UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

TOTO TOO's proven ability on soft ground will serve him well with plenty of rain expected in Navan on Friday. Peter Fahey's Ocovango gelding travelled well before landing a bumper in Killarney on his second start. Afterwards, Fahey mentioned Graded bumpers as potential targets, so he clearly thinks a bit of this horse who now goes over flights. Faux Fur was placed in three bumpers before disappointing in Galway. She could be a factor on her hurdling debut. Reversal is a newcomer to note as he is related to a host of multiple winners. Rosalys (on Irish debut) and But What may not want too much cut in the ground, but do come here after winning bumpers at Huntingdon and Punchestown respectively. Ivana, Hashtag Pretender, Musta Lovea Lovea and Verbal Sparring all have chances.
Prediction : 1st Toto Too 2nd Faux Fur 3rd Reversal

This looks a good opportunity for 135-rated AMIR KABIR. Since winning a novice hurdle in Listowel almost a year ago, he has been campaigned in graded company with a best finish of third in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse. A spin in a charity race on the Flat in the Curragh towards the end of August should have him fresh for this. Nyiri won a conditions hurdle on very soft ground in France last December. He was a market drifter before his Irish debut in Cork last month where he finished fourth, but is likely to be much closer here. Amir Kabir's stablemate, Set Point, didn't feature on the beach at Laytown on Tuesday, but has been keeping decent company over hurdles including when second in a valuable handicap hurdle at Bellewstown in July.
Prediction : 1st Amir Kabir 2nd Nyiri 3rd Set Point

GORDONS AURA finished third in a rated hurdle at Downpatrick behind a couple of horses rated 126 and 130. He doesn't meet horses with those ratings here and has to be appealing with Georgie Benson taking 7lb off his back. First Dare was outgunned on the run-in at Tramore and has a shot at compensation. That race confirmed her aptitude for rain-softened ground and her trainer, Liz Doyle, has had two winners from her last four runners at the time of writing. Jody Townend is a notable booking for Banntown Girl who has two victories in her locker. Scott Lang has previously enjoyed himself on the Flat at this track while Ricky Langford knows where the winning post is. Cash The Cheque should give Anna McGuinness a good spin.
Prediction : 1st Gordons Aura 2nd First Dare 3rd Banntown Girl

ONLY ONE PLAN has been in a consistent vein of form this year and could reap the benefits with a second success. Slower ground is very much in his favour as he showed when delivering at Roscommon in June. There could be another victory in Mr MacPhisto based on his running-on second at Cork in July. He has been lightly raced since winning at Kilbeggan in July last year, but his last run was definitely a step in the right direction after three unplaced outings. Jinxs Link was a ready winner on his penultimate start in Kilbeggan. He couldn't justify favouritism when dropping to fifth over slightly further at the same track, but should be involved on ground he will enjoy.
Prediction : 1st Only One Plan 2nd Mr Macphisto 3rd Jinxs Link

Be My Hero has obvious claims after being pipped by a head in a handicap hurdle at Bellewstown last month. He is a longstanding maiden, so perhaps this will be the day he makes the breakthrough off a handy weight, however he would prefer better ground so preference is for EDGE OF MY SEAT. She was a fair second in Kilbeggan and then wasn't beaten overly far into fifth at Ballinrobe. The drop back in trip should suit on ground that will be fine for her. Banada Bridge was beaten a length into second over an extended 2m in Wexford at the start of the month. She is another that has found it hard to get her head in front, but she has form on slower ground. This is a marked drop in trip for Ishan, but he should have more horses behind him that in front of him.
Prediction : 1st Edge Of My Seat 2nd Be My Hero 3rd Banada Bridge

SKRADIN makes plenty of appeal after a close second over this trip at Roscommon in July. The horse that beat him by half a length then followed up in a rated novice hurdle at Sligo last month. Skradin also has a runner-up berth on heavy ground at Clonmel, so the forecast rain won't inconvenience him at all. Sign From Above had a productive Galway Festival as he was placed and then won on the Flat. He has been placed in two of his four races over hurdles and is a threat, up in trip. Arabian Diamond was useful in bumpers and filled the runner-up berth at Sligo on his third start over flights. He is sure to be popular, but the nagging concern is that his best form is on better ground.
Prediction : 1st Skradin 2nd Sign From Above 3rd Arabian Diamond

SIXHANDSINMYPOCKET was placed on his last two starts over similar trips to this one and has each-way claims in an open race. He wouldn't need to find much more to make the breakthrough. Black Tonic has the chance of compensation after unseating his rider at Killarney. He made headway to dispute the lead at the penultimate flight there before losing the partnership with his jockey. The form of that race got a boost when the fourth home came out and scored in Kilbeggan. Hidalgo Des Mottes has been placed in his last six handicap hurdles, so he wouldn't be winning out of turn. Sea Road Fill is one to note up in trip after placed efforts at Sligo and Wexford, while Appian Way and Lets Do This are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Sixhandsinmypocket 2nd Black Tonic 3rd Hidalgo Des Mottes

DEE CAPO made his debut in the valuable sales bumper at Punchestown in April and was in contention until giving best in the closing stages to finish sixth. He was only 3/1 for that 18-runner race and should have plenty to offer here. Meet My Loreley is a former point-to-point winner who stayed on late for third, at odds on, in her first bumper at Wexford last month. She will be sharper now. Patrick Mullins is a significant booking for former point-to-point runner-up Charming Fortune. This five-year-old gelding has switched to Gavin Cromwell for his track debut and is sure to know his job. Menrva certainly outperformed her 80/1 odds in fourth at Cork.
Prediction : 1st Dee Capo 2nd Meet My Loreley 3rd Charming Fortune