Lucky 15 Tips: Velozee to strike for in-form Twomey at Naas

We've had another thrilling week of racing action with York's Dante meeting hopefully providing some Derby and Oaks pointers, but the focus switches to Royal Ascot with an excellent trials card on offer at Naas on Sunday. Naas is joined by a competitive ITV card at Hamilton, with fixtures from Ripon and Stratford too, but Naas is offering up some quality Listed and Group action, making it the priority.

Below are my four strongest fancies to follow across the card and they include a runner for in the red-hot Paddy Twomey who can extend her unbeaten record. Read on for my Lucky 15 Tips for Sunday, 17 May.

15:56 Naas - Expanded @ 5/2

Aidan O'Brien's EXPANDED showed a significant amount of potential in his two-year-old days and was a winner on debut at the Curragh before finishing second behind Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst on just his second start, only being denied by a neck that day.

Things didn't quite go to plan last term however and he didn't show much in any of his three starts, although the first two came in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. It was a much more promising effort on his return in a Listed race at Leopardstown last month however.

The son of Wootton Bassett was a solid second behind stablemate The Lion In Winter and a similar effort should be enough here, although improvement seems likely too.

16:26 Naas - Velozee @ 13/8

Paddy Twomey is in red-hot form at the moment and is operating at an exceptional strike-rate of 64 per cent in the last fortnight. Nine winners from 14 runners isn't to be sniffed at and it would be no surprise if the promising VELOZEE adds to his impressive tally.

She was a narrow winner at Cork on debut last month and the horse who finished third went on to finish second behind her main rival here, Victorious. Taking a huge step forward next time, she bolted up in a Listed contest at the Curragh and the step up in trip will be fine.

16:56 Naas - Charles Darwin @ 8/11

Winning this Group 3 contest shouldn't be beyond Aidan O'Brien's CHARLES DARWIN, who was a hugely impressive winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. A return to the Royal meeting could be on the cards next month and he should win here en route.

He defied a substantial absence to win a Listed contest at Navan last month and there was plenty to like about that performance, which indicated that all of his ability remains. Improvement is expected off the back of that and it would be a shock if he fails to win well.

17:26 Naas - Mission Central @ 5/4

Another one for Aidan O'Brien, MISSION CENTRAL wasn't the most consistent performer as a two-year-old, but he was very smart when at his best. He absolutely bolted up when winning a maiden at the Curragh by eight lengths and followed up in a Group 3.

Better over 6f last year, he managed to win a valuable race at Ascot on Champions' Day, but proved his aptitude for the minimum trip when winning a Listed contest over course and distance on his seasonal debut. A follow-up success could well be on the cards.

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