Steve Ryder has three tips for today's meetings.
12:10 Navan
Ginto no doubt has the most potential going forward from this race but preference instead goes to the race-fit Benny The Duke (best priced at 10/1). The Ray Cody trained four-year-old receives weight from his main rivals in this race and made an encouraging hurdling debut 26 days ago when 2nd at Punchestown.
Benny The Duke eventually finished 5 ½ lengths behind the impressive Quantum Realm but pulled 6 lengths clear of the third who had previous hurdling experience. He may struggle to beat Ginto if he runs up to his bumper form but this is his first run for 259 days and preference instead goes to Benny The Duke.
13:10 Navan
Despite receiving weight from his rivals in this race, Darasso (best priced at 6/1) still has a few pounds to find on peak ratings but he has the benefit of race fitness for this contest. Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter finished well beaten on his reappearance last season and has to bounce back from a poor effort at Punchestown on his previous start and last year’s winner Sire Du Berlais may find this trip too sharp on better ground than he encountered last season.
Darasso has been kept busy during the summer over hurdles and fences but ran well over 2 miles at Tipperary in a Grade 3 to finish only 3 lengths behind Saldlier. He is regularly ridden by Luke Dempsey so that is no negative and I expect him to upset a couple of higher rated rivals in this race.
15:25 Navan
It was extremely disappointing to see Ballyadam (best priced at 10/11) fall at the first on his chasing debut but he should comfortably win this if achieving a clear round. The jumping of Henry De Bromhead novice chasers is usually a huge positive and the trainer seemed a bit mystified by his jumping performance last time.
Ballyadam ran well last season to finish 2nd behind Appreciate It in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown before once again finishing runner-up behind that rival in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. He is clear on ratings if running to form and I feel you are just backing him to have a clear round in order to win.
