UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

RITZ PLAN was unlucky to come up against a smart sort when runner-up to Highland Crystal in a similar event at Punchestown last month, with Kilbarry Lizzy 13 lengths behind in third and Copper Rocker further adrift. The winner has since taken a Listed race at Newbury in good style. I'm All In was prominent throughout and still in second spot when unseating his rider at the last in another Academy Hurdle at Cork, while Baby Pearl and Coole Cafe both represent powerful yards and should be noted for any market moves.
Prediction : 1st Ritz Plan 2nd Im All In 3rd Baby Pearl

SAINT BACO showed promise in France last year and the form of his third in a hurdle at Auteuil has worked out well since. The Cokoriko gelding is a half-brother to Saint Roi, who proved a smart sort both over hurdles and fences for Willie Mullins. Lazare De Star finished well when runner-up on his only point-to-point start and was subsequently purchased for 190,000 euros, while Sense Of Occasion also ran with credit between the flags. Le Moulin Rouge ran quite freely but finished well when third to stablemate Sageborough at Wexford and is now fitted with a hood, while War Rooms held a career high rating of 104 on the Flat and is an interesting recruit to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Saint Baco 2nd Lazare De Star 3rd Le Moulin Rouge

COLCANNON won two bumpers including a Grade 2 event at Leopardstown and was third behind Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival, with Copacabana over two lengths behind in fourth. The Noel Meade-trained gelding had a number of these rivals well behind when runner-up to Koktail Brut on hurdle debut at Punchestown last month and that form was well advertised at Fairyhouse last weekend. Riding arrangements suggest Road Exile is preferred of Gordon Elliott's pair, and he was a creditable third behind Blake when switched to hurdles at Down Royal. Burrows Drive was a smart sort in bumpers, while useful Flat handicapper Genuine Article is another interesting recruit to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Colcannon 2nd Copacabana 3rd Burrows Drive

KOVANIS is one of three runners from the Gordon Elliott yard to record an impressive maiden hurdle win last time and it looks significant that Jack Kennedy sides with the son of Tunis. The point-to-point winner landed a bumper at Leopardstown last Christmas and made all for a cosy win over an extended 2m3f at Clonmel last month. C&D winner Classical Creek and Port Authority, who scored by a wide margin at Naas, complete a powerful challenge by the Cullentra team. Thedeviluno beat Elliott's Starlight Hustle (won since) at Gowran, while Galway victor Doctor Steinberg and easy Gowran winner Daydream Nation add further spice to a fascinating Grade 2.
Prediction : 1st Kovanis 2nd Port Authority 3rd Classical Creek

BUACHAILLBOCHT was progressive over hurdles winning three times including twice over an extended 2m6f at Punchestown before switching to fences last season and justifying heavy support on his final start at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting. The selection handles soft ground well and will relish this stamina test. Paddy's Milestone won over 3m at Down Royal last year and was absent until beating Grimaud by two lengths over 2m5f here last month with Gringo D'aubrelle back in fifth. However, he's now 10lb out of the handicap proper and stablemate Ayiko may prove more of a threat on his third to Custom Taylor in a valuable 2m7f Fairyhouse handicap last spring. Yeats Star is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Buachaillbocht 2nd Ayiko 3rd Paddys Milestone

INTHEPOCKET was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles but has suffered an interrupted campaign since sent chasing. He reappeared after a lengthy break to easily win at Wexford last autumn but needs to bounce back after a fall on his reappearance at Naas last month. Tullyhill was held in high regard as a novice over hurdles and had Harry Des Ongrais behind when runner-up to Mistergif over fences at Fairyhouse earlier this year. The Willie Mullins-trained grey tends to jump left and should benefit from his reappearance at Wexford. Backtonormal took the valuable Leopardstown Handicap Chase in fine style last season but disappointed over hurdles at Naas last month.
Prediction : 1st Inthepocket 2nd Tullyhill 3rd Harry Des Ongrais

WINGMEN was highly tried over hurdles last season including when second to Final Demand in a 2m6f Leopardstown Grade 1 and put in a generally sound round of jumping when switched to fences on his reappearance here last month. The selection was again no match for Final Demand but had a number of these rivals behind and may go on better. The 2024 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Slade Steel filled the runner-up spot on both chase starts last season including behind Lecky Watson at Naas, while another smart novice hurdler, Predators Gold, bids to overcome a lengthy absence on his chase debut. Kopeck De Mee won three times over hurdles in France and was just denied in an Aintree handicap this spring.
Prediction : 1st Wingmen 2nd Slade Steel 3rd Predators Gold

FIXIOS shaped well on debut when staying on into third behind the odds-on Classical Creek in a 22-runner 2m4f maiden hurdle here last month. The Noel Meade-trained gelding should benefit from that experience and gets the vote over impressive point-to-point winner With Nolimit, who was bought for 250,000 pounds after scoring for Jonathan Fogarty at Liscarroll in March. Riding arrangements suggest he's preferred to another point winner Detroit Maverick, while Treasure Memory has been placed both in a bumper and over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Fixios 2nd With Nolimit 3rd Treasure Memory