A Trojan horse of G E lorries will descend to Navan as we bring an army of 35 runners to Navan today.
In the opener, the 3YO hurdle, we are represented by 3 runners who are all new recruits to the yard. CASHELDALE LAD won his only start to date in a 1m1f flat race at Punchestwon back in September. He looks a classy individual and we’re hoping he’ll make a good impression on his hurdling debut under Sam Ewing. ROBORETI makes his racecourse debut in the colours of Kevin Prendergast. The unraced gelding by Gleneagles has been showing all the right signs at home and we’re looking forward to seeing how he shapes up with Jordan Gainford in the saddle. KALA CONTI won her only start to date in a 3yo hurdle at Compiegne very impressively in heavy conditions. She looks an exciting prospect and is another who we are looking forward to running. Jack Kennedy has been booked to ride.
We saddle 4 runners in the mares maiden hurdle. IMPERIAL CLASS drops back down in trip to 2 miles today after finishing out of the frame over 2m4f. She has the benefit of race fitness on her side and also Danny Gilligan’s 5lb claim. INSTANT TENDANCE ran well on her seasonal debut to finish 6th after a long lay off. She will have come on plenty for the run and has Sam Ewing in the saddle today. MAGIC DAWN disappointed on her sole start for us in the Aintree bumper last April. She shows plenty of promise at home and the switch to hurdles should play to her strengths. Jack Kennedy takes the ride. SAINTE BAOL makes her racecourse debut. She was an impressive 9 length winner of her point to point and we’re looking forward to getting her started under rules. Jordan Gainford rides.
GOLDEN NUGGET runs in the Gaeil Colmcille GAA Kells Handicap hurdle. She’s fresh from a break having last ran over fences at Kilbeggan back in June. The 4yo is having her first start in handicap company and we’re hopeful she’ll run well with the addition of Danny Gilligan’s 5lb claim.
In the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle we send four runners down to post. CROKE PARK was an 11 length winner on his debut over hurdles at Clonmel last time out. Prior to that he was second on his sole bumper start and a point to point winner. He is lightly raced but oozes class and is the mount of Jack Kennedy. SEARCH FOR GLORY has much more experience under his belt than Croke Park. To date he has finished 3rd in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle and 7th in a Grade 1 Novice hurdle before getting on the scoreboard over flights in a 2m5f maiden hurdle at Galway in October. He has a strong chance under Jordan Gainford. PINYON JAY has been very consistent for connections. The 4yo has finished 3rd in two novice hurdles since winning his maiden hurdle. He does drop back in trip here today but is capable of putting in a big run under Mark Walsh. MEL MONROE ran a big race to finish 2nd in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham back in October. The ground might just be slightly against her today. Sam Ewing rides.
In the BarOne Racing Sign Up Offer Handicap Hurdle we once again send four runners down to post. GORTMILLISH has the benefit of race fitness on his side. He has two victories to his name so far this season with one of those being in a rated novice hurdle. His best performances have been on a slightly better surface than today but we’re hoping he can show a good account of himself. Jack Kennedy rides. ARCTIC AMBITION is another who has been running throughout the summer months, switching between hurdles and fences. Again, his best runs have been on a better surface but he can’t be ruled out with Danny Gilligan in the saddle claiming 5lb. JUMPING JET is fresh from a summer break. She finished 2nd back in March in a 3 mile contest in heavy ground before finishing 4th back in the summer at Kilbeggan. The ground conditions shouldn’t be an issue for her today and Jordan Gainford will take the ride. Finally, we send out GINNETS GIRL. She was disappointing on her handicap debut when finishing down the field in a mares handicap hurdle. She’s been freshened up since that run and is another who is not without a chance. Sam Ewing rides.
In the feature race, The Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase, we make up the majority of the field with 15 runners. FAROUK D’ALENE is having his first run since March where he fell at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s a talented individual but others in the race have had the benefit of a run under their belts already this season. Carl Millar has been booked to ride, claiming a useful 7lb off top weight. COKO BEACH ran a huge race on his seasonal reappearance in the Munster National where he finished 3rd and is not without a chance under Danny Gilligan claiming 5lb. RUN WILD FRED bids to add a second Troytown chase to his CV after winning the 2021 renewal impressively as a novice under Davy Russell. He finished 5th in the Munster National after a long lay off and should go well here under Jack Kennedy. GEVREY is a horse who has just kept improving for connections. As the winner of this years Munster National, he has beaten many of his rivals in today’s field. He did go up 8lb for that victory but is once again partnered with Ricky Doyle and there could be more improvement to come from him. DIOL KER was 5th in the Cork National last time out and will certainly have come on for the run. The ground shouldn’t be an issue for him and he will have Kieran Buckley in the saddle claiming 3lb. HOLLOW GAMES stayed on well to finish 3rd in the Galway Plate last time out behind stablemate Ash Tree Meadow. He has the addition of first time cheekpieces today which should help see out his race. Sam Ewing takes the ride. EPSON DU HOUX steps up in trip to 3 miles for the first time today. He will have come on plenty for his seasonal debut at Cork in October but is stepping into unknown territory over the longer distance. Michael O’Sullivan rides. TULLYBEG was this years Mayo National winner back in May and also took a valuable hurdle at Down Royal back in September. He’s in brilliant form at home but the ground would be a worry for him. Jody McGarvey rides. FAKIR D’ALENE started back by finishing 2nd in an open p2p at Tinahely back in October. He had been off the track for over a year after being brought down in the 2022 Irish Grand National but still showed plenty of promise in his recent run. Ben Harvey rides and claims 3lb. FRONTAL ASSAULT just struggled to get home in the Munster National last time. He has plenty of experience under his belt but might not appreciate the heavier going. Donagh Meyler rides. DEFI BLEU unseated his rider, Gavin Brouder, in the Munster National last time out. The partnership are back together again today and if they can stay out of trouble then they are not with out a chance. DUNBOYNE is a proven mud lover having stayed on like a train to take 2nd place in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran earlier in the year. He’s not without a chance today under Jordan Gainford. PUNITIVE was a shock winner of the Porterstown Chase at Fairyhouse last December when he stayed on strongly to deny stablemate Fakiera first place. He has lost his way slightly since and is havingh his first run of the season. Mark McDonogh rides and claims 3lb. ROYAL THIEF looked to be struggling early on in the Cork National. He wears first time blinkers today in the hope that it will help him see out his race better and is the mount of Simon Torrens. Finally, we have CAVALRY MASTER who sits at the bottom of the weights. He was well beaten in the Munster National which was his first run since a long lay off and also well beaten in the Cork National. Charlie O’Dwyer rides today and claims 5lb.
AMERICAN MIKE and LANDRAKE make their debuts over fences in the Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase. American Mike has the size and scope to make a smart chaser. He has been schooling well at home and we’re excited to get him out. Jack Kennedy rides. Landrake has some solid hurdling form to his name and looks another who was made to go chasing. Jordan Gainford rides. Both horses look exciting prospects for this season in novice chases.
In the final race of the day, the mares listed bumper we send out DISCO DANCER and QUALIMITA. Disco Dancer is an unraced filly by Snow Sky. She has a lovely way of going at home and should learn plenty from today’s race. Harry Swan rides. Qualimita was an impressive 30 length winner of her point to point before being purchased by Robcour. She has high expectations to live up to and will be ridden by John Gleeson.
