Scarlet Could Sneak A Place At Naas

Signore Piccolo ran a cracker earlier at Doncaster to finish 4th but unfortunately, due to a couple of non runners, we didn’t get paid. He was travelling best of all a couple of furlongs out, and for a fleeting moment I thought he was going to go on and win. He just ran out of puff in the final furlong and was run out of a place. He will probably be dropped another pound or two after that run and he is one to be on next time out.

Sheila Lavery's horses are in flying form.

I am returning to home turf for Sunday’s selection, and I think Mr Scarlet is a ridiculous price for the feature race at Naas, the 6f Group 3 Lacken Stakes at 16.15. Sheila Lavery’s son of Dandy Man made a very pleasing return to action at Navan behind Khukri in a Listed heat last month, and like all of her horses he is likely to come on a huge amount with that run behind him.

This fella showed plenty of promise on his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse when a fast finishing 4th behind the useful Ger Lyons trained Noivado (6f gd/yld). He showed in no uncertain terms that run was no fluke on his next start here at Naas (5f gd), displaying a smart turn of foot to win a race that has worked out well in impressive fashion.

The runner up that day Mayleaf Shine went on to win a handicap off 82 in good style on his next start and was subsequently only 2L behind Hit The Bid in a Group 3 at the Curragh. Sheila Lavery has her string in tremendous fettle, and her form figures for her last 6 runners read 514191. Mr Scarlet shaped really nicely on his return to action last time, and I think he is well worth a crack at this level.

Obviously, Caravaggio is the one to beat here on the ratings and if he is fully wound up on his return to action he should be able to preserve his unbeaten record. Mr Scarlet has been handed a rating of just 96 by the handicapper, 21lb inferior to the 117 rated fav, but I think he has the potential to be better than that and he was only 5L behind the now 107 rated Khukri at Navan last time.

He has winning course form in the book, he will love the good ground, his yard is flying and he will come on leaps and bounds for his reappearance run at Navan. His draw in stall 8 shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience in this relatively small field and he won’t lack for assistance from the saddle with Ronan Whelan booked. I think Mr Scarlet’s odds of 33/1 are far too big and at that price he has to be worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.15 NAAS-MR SCARLET E/W @ 33/1