UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

CLASSICAL CREEK has smart form and represents a yard that targets this meeting. A 10-length winner of a point-to-point and successful on his bumper debut, he also finished third in a Listed bumper here last December. He hasn't raced since and was withdrawn lame from Graded races in February and April, but will be ready for his reappearance. Fillyoureye, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Colreevy, won a bumper in the spring but although open to progression over jumps, that Kilbeggan form isn't outstanding and he might struggle to beat the selection. The Store Boy has shown ability, while Agameoftwohalves is out of a triple bumper winner.
Prediction : 1st Classical Creek 2nd Fillyoureye 3rd The Store Boy

WATCHING THE CLOCK is a progressive four-year-old who should be suited by reverting to this distance. Her initial form was unexciting but having scored on soft ground at Gowran last month, she subsequently finished well for fourth at Punchestown. She can continue to progress and the extra half-mile will help. Similarly, Paul's Dream steps up in trip, having been in contention when falling at the second-last in Cheltenham. She could well improve at this distance, but is unproven on heavy ground. Killinure Lass wasn't disgraced at Thurles when attempting to follow up on her earlier Tramore success and must enter calculations from an unchanged mark.
Prediction : 1st Watching The Clock 2nd Pauls Dream 3rd Killinure Lass

COLONIA VICTORIA is useful and should compete from her 118 rating. Placed fourth at Group 3 level on the Flat in Italy in 2023, she scored over hurdles at Cork back in April, beating a now 119-rated runner-up, while the third also scored subsequently. She conceded weight to the winner at Wexford recently and has form on soft ground. Lambay Island was heavily supported when finishing a close enough third on his return at Thurles. That form is unexciting, but he met race-fit rivals on lively ground and can progress. Scalpnagoon's last two starts were disappointing, but he had previously shown ability and it is encouraging that Jack Kennedy rides on his reappearance.
Prediction : 1st Colonia Victoria 2nd Lambay Island 3rd Scalpnagoon

ACE BRANNIGAN looked capable in winning last month and remains unexposed. Well related, he finished a close second on point-to-point debut last December and, at Tipperary, defeated last weekend's Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle winner Letos comfortably. He has form on soft ground and is suited by this distance. Capable but keen, I'll Sort That was under pressure when left clear at the last in Galway and although 4lb worse off with Ma Jacks Hill, can confirm the form if he settles better. It is a negative that Theflyingking is his trainer's apparent second string because he is closely matched with I'll Sort That on bumper form and was unlucky last time at Down Royal.
Prediction : 1st Ace Brannigan 2nd Ill Sort That 3rd Ma Jacks Hill

Gordon Elliott's THE YELLOW CLAY is two from two over hurdles at this venue and his proven ability on testing ground will be a real asset to him. Although he would prefer a sounder surface, he powered clear on heavy ground to land a Grade 3 at this festival last year. Jetara is race-fit from the Flat and has a couple of placed efforts in Grade 1 company at Aintree and Punchestown to call upon. She has the assistance of Paul Townend and is a big player. Elliott's Maxxum is only rated 3lb inferior to The Yellow Clay and is a winner at Grade 2 level over flights around here. He is more than capable of a big run from the front.
Prediction : 1st The Yellow Clay 2nd Jetara 3rd Maxxum

A cracking contest. With more and more rain falling, DINOBLUE could represent value in receipt of the mares' allowance. She returns to action in search of a four-timer and has an enviable strike rate over fences. She ploughs through attritional ground and is weighted to make a race of it with the favourite Marine Nationale. He is the one to beat having won the Champion Chase at both Cheltenham and Punchestown last season. He is a real 'speed' horse over 2m and, whilst that is the case, heavy ground is a nagging doubt despite his undoubted class. Captain Guinness won this race in 2022 and 2023 so shouldn't be underestimated, while last year's hero, Found A Fifty, is also in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Dinoblue 2nd Marine Nationale 3rd Captain Guinness

KOPEK DES BORDES makes his eagerly-awaited debut over fences and is hard to get away from. He is a dual Grade 1 winner over flights, including in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival, and is the ante-post favourite for the Arkle in March following positive updates on his schooling over fences. Jump Allen has acquitted himself well over timber and is proven over further, while the lightly-raced Lovely Hurling and the returning Harvard Guy add more spice to the mix.
Prediction : 1st Kopek Des Bordes 2nd Jump Allen 3rd Lovely Hurling

LEMMY CAUTION's homework has been good according to a recent stable tour and this point-to-point winner is fancied to make a successful transition to the racecourse for Gordon Elliott. Jet To Monte Carlo looks a significant threat as he cruised to victory by a wide margin in a Ballynoe point-to-point in March before switching to Emmet Mullins' yard. Leonard Vallis attracted support ahead of his debut in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park last month and there was promise in his runner-up finish. Henry de Bromhead's newcomer Springs Steen is well worth a market check, while Le Roi Du Livet was narrowly denied in a bumper at Tramore last month.
Prediction : 1st Lemmy Caution 2nd Jet To Monte Carlo 3rd Leonard Vallis