UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

MILO LISES ran a big race on his debut in the Goffs Bumper at Punchestown and is a nice prospect for novice hurdles this season. He chased home stablemate Predators Gold that day and the form looks good with the winner an impressive winner on his debut over jumps at Punchestown recently. Jigoro has the benefit of a run over timber and looks a danger. Gordon Elliott's charge chased home a decent sort in Flamborough at Cork last month and is entitled to improve from that experience. Butcher Hollow is unbeaten after a point-to-point win at Tallow in February and a bumper success at Galway in late October. He looks like another big player.
Prediction : 1st Milo Lises 2nd Jigoro 3rd Butcher Hollow

CALDWELL POTTER ran well on his hurdling debut when chasing home It's For Me at Punchestown last month and can go one better now. The Martaline gelding was a bumper winner last season and ended his campaign with a decent run to finish third in a hot winners race won by stablemate Stellar Story. Willie Mullins is represented by Dr Eggman and he obviously commands respect. The Saint des Saints gelding was a narrow winner at Ballinrobe back in May after a couple of nice runs in stronger bumpers. He could do better over jumps now. Catena Zapata finished runner-up in two maiden hurdles last season and is a decent sort on the Flat. He's another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Caldwell Potter 2nd Dr Eggman 3rd Catena Zapata

SLADE STEEL was impressive on his hurdling debut at Naas last month and the form has gotten a major boost since. He beat King Of Kingsfield in fine style then and that rival ran a cracker to finish second in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last weekend. The Telescope gelding looks like he will appreciate stepping up in trip now and is an exciting prospect. Gordon Elliott runs two in the race and Stellar Story looks his main hope with Jack Kennedy on board. The Shantou gelding won a couple of bumpers last term and got the job done in good style on his hurdling debut over course and distance three weeks ago. Elliott also saddles Better Days Ahead who comes here off a confidence-boosting win at Fairyhouse. Smart bumper performer Lecky Watson made heavy weather of winning on his hurdling debut at Thurles and needs to improve on that.
Prediction : 1st Slade Steel 2nd Stellar Story 3rd Better Days Ahead

The progressive WILL DO may be able to keep his winning run going. The Walk In The Park gelding looks well suited by this sort of trip and was pulling away to beat Getaway Charlie at Thurles last time. He doesn't look harshly treated off 128 on his handicap debut. Gordon Elliott saddles six in the race and another Gigginstown gelding, Beacon Edge, tops the weights. It's no surprise to see him claim oft the Doyen gelding, with Carl Millar taking the mount, and he could run a big race having shown himself in good heart by winning at Thurles on his comeback run. Espanito Bello was also a winner on his seasonal debut and is another that has to come into the mix.
Prediction : 1st Will Do 2nd Beacon Edge 3rd Espanito Bello

MARS HARPER has progressed well this term winning twice over 2m6f at Galway and Listowel and again ran a cracker last time when beating all bar Idas Boy over a similar distance at Punchestown. A stiff 2m4f around here on testing ground should suit him well. The Flier Begley won a beginners chase over this trip at Down Royal and shaped well on his reappearance over hurdles here last month. Any Second Now has won three times at this venue including the Grade 2 Webster Cup over C&D last March but may just need the run as he presumably builds towards another crack at the Grand National. Union Park has been in good form both over fences and hurdles and has the assistance of a useful 5lb claimer, while Eklat De Rire handles heavy ground well but has obviously had training problems.
Prediction : 1st Mars Harper 2nd The Flier Begley 3rd Union Park

HIDDENVALLEY LAKE was unlucky not to win his only point-to-point start and was a useful stayer over hurdles last season winning twice including a Grade 3 at Cork. He looks the type to do better over fences. Saint Felicien is in the same ownership and also won twice over hurdles plus finishing runner-up in a Grade 3. Gordon Elliott's charge was absent for 20 months before making his debut here over fences in a hot beginners race when third to Facile Vega but this trip on heavy ground may stretch his stamina. Indiana Dream is still in the could be anything bracket having easily won a maiden on his hurdle debut at Fairyhouse on New Years Day while stablemate Shanbally Kid won a maiden hurdle here over this trip and is another exciting recruit to fences.
Prediction : 1st Hiddenvalley Lake 2nd Saint Felicien 3rd Shanbally Kid

MY TRUMP CARD looks the one to beat with the booking of Patrick Mullins catching the eye. The well-bred Shantou gelding cost 230,000 euro as a store at Goffs and made a promising start here over hurdles but was then absent for a year before just denied in a bumper over C&D last month. Big Chou was friendless in the market but shaped well on debut in a maiden hurdle at Naas, keeping on nicely in the closing stages when fourth to Mahon's Way over 2m3f and should be suited by this stiff uphill finish. The Story So Far also came home strongly on debut last month when third to the selection's stablemate Rainbow Trail at Clonmel and is now fitted with cheek pieces.
Prediction : 1st My Trump Card 2nd Big Chou 3rd The Story So Far