De Velara

De Velara looked good in winning the six-furlong maiden at Naas on Wednesday, and there is every chance that he will step forward again now. He was keen enough through the early stages of the race, and he raced towards the near side, probably not an advantage on the evidence that the earlier races on the day provided. He tracked the favourite Plankton through and, when Wayne Lordan moved him towards the outside and asked him to pick up, the response was impressive. He hit the front inside the final furlong and he cleared away through the final 150 yards to win by four lengths in the end.

This was just De Valera’s second run in Ireland, his second for Willie Browne since his arrival from France. He had shaped encouragingly on his Irish debut, in finishing second in a five-furlong maiden at Cork behind Funchal, who ran well to finish a close-up third behind Moss Tucker at Tipperary on Wednesday evening. He went into Wednesday’s maiden with a rating of 77, and the handicapper raised him by 8lb for that win to a mark of 85, but that is a mark that could still under-rate his ability. He has raced just five times in his life, and just twice in Ireland, so he retains plenty of scope for progression. He should improve if and when he learns to settle better through the early stages of his races. He could go out in trip too in time. He is an exciting prospect.
Naas, 22^nd June 2022