Naas Races Today – Read Naas Tips from Kildare Track
Just a few miles north of Punchestown, County Kildare has another track in Naas races. Marginally closer to Dublin, the fact that the site of two courses lie so close reflects the rich tradition of horse racing in the area.
Offering both Flat and jumps racing at different times of the year, that variety is naturally reflected in the Naas tips we provide. We have more on this dual-purpose track, starting with the story of how it came about.
History of Naas Racecourse
If we turn back the clock, the Kildare Hunt Club which met at Punchestown was all about the local gentry. Far from being aristocratic in origin, the planning of a racecourse at Naas began in 1921. Over the next three years, some 100 acres of farmland on the eastern edge of the market town of the same name transformed into the Irish racing venue we know and love today.
As a book celebrating the centenary of Naas reminds us, eight like-minded framers and gentlemen appealed to the community. Their subscriptions and donations raised funds locally from the Thoroughbred County that turned their vision into reality. By 1922, with the formation of the Naas Race Company, work began on building the course in earnest.
It opened over the summer of 1924 with a meeting in the middle of June. Over the next 100 years, Naas has grown in size and stature. County Kildare’s longstanding ties to horse racing have only helped in this regard. By 2015, Naas races staged Grade 1 National Hunt racing for the first time when the Slaney Novice Hurdle received its promotion to elite status.
Innovation has always played its part here. Like so many other Irish tracks that have festivals taking place at them, Naas got in on the act in October 2023 with its first weekend long meeting spanning consecutive days. Brand new races become part of the programme all the time with the Pat Smullen Stakes, a Listed mile contest on the Flat, run for the first time in 2025.
Are Naas Races Today Jumps or Flat?
Nicknamed the Nursery of Champions, there is both Flat and jumps racing taking place at Naas with the former during the spring, summer and autumn. As for National Hunt action, that begins in November and ends in March, so the racecourse is in use all year round. Whatever code of the sport is on, runners and our selections from horse racing tips face a stiff track here.
On the Flat, there is a straight Sprint Course for five and six furlong races. This is uphill pretty much all the way, so that puts extra emphasis on stamina. Track bias plays its part too, so horses need the luck of the draw in races. The Round Course, meanwhile, is a left-handed track of a mile-and-a-half for a complete circuit. There is a chute joining this at the exit from the back stretch for mile races.
When the hurdles course is laid out at Naas races, there are six flights for horses on a full lap. Only one of these is in the back straight with the first on the side before going into it. Two more hurdles follow before turning for home with as many again on the uphill stretch of half-a-mile ahead of the winning post.
For the steeplechases, meanwhile, a complete circuit of Naas has eight fences with two plain ones turning down away from the stands before an open ditch in the back. Three more, with the middle of this line being another ditch, come up once out of the back. That leaves two more plain fences in the home straight on the chase course before the line.
Biggest Meetings of Naas Races
Due to its mixture of jump racing and a good Flat programme over the summer months, there’s at least one meeting at Naas Racecourse in every month of the year. While it’s nothing like as busy as other tracks in the British Isles, there are still 20 different days and race cards in the calendar.
The biggest of these is the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle day on the first Sunday in January. Other jump season highlights include the Limestone Lad Hurdle and Naas Novice Chase towards the end of that same month, the Opera Hat Mares’ Chase and Newlands Chase in February, and Leinster National meeting in March. Look out for Grade 3 races at both of those latter meetings.
As for the Flat season, the Naas Oaks Trial and Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes join the Royal Ascot Trials Day as fixtures of note in May and June. The Pat Smullen, Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes and Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes are midsummer highlights come July. Later on in the campaign, there are valuable Sales races for juveniles in August and October, alongside the Ballyogan Stakes and Birdcatcher Premier Nursery Handicap.
Here at Racing Tipster, we have horse racing tips from Naas on all these notable events and more. The demands this galloping track with its uphill finish places on horses, even in Flat races, means it doesn’t suit every runner best. Competing here can teach horses plenty, though, and guarantees to bring them on fitness wise.
