UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

HARTUR D'ARC won a point-to-point in good style last year and handled much more testing ground when landing a Cork bumper this spring. The Tom Gibney-trained gelding is an exciting recruit to hurdles. Gordon Elliott often produces a smart sort in this race and is well represented with a trio of runners all in the colours of Bective Stud. Neigh Botha also won a bumper at Musselburgh and gained some hurdling experience when third to hot-pot No Risk No Fun at Listowel. Firefox is a half-brother to The Bosses Oscar and cost 280,000 euro at the Derby Sale last year. It will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market while Kilbree Market has plenty of jumping experience and was placed in a maiden hurdle at the Listowel Festival.
Prediction : 1st Hartur Darc 2nd Neigh Botha 3rd Firefox

MAXXUM won a maiden hurdle at Clonmel for Eugene O'Sullivan this spring and was well-backed on his first start for Gordon Elliott when narrowly denied by Gaius (won again since) over 2m4f at Punchestown last month. He should progress from that outing. Dangers abound in a typically competitive event for this grade including Enjoy D'allen who ran well in a valuable handicap at Leopardstown on his last hurdle start and remains on an attractive mark compared to his chase rating. Nathaniel's Dream won at the Galway Festival on his last hurdle start, while others to consider are strong stayer The Dabbler, Krabat and Moonovercloon.
Prediction : 1st Maxxum 2nd Enjoy Dallen 3rd Nathaniels Dream

FLAME BEARER was a smart novice hurdler for Pat Doyle last season and looks the type to do well over fences with a move to the champion trainer hardly a negative. The Fame And Glory gelding completed a hat-trick including Grade 2 wins at both Naas and Fairyhouse before filling the runner-up spot behind State Man in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. Colonel Mustard and Hollow Games were also placed at the top level over hurdles last season and should do well over fences this term. The former was also third behind State Man in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Carrig Sam is a point-to-point winner and also did well over hurdles earlier this year.
Prediction : 1st Flame Bearer 2nd Colonel Mustard 3rd Hollow Games

THREE CARD BRAG upset a long odds-on shot when scoring on debut in a Wexford bumper and returned from a summer break to make a successful switch to hurdles at Galway a fortnight ago. He got well on top in the closing stages when beating Sandor Clegane and should be suited by this galloping track. Hercule Du Seuil was very disappointing at Leopardstown last Christmas but is probably back in the 'could be anything' bracket after a facile win in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last month. Plains Indian gained his third win over hurdles when landing a Listed race at Limerick last time while Kiki Badger and the selection's stablemate Imagine both deserve a crack at this grade after winning a maiden.
Prediction : 1st Three Card Brag 2nd Hercule Du Seuil 3rd Plains Indian

Champion Hurdle-third ZANAHIYR has won twice on reappearance. Most of his form is at two miles but stayed well on the flat, hinting he could be suited to middle-distances, and was running well over today's trip (admittedly held by Epatante) when falling at Aintree. Free-going Flooring Porter was in front when falling in this race last year and while a top stayer, is better suited by longer distances and gives away weight on reappearance. Bob Olinger, high class on his day, disappointed when left in front to win at Cheltenham and pulled up at Punchestown. He runs without penalty but is on a retrieval mission reverting to hurdles. Sire Du Berlais beat Flooring Porter at Aintree but was beaten in Punchestown and while he won this race in 2020, has joint-top weight. Commander Of Fleet won the Coral Cup and runs without penalty but would prefer slightly further, with Jack Kennedy riding the selection. Ashdale Bob ran well in good races last season and while his wins have been at this distance, hasn't won for 19 months. Gatsby Grey, second in an April Grade 1, is lightly-weighted and steps back up to this distance but faces a tough task.
Prediction : 1st Zanahiyr 2nd Flooring Porter 3rd Bob Olinger

FERNY HOLLOW has had training problems but reappears in November, suggesting he has had a good preparation. Winner of Cheltenham's Bumper and Supreme Novices Hurdle, he made an excellent start to his chasing career and can progress further in open company. Captain Guinness is rated to beat the selection by a length but mightn't be full value for his 160 rating and was well held in two most recent Grade 1s. Andy Dufresne is closely matched with Captain Guinness on Naas November form but took a heavy fall at Punchestown and last season's Grand Annual Handicap Chase runner-up is possibly best watched on reappearance. Riviere D'etel jumps right which isn't ideal, was beaten by the selection last Christmas and is 2lb worse off. Coral Cup runner-up Fastorslow makes his chase debut over an inadequate distance while Epson Du Houx steps up in grade. Veteran Castlegrace Paddy has plenty on his plate.
Prediction : 1st Ferny Hollow 2nd Captain Guinness 3rd Andy Dufresne

CHANGING THE RULES lacks a recent run on handicap debut but is open to plenty progression. Out of a once-raced sister to Moscow Flyer, his runs last season were encouraging, he has soft-ground form and finished well despite being hampered at Fairyhouse in April. Fortunedefortunata showed form in England before winning at Galway. He is 11lb higher but has solid claims, being open to further improvement and is also proven on soft. Sil Ver Klass has won once from 14 hurdle outings but is rated 14lb higher over fences, is ground-versatile and race-fit. Kashi was slowly away when beaten 80 lengths on Curragh reappearance but is better judged on last year's useful hurdles form, although is 9lb higher than when winning a rated hurdle in May. Global Export represents a yard in form, is ground-versatile and race-fit but has plenty weight. Rodney Bay is race-fit but not ahead of the handicapper while three-time Dollys Destination was second at Punchestown but hasn't won for over two years. Clever Currency fell when leading at Punchestown but was previously well held in handicap hurdles. Cotteemcavennigoal reappears.
Prediction : 1st Changing The Rules 2nd Fortunedefortunata 3rd Sil Ver Klass

FOUND A FIFTY won a point to point for Mark Fahey last November and has since changed hands. The first Irish runner by his formerly South African-based sire, he had the measure of subsequent bumper winner Pembroke when that rival fell in Boulta, with the fourth horse also winning over hurdles and plenty point-to-point winners emerging from the race. Fermoyle is flat-bred, ran well at Punchestown and being by Fast Company, should handle soft. Givehimthehour was bought for 75,000 pounds following his point-to-point win for Denis Murphy and can run well. Summer Melody was fourth behind a smart type at Limerick and is proven on testing ground while Blindwell Dream is a half-brother to a staying winner but appears his trainer's second-string. Makaela's Choice, a sibling to two winners, makes a belated debut aged six while Largy Shark needs to improve.
Prediction : 1st Found A Fifty 2nd Fermoyle 3rd Givehimthehonour