Horse Racing Tips: Mehmar is the one to watch at Naas

Flat racing takes centre stage on Monday, with four of the five scheduled meetings taking place on the level. There’s a little something for the Jump racing fans too, in the shape of a National Hunt card in Ireland.

Cork kicks us off and is swiftly followed by Lingfield, Naas and Ripon, while the day’s evening action comes from Carlisle.

Among our three strongest fancies on the day is one for Curragh-based trainer Michael O’Callaghan at Naas who is a fascinating handicap debutant.

Below you can find my horse racing tips for Monday, August 5.

2.50 Naas  - Mehmar @ SP

Michael O’Callaghan’s MEHMAR could be the one to come out on top in a race in which two or three could be said to have strong claims. Making his handicap debut here, there could be any amount of improvement to come.

He was highly tried in his juvenile days and perhaps his best piece of form that season was his three-quarters-of-a-length second to Aidan O’Brien’s useful sprinter The Antarctic (5f, good). That form is hard to knock as the winner went on to claim multiple Group 3 successes.

The son of Mehmas went on to finish third in a Group 3 himself afterwards but failed to build on that when finishing down the field in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022.

Mehmar wasn’t seen again for over two years until getting off the mark in a Navan maiden (6f, good to firm) last month. It’s fair to say that it was an astounding effort after such a lengthy absence and one would imagine he’s entitled to improve for the run.

Provided the bounce factor doesn’t become an issue here, he can build on that success and a mark of 87 doesn’t appear to be beyond him.

Horse Racing Odds

4.00 Ripon - Kings Merchant @ SP

Watch out for KINGS MERCHANT at Ripon, as Edward Bethell’s consistent gelding bids for a fourth win of the season. He’s the sole three-year-old in the field and therefore the only one to receive a 4lb allowance.

The son of Bated Breath was a narrow winner at Doncaster when last seen and he just about held off the challenge of the runner-up to score by a short head and the handicapper has responded with a 3lb rise.

This horse has an admirably consistent record, which means the risk of him running a poor race is relatively low. It would be a surprise if the handicapper has him in their grasp just yet and he can win more races before they catch up.

4.30 Ripon - Secret World @ SP

Charlie Johnston’s SECRET WORLD has failed to hit the heights since switching to handicaps but that could be about to change now that she goes up to 1m2f for the first time and the daughter of Dark Angel can get back on track here.

Her sole success came in a Wolverhampton maiden last October and she shaped as if middle-distances would suit at three. Her best effort this season has been a third-place finish in a better race at Newmarket off a 5lb higher mark and she looks dangerous on that evidence.

She faces five pretty exposed rivals in this race and an 8lb allowance looks like a significant advantage, one which she should be making the most of.

Check out our other Horse Racing Tips here.