Key Races We Give Naas Tips for
With plenty of exciting race meetings sprinkled throughout the year across both codes of horse racing, there’s something for everyone at Naas. This the point where we distil things a bit and focus on the most valuable races from the track.
Ballyhane Stakes
Although only introduced in 2020, this is the richest of any Naas races today. It’s a Median Auction race based on the prices that eligible Flat juveniles fetched at the Sales. Taking place in August over six furlongs, both Aidan O’Brien and Ger Lyons have won this twice in its short history.
Smart Naas racing tips today will always consider runners from these yards and other powerful stables. Two favourites have won the Ballyhane Stakes, but as many outsiders had Starting Prices of over 20/1. While first place has been worth more in the past, the winner received €108,500 in 2025.
Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final
The other big Sales race also for two-year-olds at Naas with this one over seven furlongs in October. Jessica Harrington has done well with her runners in recent years here. First prize in 2025 was €70,800, making this more valuable than any graded, Group or Listed race run at the track.
Ballyogan Stakes
Initially run at Leopardstown races over the minimum distance of five furlongs, this became a six-furlong race just for fillies and mares in 2004 during a brief stint down in Cork. Returning to the South Dublin venue from Mallow in 2005, it switched to the Curragh in 2015 before Naas staged it for the first time in 2020. Official governing body HRI made this change permanent for the Group 3 contest in 2022.
The Ballyogan Stakes takes place in August and remains a females only Flat race open to fillies and mares aged three and up. William Haggas has done well with his raiders from England, so Naas horse tips must bear this in mind. He scooped the €59,000 in prize money for first place in 2025 with Sky Majesty for Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom.
Ballymore Novice Hurdle
A Grade 1 race over hurdles and two-and-a-half miles for novices in that discipline in early January. Registered as the Slaney Novice Hurdle, it has often had a sponsored title. Perhaps best known as the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle or Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, it is the most valuable of all Naas races today over jumps.
Subsequent Grand National winner Rule The World landed this in 2013 and triumphed in the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree races three years later. Other notable victors include Envoi Allen, subsequently successful three times in the Down Royal Champion Chase, and fellow multiple Cheltenham Festival scorer Bob Olinger.
It takes a smart horse to win this feature midwinter contest at Naas, then, where they jump a hurdle before joining the Round Course. Willie Mullins has enjoyed a record nine wins in it, but it’s Gordon Elliott with most recent success after five victories from 2017. Total prize money for the 2026 edition is €100,000 with €59,000 going to the winner.
Leinster National Handicap Chase
A Listed handicap chase over an extended three miles in March. Reflecting the fact that Naas is within the Irish province of Leinster, it is one of the regional nationals taking place throughout the year at racecourse across the Emerald Isle. This is the last such event before the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse races over Easter.
The wisest Naas tips today must consider older horses for this staying steeplechase. That’s because four nine-year-olds have been successful here since 2017. With the going often turning up soft, the strength and stamina of a fully mature horse clearly pays dividends. First prize in 2026 will again be €59,000 for the Leinster National.
Naas November Handicap
Moved from November to the October Weekend in recent years, and consequently run under a sponsored title or the Beggar’s End Handicap, this is the last big Flat racing handicap of the season at Naas races for staying types. Upped from its original distance of an extended mile-and-three-quarters to two miles. it really does test stamina.
Again, more mature horses look the sensible route for any Naas race tips on offer. Six of the last 10 editions have gone to five-year-olds, but Aidan O’Brien prevailed with Light As Air in 2025. Connections picked up €59,000 as first prize with their three-year-old, who held off horses more than twice his age in second and third.
Fillies Sprint Stakes
Now, we come to the a Group 3 race for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs on the Royal Ascot Trials day in May. Established in 2002, its most famous winners are Rumplestiltskin, Lillie Langtry, Sky Lantern, Alpha Centauri and Porta Fortuna, who all enjoyed multiple successes at the highest level. First prize in 2025 was €41,300.
