UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

EASTERN LEGEND earned a rating of 97 when winning three times on the Flat, including a valuable handicap at Leopardstown, and the Teofilo gelding boasts some smart placed form over hurdles. He was third behind Romeo Coolio in a Grade 1 at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and now takes a big drop in class. There is little to choose between bumper winners Fad Eadrainn and Withabitofluk on running behind Kalix Delabarriere at Naas last month, while W B Easy made a promising debut in the Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival but has been soundly beaten on both outings since.
Prediction : 1st Eastern Legend 2nd Withabitofluk 3rd Fad Eadrainn

KRAK has shown plenty of promise on both maiden hurdle outings and may open his account at the third attempt. He was placed at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and again filled third spot behind Ballybow at Naas. Grey Pharoh is an obvious threat having been well backed on his debut under Rules when beating all bar Runcok at Punchestown last month, with subsequent winner Free Flow all of 25 lengths behind in third. Brave Brigadier is another for the shortlist after finishing second on both starts in Punchestown maidens, while Zoffman was rated in the 90s on the Flat and is an interesting recruit to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Krak 2nd Grey Pharoh 3rd Zoffman

QUALIMITA and Kimy are closely matched on running at the Dublin Racing Festival where they filled the placings behind Vischio in a valuable mares' handicap. Kimy should be suited by this sounder surface, but Gordon Elliott's charge is certainly the more consistent of the pair and her form in maidens also reads well. Fairyland Opera made a bright start in handicaps when just denied by Duke Of Leggagh at Naas and the winner subsequently followed up in impressive fashion. Pachmena is another to consider, while Love Like This appears versatile both in terms of distance and ground conditions but remains a maiden after 20 starts.
Prediction : 1st Qualimita 2nd Fairyland Opera 3rd Kimy

BUTCH CASSIDY won a bumper for Philip Fenton before switching to Henry de Bromhead and made a winning start over hurdles in a 2m3f Punchestown maiden. It's probably best to put a line through a disappointing run last time in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle as the yard was out of form. Clonmel maiden winner C'est Ta Chance also needs to bounce back after disappointing last time, while Cardcounter should be suited by this stamina test after finishing strongly to score at Punchestown last month. Ol Man Dingle has progressed well this season, completing a hat-trick in a 2m4f Leopardstown handicap, and ran just as well back there at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Prediction : 1st Butch Cassidy 2nd Cardcounter 3rd Ol Man Dingle

SMOOTH SCOTCH has performed well in a couple of strong maiden hurdles this season and can get his head in front now. The Libertarian gelding was fifth behind Cheltenham winner Air Of Entitlement over Christmas and most recently finished third behind Jacob's Ladder here in January. That form looks strong with the winner following up in Grade 3 company and the runner-up Forty Coats finishing fourth in the Turners Novices' Hurdle. Autoportrait has been knocking on the door and may appreciate stepping back up in trip here. Butcher Hollow is another contender on the pick of his form.
Prediction : 1st Smooth Scotch 2nd Autoportrait 3rd Butcher Hollow

VERDANT PLACE stays well and seems to have a liking for this track. It was testing enough when he won here last time but the ground was yielding when he scored in December and he is expected to run a big race again. There is a bit of rain forecast which would be welcome. Hillsdale is an interesting contender taking a significant step up in trip. The Westerner gelding has been in fine form and if he settles he could run a big race. Mousey Brown ran really well when picking up black-type on her return over hurdles at Punchestown last month. She is another to consider, back over the larger obstacles now.
Prediction : 1st Verdant Place 2nd Hillsdale 3rd Mousey Brown

A WAVE OF THE SEA ran really well on his last visit here and may be able to get back into the winning groove. He lost out by half a length to Individualiste in December before another solid effort to finish third at Leopardstown on his return from a little break early this month. Dropping back in trip shouldn't be an issue for him. Battle Of Ridgeway made use of a lower mark over hurdles at Gowran last time and should be competitive off this rating back over fences. Quornofamonday also comes into the race in winning form and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st A Wave Of The Sea 2nd Battle Of Ridgeway 3rd Quornofamonday

MA JACKS HILL has contested two strong bumpers over the winter and can open his account now. The Famous Name gelding was last seen finishing a close fourth behind Green Splendour at Leopardstown over Christmas and the winner went on to run with credit at the Dublin Racing Festival. Similarly, Burrows Drive has come up against some smart types in his two runs to date and he's another who is expected to go well. The Willie Mullins-trained newcomer Bon Viveur obviously commands respect. The Flemensfirth gelding cost 85,000 euro as a store and is out of a half-sister to Landofhopeandglory, who was Grade 1 placed over hurdles and Group 2 placed on the Flat.
Prediction : 1st Ma Jacks Hill 2nd Burrows Drive 3rd Bon Viveur