Steve Ryder is back with three tips from today's action.
14:10 Navan
With questions marks about American Mike at this trip of 2 miles, preference instead goes to Inothewayurthinkin (best priced at 3/1) who will no doubt be suited by this drop in trip. The Gavin Cromwell trained five-year-old won a maiden hurdle at Cork in November by 1 ¾ lengths before following up at Gowran Park beating the reopposing Imagine by ½ length.
Connections then ran Inothewayurthinkin in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle over 2m4f where he travelled well until the omitted last hurdle where he then weakened into 4th place. This drop back in trip will suit and I expect him to have too much pace for the favourite.
14:40 Navan
The Charles Byrnes trained Blazing Khal (best priced at 7/2) will no doubt step forward for his run in the Boyne Hurdle today but he may well prove good enough to win it anyway. The seven-year-old was unbeaten in his three runs over hurdles last season including two victories at Cheltenham. He won a Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle over 2m5f in November before following up in impressive style to win by 4 ¼ lengths in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle under a penalty in December.
Blazing Khal was then antepost favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but missed it through injury and this will be his first start for 428 days. He is currently a best price of 11/2 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and I expect him to win this before shortening into favourite for that race in March.
15:50 Southwell
Only runners contest this 0-80 handicap and I feel the top weight The X O (best priced at 5/6) should prove hard to beat. The John Ryan trained three-year-old has run consistently well on his four career starts with form figures of 2213. His victory came over this course and distance a month ago when an impressive 2 ¾ length winner in a novice race.
The X O was poorly drawn in Stall 7 for his handicap debut at Lingfield last time where he was trapped wide, keen with no cover and he should prove hard to beat off the same mark in this race from Stall 4.
