SUNDAY WEEKENDER

14:15 Navan

With not much catching the eye over in the UK we again have a cracking card over in Ireland at Navan with three graded races. We start with the Boyne Hurdle over two mile five and features a high class field of eight.

Dedigout was the winner of a decent field last time, just getting up close home, while he has an obvious chance, with better ground conditions expected he can be overlooked. The trainer has numerously said that he is “made of glass” and a run this quickly again may just find him out.

Zaidpour is an admirable horse but usually needs a small field and is overlooked again by stable jockey. While back in focus is an interesting contender over this trip. He has won over four miles and was once very well fancied for a grand national. He will need this and is very much on the comeback trail.

Briar hill who is a Champion Bumper winner and was well fancied to win last year at Cheltenham. His last two runs have been too bad to be true but I have seen glimpses that he has been coming back. I think this trip could be right up his street and not certain he wants three miles. Conditions are in favour and expect a bold bid to carry his trainers excellent form.

Briar Hill (WIN)

15:55 Navan

While I’m a massive fan of Gilgamboa, at the current odds he is not much of a betting prospect, so we will move on to the Grade Two Ten Up Novice over three miles. Now this is an excellent division in Ireland this season with the likes of Apache Stronghold, Don Poli and Valseur Lido all leading the markets at the festival.

This race provably doesn’t stand up to that level but is competitive non the less.

Noble emperor is the current market leader and hacked up last time over a shorter trip and in lesser company. He has it all to prove here and is far too short. The same can be said about Urano for Willie Mullins. He is fairly inconsistent and wouldn’t be backing him to follow up a facile Cork win on bottomless ground. Apache Jack was very fortunate to win last time when looking like he was going to be well beaten only for Gilt Shadow to tip up at the last. That horse has since gone on to run poorly and it’s hard to see him taking home this prize. While the selection Very Wood hasn’t done much since winning a beginners chase at Galway he has been Thrown in the deep end numerous times. He clearly has class tho as a grade one winner at the Cheltenham Festival last year and this is clearly easier than his last two runs. The better ground should suit and Noel Meade is coming into a bit off form.

Very Wood (WIN)

17:00 Navan

It’s not very often I put up a bumper horse. However I think this one could be above average and its not a Mullins or Elliot horse. While they have horses here and they should be respected. The selection is Tuzo who ran with great credit last time out beating the opposing Corgyhill and should uphold that form and improve again. They were behind a big champion bumper hope Au Quart De Tour won was very impressive. That is by far the strongest form here and should take some beating. Willie Mullins has an unbelievable record in bumpers in Ireland Arkwrist doesn’t look his strongest and the likely favourite is opposable.

Tuzo (WIN)