As the heart of the racing season unfolds, Navan sets the stage with thrilling contests, featuring local favorites and promising contenders, paving the way for an exhilarating weekend of Irish horse racing action.
As we move deeper into the racing season, Navan becomes the focal point this weekend, paving the way for a series of prominent events in Irish horse racing. With Punchestown's exciting Morgiana-John Durkan doubleheader and the upcoming Hatton's Grace meeting at Fairyhouse, the two Grade Two races at Navan on Saturday serve as an enticing preview.
Local favorite Gordon Elliott is set for an impressive day, with Found A Fifty at the forefront in the Bar One Racing Fortria Chase. The competition is tough, featuring Champion Chaser Captain Guinness along with Grade One stars Banbridge and Gentleman De Mee. However, the upward trajectory of Found A Fifty indicates that he is more than prepared to rise to the occasion.
Last season, he secured the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree following impressive performances at the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham. His first race of the season at Down Royal showcased his class, as he easily outpaced Galway Plate winner Pinkerton. Now, with race fitness on his side and a powerful combination of speed and agility, Found A Fifty is poised to take advantage of the return to a two-mile distance and outshine his distinguished competitors.
A year after his narrow defeat to Bob Olinger in the Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle, Zanahiyr returns to try and even the score. While his attempts at chasing showed flashes of potential, they were marred by inconsistency. Shifting back to hurdling appears to be a wise decision for this skilled competitor.
This time, Zanahiyr is carrying five pounds less than Bob Olinger, and his impressive summer campaign positions him as a strong contender to change the outcome from last year. His capability to maintain his sharpness over a longer distance adds to his potential as a formidable opponent in what is set to be an exciting rematch.
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase presents an exciting lineup filled with promise. Nurburgring, the champion of the Galway Hurdle, is definitely one to keep an eye on. While his lineage—connected to Street Cry and Shamardal—suggests a strength in flat racing, Nurburgring’s smooth transition to hurdles and potential for success in chasing make him an intriguing contender. His quality, alongside the allowance for four-year-olds, could be pivotal against Elliott's pair, King Of Kingsfield and Down Memory Lane, as well as the debut standout, Backtonormal.
The highlight of Sunday is the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase, an ideal opportunity for bettors. Henry de Bromhead's horse, The Short Go, presents an exciting blend of promise and possibility. A strong performance in October at Cheltenham suggested he has developed a new determination over fences, in stark contrast to his previous hurdles performance. Although American Mike and Perceval Legallois are formidable challengers, The Short Go's lighter weight may provide him an advantage.
The Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners’ Chase is set to be an epic showdown featuring Cheltenham Festival champions Slade Steel and Better Days Ahead. Slade Steel, trained by De Bromhead and already a winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, seems ready for additional success as he makes his move to jumping fences.
