Navan Racecourse’s eight-race card on Saturday afternoon is a high class affair, with three Graded races alongside a further five good quality contests. Read on for a preview of and tips for the Navan card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who have all the Leopardstown Christmas Festival odds.
The action begins with a two and half mile maiden hurdle (11.50). There are lots of first-timers here, so this is a hard race to judge, but Willie Mullins’ Fillyoureye is an obvious standout from the top-class yard. He won a bumper nicely in the spring and has numerous smart relatives, so must be taken very seriously. The ground is due to be testing, though, which might get the best out of Ciaran Murphy’s Dontcavein.
Race two is a handicap hurdle run over the same trip (12.25). We could expect a good run from Must Meet Cecil, who should be able to place at this mark with Carl Millar’s five pounds in hand, but Gordon Elliott’s Themanintheboots makes some appeal too, also given five pounds by his rider and equipped with blinkers for the first time. Bossing It may also be in line for at least a place.
Next is a two-mile handicap hurdle (1.00). Topweight Ragmans Corner, a course and distance winner, is given a chance by the employ of claiming rider Eoghain Finegan, and can act on difficult ground so could be involved, as could Balko d’Ange, who is on a winnable mark. Scalpnagoon also looks set to go well on his reappearance for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
The first of the Graded races follows; a Grade Three two-mile novice hurdle (1.35). Declan Queally’s I’ll Sort That seeks a hat-trick, having won his first two starts over obstacles by a combined 16 lengths, and has good form on heavy ground in bumpers, so ought to be the one to beat. Whimsy might be the one to chase him home.
Another Graded race is next; the two and a half mile Lismullen Hurdle, a Grade Two race (2.10). Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay is the big name here, making his seasonal return having won three top class races last term before being narrowly beaten at the Cheltenham Festival. He can go well fresh and is the class act in this field, with stablemate Maxxum the next best on ratings. Colonel Mustard cannot be forgotten, though, as an able runner on heavy ground who is one of few with the benefit of having had a run already this term, so has a fitness edge.
The Grade Two Fortria Chase follows, run over two miles (2.45). Marine Nationale outclasses the rest by a fair way and would be the winner on better ground, but he may find himself disadvantaged somewhat by this weekend’s surface. Found A Fifty might be better on it, and also has already run this term, which may give him an edge.
Second to last is a beginners chase run over two miles and a furlong (3.20). The JP McManus-owned Harvard Guy is tried over fences for the first time and is one of the best on ratings, but this trip might prove to be inadequate for him. Willie Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes is better over this distance and, if translating his hurdling ability over fences, he should be the one to beat.
The meeting finishes off with a bumper (3.55). There are a few newcomers here, who are unknowns, but Emmet Mullins’ Jet To Monte Carlo looks a smart prospect from the point-to-point field, having won his maiden by 14 lengths. He might be the one to go with here, but Leonard Vallis also should enter calculations after a very good second of 19 at Gowran Park in October. A step forward could be anticipated.
Navan selections – Saturday:
11.50 – Fillyoureye
12.25 – Themanintheboots
1.00 – Balko d’Ange
1.35 – I’ll Sort That
2.10 – Colonel Mustard
2.45 – Found A Fifty
3.20 – Kopek Des Bordes
3.55 – Leonard Vallis
