13:50 Navan

The Kevin Prendergast trained ROMAN MOON (best priced at 10/1) has shown inconsistent form in her five career starts to date but is interesting on her handicap debut with blinkers fitted for the first time. The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths on her debut before slightly disappointing at Roscommon and Leopardstown on her next two starts. She bounced back to form when finishing a close 2nd at Galway in July before disappointing over the same course and distance last time. 

Roman Moon now makes her handicap debut off a mark of 74 but crucially is now fitted with first time blinkers for this race. The stable are in good form currently with a winner and two 2nds on their previous five runners and I feel she will run well with up to four places available. 

Roman Moon - 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1

15:35 Navan

There are many well bred newcomers in this maiden but they will have to be talented to deny YOUNG IRELAND (best priced at 11/4) a much deserved first career victory. The Jim Bolger trained colt ran well to finish behind the likes of Auguste Rodin, Hans Andersen and Aesop’s Fables in his first three starts before finishing less than 3 lengths behind the winners at Punchestown and Listowel on his next two starts. 
Young Ireland defied odds of 25/1 to finish 3rd in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes earning him a revised rating of 97. A repeat of that run should see him hard to beat back in maiden company and I expect him to get off the mark at the seventh attempt.  
 
Young Ireland - 1pt @ 11/4

16:45 Navan

The Noel Kelly trained ELLAAT (best priced at 15/2) bounced back to form last time when 2nd at Bellewstown and he should run well from 2lbs “well in” at the weights. The six-year-old won three times on the flat last season before winning three times over hurdles. He has disappointed on his return to the flat since but those have been over distances too far before finishing a close 2nd last time when dropped back down in trip to 1m4f.

Ellaat was only beaten ¾ length when 2nd a week ago and the handicapper has raised him 2lbs for that run. He gets to run here off his previous mark so he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to run well with five places on offer. 

Ellaat - 0.5pts e/w @ 15/2