Expert jury: did we see a Cheltenham Festival winner on the Naas Grade 1 card?

Firefox appeals as a potential handicap project

Finding a winner rather than a contender is quite a high bar, even when you have a Grade 1 race on the card.

For all that The Yellow Clay was impressive in the feature, he will have The New Lion and Potters Charm to overcome in the Turners Novices' Hurdle, which appears to be the target Gordon Elliott has in mind for him.

There does not look to be anything of their calibre in the Albert Bartlett at present and he would make plenty of appeal were he to turn up in that race instead.

Elliott praised the way Firefox battled on for second behind Ile Atlantique on unsuitably soft ground in the Grade 2 novice chase and it would be no surprise were he plotting a crack at the Grand Annual or Plate with a novice who is a work in progress over fences and will almost certainly have more to offer in the spring.
David Carr, reporter

Not convinced by Ile Atlantique's Arkle claims

Ile Atlantique earned a quote of 8-1 for the Arkle for his win in the Racing Post Novice Chase but I do not imagine he will prove a major threat at the Cheltenham Festival.

His victory on Sunday was smart enough, with a good change of gear and a smooth round of jumping, but his rivals put him in a particularly good light as Firefox's jumping was far from ideal and favourite Inthepocket did not run to his best. 

Ile Atlantique: jumped well on the way to Grade 2 novice chase successCredit: Patrick McCann

The winner was a neck runner-up in the Lawlor's of Naas last year, so clearly thrives at this track, ground and time of year, but he was disappointing last spring in three starts and may not enjoy Cheltenham this time round either.

He has improved for a fence, but considering the form of those ahead of him in the market last spring – Majborough beating Kargese by a length and a half in the Triumph before Sir Gino beat the same rival by further at Aintree – it would be a big surprise should he beat them in March.
Catherine Macrae, reporter

Fun Fun Fun could go under the radar

There were three very good performances on the Naas card, but nothing really jumped out as an obvious contender for the Cheltenham Festival.

Ile Atlantique made it two from two over fences with a good jumping display and the acceleration he showed between the last two fences to the line was impressive, but testing ground does seem to bring out his best and he'll have to find more to beat Sir Gino in the Arkle.

The Yellow Clay looks all stamina but the Turners appears his aim, and if connections take that option I can't see him matching The New Lion or Potters Charm.

The best chance would be Fun Fun Fun, who is bred for fences and won well on her chasing debut. She'll be better the further she goes, but the novice handicap chase or Plate could be an option, while she wouldn’t be out of place in the Mares' Chase.
Harry Wilson, tipster

Read more:

The Yellow Clay extends unbeaten record over hurdles as Gordon Elliott reveals likeliest Cheltenham Festival option  

'That performance was huge' - Ile Atlantique slashed for Arkle after impressive success in Racing Post Novice Chase 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.