UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

COME WALK WITH ME showed promise on debut behind Jasmin De Vaux over C&D before giving the long odds-on Sounds Victorius a fright when runner-up over 2m4f at Fairyhouse. The pair pulled clear of the remainder and the form looks solid as the winner was far from disgraced subsequently in a Leopardstown Grade 1. Salt Bay was a smart sort on the Flat and it will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market on hurdle debut. Honesty Policy made a bright start under Rules when beating all bar the favourite Joystick in a 21-runner Naas maiden with stablemate St Cuthbert's Cave over five lengths back in fourth. Icare D'aubrelle ran too bad to be true in that 2m event when dropping out tamely in the straight, but the form of his previous third to Sky Lord at Cork has worked out well.
Prediction : 1st Come Walk With Me 2nd Salt Bay 3rd Honesty Policy

BLUE MOSQUE won a Naas bumper last spring on soft ground and made a successful start over hurdles when reappearing in a 2m4f Cork maiden. He was soundly beaten subsequently here in a Grade 3 before finishing well last time behind Disco Dancer over 2m1f at Down Royal. The winner franked the form when placed last weekend in a valuable handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival. Wide-margin Clonmel winner Tareze holds strong claims, but it's a concern that her trainer hasn't been in the best of form since finishing second in a 2m3f Punchestown Listed race in December. Just For Love is a consistent sort and drops in trip having been placed last time in a 3m Cork Grade 3.
Prediction : 1st Blue Mosque 2nd Tareze 3rd Just For Love

MINELLA INDO is certainly in the veteran category now but retains plenty of ability as evidenced by his third in the Grand National last April. The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner made a pleasing return at Punchestown, and this looks a reasonable opportunity on his first run over hurdles since winning two Grade 1 races as a novice nearly six years ago. Thedevilscoachman ran a cracker on his reappearance when second to Rocky's Diamond in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle over 3m at Gowran, with Maxxum over eight lengths behind in sixth. Noel Meade's charge is not the most consistent performer while Meet And Greet is preferred to Farren Glory, who faces a stiff task with a 9lb penalty on his return to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Minella Indo 2nd Thedevilscoachman 3rd Meet And Greet

Point-to-point winner COFFEYS FORGE appeals in this weak contest. He ran a fine race to finish third on his first start for Gordon Elliott at Clonmel last month and he may appreciate this step up in trip. Ultimately disappointing since finishing third on debut, Elliott also saddles Nathan Wells who is tried in blinkers for the first time. Cheekpieces are deployed on Tell Nobody Nothin, who reverts to hurdles after a below-par effort at Gowran in November. Out of Bonny Kate, a Grade 2 winner over fences, the Noel Meade-trained five-year-old should be able to make his presence felt. Second on recent starts at Punchestown, Comeonarchie is sure to have plenty of supporters, while handicap debutant Pointe A Pitre and Ross O'Sullivan's Not My Problem are other leading hopes.
Prediction : 1st Coffeys Forge 2nd Tell Nobody Nothin 3rd Comeonarchie

Gordon Elliott saddles three of the five and it'll come as a surprise if one of them doesn't prevail. Beaten by just a head when last seen in Grade 1 company, Better Days Ahead is understandably the choice of Sam Ewing. While 6lb inferior to his aforementioned rival on official ratings, THREE CARD BRAG is the selection. A real stayer, he deservedly made the breakthrough over fences last month and is taken to follow up now. The winner of the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last year, Stellar Story is the other Elliott representative. As a Grade 2 winner over fences, he carries a 5lb penalty and is on a retrieval mission after disappointing when last seen at Leopardstown.
Prediction : 1st Three Card Brag 2nd Better Days Ahead 3rd Stellar Story

Out of action for well over two years, GRINGO D'AUBRELLE hasn't shown a whole lot since his November return. Bought for 270,000 euro after winning a point-to-point on debut, he held his own over flights, finishing third at the highest level in the Challow Hurdle of 2021. Off an initial mark of 116, he finished fourth of eight on his handicap debut over fences at Fairyhouse last month and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time now, it'll be interesting to see how he fares. A fast finishing second at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start, Elliott saddles another leading contender in the shape of Wine An Dine. First and second over the course and distance last month, Verdant Place and Salmanino are both likely to have plenty of supporters, while Limerick winner Whateys Quest is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Gringo Daubrelle 2nd Wine An Dine 3rd Verdant Place

A 125,000-euro purchase at the Tattersalls Derby Sale, BURROWS DRIVE finished third on debut at Punchestown in April of last year, just a neck behind Colcannon. That form reads very well now, with the latter successful in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend. A half-brother to four winners, the bay selection should give a good account of himself in what looks an open affair. Saddling both Coyote Spirit and newcomer Returning Officer, Gordon Elliott again appears to have strong claims. Previously trained by Finbar Hand, the former finished second to an Elliott runner over the course and distance in December and was subsequently purchased by current connections. Point-to-point recruits Frankie John and Noticebox both warrant the utmost respect, with the latter bought for 80,000 pounds after falling at the last when narrowly headed at Ballyknock last season. While not making much appeal on breeding, Copacabana is of automatic interest given connections, while Mount Mason is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Burrows Drive 2nd Coyote Spirit 3rd Frankie John