdue in 25-runner maiden hurdle that starts ITV action

1.40 Naas
Cavan Developments Maiden Hurdle (Div II) | 2m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

This is the first of five races from Naas on ITV4 on Saturday afternoon – a tremendous bonus for armchair viewers who were otherwise facing a blank few hours after the outbreak of equine flu in Britain put paid to Newbury and Warwick amid the lockdown.

Seven races had been scheduled from Newbury and Warwick, but instead a team of Ed Chamberlin, Mick Fitzgerald, Luke Harvey and Matt Chapman will decamp to Naas.

The Opening Show survives as well, in its usual 9.30-10.30am slot, with equine flu among the discussion topics.

Not many of the runners in the second division of the maiden hurdle will be familiar to punters in Britain and there is a huge field of 25 to wade through.

All for Joy had little luck in bumpers, finishing second on all five attempts and trainer Oliver McKiernan is hoping a first-time hood might help swing things the seven-year-old's way.

McKiernan is the race sponsor and Naas is his local track. All For Joy, the mount of 5lb claimer Barry Browne, will be making only his second appearance over hurdles having run fourth in a maiden at the 2017 Leopardstown Christmas meeting.

The Eddie Harty-trained Advantage Point is the only bumper winner in the line-up and will be making his third appearance over hurdles at a track where he finished third over a longer trip in November.

Noel Meade is represented by Fauguernon, a three-time winner on the Flat in France who returned from a long absence to finish fifth on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse last month.

What they say

Eddie Harty, trainer of Advantage Point
He's never run a bad race and we like him. He had a little hold-up after his last race but we're hoping for a good run.

Oliver McKiernan, trainer of All For Joy
He came up against some good horses in his bumpers and has had only one run over hurdles. That was over a year ago but he's been jumping quite well at home and it would be great if he could gain an overdue win.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Rio De Cerisy and Take A Turn
Take A Turn has struggled on his two runs over hurdles, although he has run a bit better than his finishing positions would suggest. I’m hoping there's better to come from him. This run might tell us he's one for the summer, when the standard of racing isn’t quite as strong as the winter. Rio De Cerisy has yet to make an impact and he was well behind Take A Turn in a Navan maiden hurdle last time. He's going to have to up his game.

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