Blue Wind Stakes
Currently run under its sponsored title of the Al Shira’aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes, this is one of the Classic trials for three-year-old fillies run at Naas in June. The Blue Wind is the final prep race for Irish Oaks hopefuls that haven’t gone to Royal Ascot for the Ribblesdale Stakes. Run over an extended mile-and-a-quarter, Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien have dominated recent editions.
Holding Group 3 status, the Blue Wind honours the filly who won the 1981 Oaks double across Epsom and the Curragh. This race moved to Naas in 2005 after its first four editions were at Cork. Originally open to older fillies and mares, HRI decided to restrict the age of entrants from 2020 onwards. That has remained in place ever since.
Tarnawa is perhaps the most famous recent winner of the Blue Wind for trainer Dermot Weld, who also oversaw part of eponymous filly’s racing career this event takes its name from. There was a first prize of €41,300 for victory in the Blue Wind of 2025, but it may provide better clues for mile-and-a-quarter races than throw up an Irish Classic winner.
Lacken Stakes
A Group 3 sprint over six furlongs restricted to three-year-olds on Royal Ascot Trials day in May. Although only introduced in 2014, it provides punters with a good form guide to those heading over the Irish Sea for the big horse racing festival the following month. Those who perform well in the Lacken Stakes at Naas races naturally target the Commonwealth Cup.
Aidan O’Brien often aims a smart sprinter here, so Naas tips need to take note of any runners trying to follow in the hoofprints of Caravaggio. The Ballydoyle maestro has won this five times in the Lacken’s short history. A first prize of €35,400 went to the 2025 winner when Babouche upset Whistlejacket.
Naas Oaks Trial
Added to the programme in 2012, this Listed race as its name suggests is an official trial for the Irish Oaks. Using the same extended mile-and-a-quarter distance as the Blue Wind and also restricted to three-year-old fillies, Even So won both trial and Classic in 2020. It now takes place in May before Royal Ascot Trials day.
This gives the competing females options where they run next. Winners can either go on to the English Oaks at Epsom Downs races, Royal meeting at Ascot and test themselves in the Ribblesdale or wait for the Blue Wind back at Naas. First prize in 2025 was €32,450 and went to Garden Of Eden, giving Aidan O’Brien a record-extending eighth win.
Other Notable Naas Races Today
There are plenty more events on the track here, albeit ones worth less than €30,000 for winning. On the Flat, notable handicaps include the three-year-olds only Madrid Handicap and Blackwater Handicap in the spring, and Birdcatcher Premier Nursery Handicap for juveniles.
There are various Listed races we provide Naas horse racing tips for on the level as well. Beginning with the Devoy Stakes in March, there is also the Woodlands Stakes in April, Owenstown Stud Stakes and Sole Power Sprint during the Royal Ascot Trials day card, Pat Smullen, Yeomanstown Stud and Marwell Stakes over July, and the end of Flat season Testimonial Stakes, Garnet Stakes and Bluebell Stakes on the October Weekend.
Over jumps, there are some Grade 3 races at Naas throughout the core National Hunt season starting with the Poplar Square Chase in November. There’s also the Limestone Lad Hurdle and Naas Novice Chase in January with the Newlands Chase following month and Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle in March.
Supporting these are Listed races like the Opera Hat Mares Chase and Winning Fair Juvenile in February, plus the Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase (also March) and Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle come the autumn. Each of these events can produce informative horse racing results to follow moving forward.
FAQs
Are Naas races on today?
There are 20 different race cards at Naas throughout the year, weather permitting. That’s always the caveat with this sport. Unfortunately, in the event of waterlogging or frost in the winter can lead to Naas races today abandoned like in February 2025.
Where is Naas Racecourse?
The track is just east of the market town of the same name in County Kildare on Tipper Road. Naas is literally a few miles north of Punchestown.
Why give free Naas tips?
We can provide selections from Naas for free, because AI does all the heavy lifting. All the statistical analysis goes through data modelling and algorithms to find the best horses for you to bet on.
Where can I find Naas races results?
Stick with us at Racing Tipster for all this information. As well as free tips powered by AI, we also provide a complete service of Naas races today results and for other tracks across across the British Isles.
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