NAAS PREVIEW: ORDINARILY THERE would be a question mark over a two-year-old dropping back to six furlongs after winning twice at a mile, but Puncher Clynch can prove yet again that the Jim Bolger-Kevin Manning team hold the key to tomorrow's Naas feature.
The classic-winning duo have won the €64,000 Derrinstown Stud Birdcatcher Nursery on seven occasions, and dropping back in trip didn’t stop Tomas An Tsioda landing the valuable prize last year.
Puncher Clynch has won twice on soft ground over a mile, at Galway and Listowel, and the form of the latter race looks pretty good now considering the runner-up, Joshua Tree, landed the Group Two Royal Lodge at Ascot afterwards.
Sixteen line up tomorrow, including Dermot Weld’s Bygone Age, who broke his maiden at the Curragh last Sunday. However, Bolger has always had some regard for Puncher Clynch who can prove the point in style.
The Listed highlight is the Garnet Stakes, with last year’s winner, Mad About You, set to have her first start since finishing dehydrated at Arlington Park after August’s Beverly D Stakes.
Nineteen line up for the mile event and although the once-raced Zaralanta is much the least experienced, she did look a talented filly at the Curragh last March when easily winning her maiden. It looks significant that the John Oxx team are persevering with her.
