UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

RAINBOW TRAIL won a bumper on testing ground at Clonmel back in November and gets the vote to open his account over hurdles following a promising effort in a 25-runner Naas maiden last month. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding beat all bar the well-regarded Tounsivator, with Well Dressed about ten lengths behind in fourth. Union Station shaped well on debut when third to Tullyhill in a 25-runner 2m Naas maiden and was again placed on his only subsequent start over three furlongs extra last month. En Or won over 1m6f on the Flat at Fairyhouse last summer and also showed promise over hurdles at Punchestown. It's best to put a line through his latest hurdle run at Down Royal last Sunday where he was pulled up early due to a slipped saddle.
Prediction : 1st Rainbow Trail 2nd Union Station 3rd En Or

Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand here and riding arrangements suggest INSTANT TENDANCE is preferred. The daughter of Joshua Tree was placed both over hurdles and bumpers this season before landing the odds here earlier this month when drawing clear in the closing stages to take a mares' maiden. Purse Price ended a frustrating run of places in style when easily scoring at Thurles in January and probably put up a career best last time when second to Blizzard Of Oz at Leopardstown. Circus Act was just denied by American Money in an 18-runner Naas handicap this year, while Influential Lady gained a fifth career win at Ballinrobe last summer but may struggle on this ground after a winter break.
Prediction : 1st Instant Tendance 2nd Purse Price 3rd Circus Act

LIGHTKEEPER was first past the post in a point-to-point last spring and has proved consistent since sent over hurdles this year. The Walk In The Park gelding filled the runner-up spot behind hotpots Tullyhill and Mercurey at Naas and Punchestown respectively and should be suited by this step up in trip after staying on into fourth at Down Royal last Sunday. Iceberg Theory was third on debut behind The Yellow Clay in a Leopardstown bumper and also made the frame in all three maiden hurdle starts including behind Black Bamboo at Cork. Fameaftertheglory won two point-to-points and a bumper but has proved frustrating to date over hurdles, while Howdoyalikeherhome reverts to maiden company after two placed efforts in handicaps.
Prediction : 1st Lightkeeper 2nd Iceberg Theory 3rd Fameaftertheglory

CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL jumped poorly early on in Grade 1 company last time and this drop in class could help his confidence now. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding, tenth in the Champion Bumper last season, had been a good winner on his hurdling bow at Clonmel in December but made a couple of serious errors early on in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and made little impression after. He is better than that and this looks an ideal race for him now. Twoohthree was impressive on his 'track' debut at Leopardstown earlier in the month but the front two went very hard then and the race fell apart a bit. He is still clearly a talented sort though and represents the obvious danger. His stablemate Binge Worthy looks most likely to fill the places.
Prediction : 1st Chapeau De Soleil 2nd Twoohthree 3rd Binge Worthy

A really competitive race and ASK ANYTHING gets the vote. Gavin Cromwell's charge had looked like a real stayer in the making when winning his maiden hurdle in testing conditions at Limerick in October and can come into his own now tackling this trip. He was a game winner over two-and-a-half miles on the middle of his three chase starts and the minimum trip looked too sharp last time back at Down Royal. Paul Marvel is another taking a big step up in distance now having chased home stablemate Horantzau D'airy at Leopardstown last time. He still looks relatively unexposed and could be a danger. Top-weight Battle It Out went up 11lb for his easy win at Naas last time and going a bit further then seemed to help him. He has to be on the shortlist despite his hike.
Prediction : 1st Ask Anything 2nd Paul Marvel 3rd Battle It Out

DUTCH SCHULTZ ran well on his first outing in handicap company over fences at Clonmel last month and looks capable of striking now. The Golden Horn gelding chased home Mick Charlie then and that form looks solid with the first four home coming into the race off the back of good efforts. Hardwired brings winning form into the race, having scored at Punchestown last time. He's not the most straightforward but should be there or thereabouts again. De Lady In Red hasn't been far away in her last couple of runs and looks capable of going well. She wasn't helped by stumbling going to the second last at Fairyhouse last time and remains relatively unexposed over fences.
Prediction : 1st Dutch Schultz 2nd De Lady In Red 3rd Hardwired

MYWAYOFTHINKIN can do his bit for the family here after two of his siblings won at Cheltenham recently. The Flemensfirth gelding, a half-brother to Limerick Lace and Inothewayurthinkin, ran a lovely race on his debut when chasing home Goldinthemountains at Leopardstown over Christmas and can build on that. Masterboy Davis was narrowly edged out on his 'track' debut at Punchestown last month and looks like an obvious danger. Patrick Mullins rides Harbour Highway for his cousin Emmet and he's one to note in the market. The Youmzain gelding was a good winner of his point-to-point at Bartlemy last May.
Prediction : 1st Mywayofthinkin 2nd Masterboy Davis 3rd Harbour Highway