"Navan Set to Launch Exciting Racing Weekend in Ireland"
Experience the thrill of Irish horse racing at Navan this weekend, with top contenders like Found A Fifty and Zanahiyr poised for glory, setting the stage for an exhilarating racing season ahead.
As we move deeper into the racing season, Navan will be the focal point this weekend, paving the way for a series of major events in Irish horse racing. With Punchestown's unique Morgiana-John Durkan doubleheader and the upcoming Hatton's Grace meeting at Fairyhouse, Navan's two Grade Two races on Saturday serve as an enticing preview.
Local star Gordon Elliott is set for a remarkable day, with Found A Fifty at the forefront of his team in the Bar One Racing Fortria Chase. The competition will be tough, featuring Champion Chaser Captain Guinness alongside Grade One heavyweights Banbridge and Gentleman De Mee. However, the development of Found A Fifty indicates that he is more than prepared to take the next step.
Last season, he triumphed in the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree following impressive performances at both the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham. His first race of the current season at Down Royal confirmed his quality, as he easily outperformed Galway Plate winner Pinkerton. Now, with his race fitness improved and a powerful combination of speed and agility at his disposal, Found A Fifty is set to take advantage of the return to a two-mile distance and surpass his distinguished competitors.
A year after his narrow defeat to Bob Olinger in the Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle, Zanahiyr returns to seek redemption. His venture into chasing showcased some potential but was marred by inconsistency. Switching back to hurdling appears to be a wise decision for this gifted competitor.
With a weight advantage of five pounds over Bob Olinger this time around, Zanahiyr's impressive summer performance has placed him as a top candidate to turn the tables on last year's outcome. His capacity to maintain sharpness over the extended distance presents him as a formidable competitor in what is expected to be an exciting rematch.
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase presents an exciting lineup featuring plenty of promise. Nurburgring, the winner of the Galway Hurdle, emerges as a primary contender to follow. While his pedigree—linked to Street Cry and Shamardal—suggests strength in flat racing, Nurburgring’s smooth transition to hurdling and potential for success in chasing make him an intriguing candidate. His talent, coupled with the four-year-olds’ allowance, could prove pivotal against Elliott’s pair, King Of Kingsfield and Down Memory Lane, as well as the debut star Backtonormal.
The highlight of Sunday’s events, the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase, offers an enticing opportunity for bettors. Henry de Bromhead’s horse, The Short Go, presents an exciting combination of promise and potential. His impressive performance in October at Cheltenham suggested a new determination over fences, which contrasts with his previous form over hurdles. Although American Mike and Perceval Legallois are formidable competitors, The Short Go’s lighter weight could give him the advantage.
The Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners’ Chase is set to feature an epic showdown between Cheltenham Festival champions Slade Steel and Better Days Ahead. De Bromhead’s Slade Steel, who has already claimed victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, appears ready to achieve even greater success as he makes the shift to jumping fences.
