Prince Of Scars tackles fences in Naas Grade One-winning hurdler Prince Of Scars make his fencing debut in the Download Paddy Power's Messenger Betting App Beginners Chase at Naas today. Winner of the Christmas Hurdle last term, the Gordon Elliott-trained runner went on to finish third behind leading stayer Thistlecrack at Aintree in April and has been off the track since that effort. The Gigginstown House Stud representative makes his chase debut over two miles and three furlongs here and faces formidable opposition in dual Grade Two winner and former Sandra Hughes stablemate Acapella Bourgeois. Champion trainer Willie Mullins will be turning his big guns to Irish racecourses in the coming weeks and his Saturnas looks a likely candidate for top honours in the opening Hospitality At Naas Maiden Hurdle. The French-bred gelding races in Wicklow Bloodstock's colours and was a French provincial winner at Machecoul when last seen in April 2015. He notably has an entry for the Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle. The supporting six races to the feature Fishery Lane Hurdle have drawn no less than 113 contenders and the smallest of those races, the 13-runner Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, might see the James Dullea-trained Dark Outsider complete a hat-trick of wins, having won at Clonmel and Tramore on most recent outings.
