Navan preview: Elliott army set for Troytown test

Navan plays host to an interesting card on Sunday, one that has been extremely kind to Gordon Elliott in recent years. The Cullentra handler won six of the seven races at combined odds of 41,276/1 in 2016, while the day’s feature event – the Troytown Handicap Chase (14:30) – is a contest he has dominated since 2014, winning four of the last five renewals.

Elliott is responsible for seven runners in a 23-strong field for the 2019 edition, with the pick of them looking to be Ravenhill, the mount of Davy Russell. Fifth in the Galway Plate on his penultimate outing, Ravenhill was possibly unlucky not to win when second in the Kerry National at Listowel last time, losing out by just a head with jockey Denis O’Regan putting up 1 lb overweight. That still represented a career-best effort by some margin, and, still relatively lightly-raced as a chaser, it would be no surprise if Ravenhill had even more to offer, enough to suggest that a 5 lb higher mark is unlikely to prove beyond him.

Poker Party wins the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase at @ListowelRaces for @HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/dzmtfOCgoz

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 11, 2019

Others to note among the Elliott contingent include The Big Lense and Roaring Bull. The latter wasn’t disgraced on his return in listed company at Wexford and should be seen to better effect in this big-field environment, while The Big Lense is interesting on the form of his win at this venue in September. He is 8 lb higher here but deserves the chance to get back on the up after a blip (unseated rider at the seventh) in the Munster National won by Cabaret Queen at Limerick last month.

The favourite at the time of writing is the John Kiely-trained Portmore Lough, who is unbeaten in two starts in handicaps. A comfortable winner at Galway in October, he improved again to follow up when stepped up in trip at the same venue last time, keeping going well to defy a 7 lb rise with a bit in hand. Admittedly, he had the benefit of race fitness over the two that chased him home that day, but he remains unexposed as a chaser and shouldn’t be underestimated, despite being 10 lb higher in much the strongest race he has contested to date.

Portmore Lough carries the first silks of owner J.P. McManus, who has nine runners here. The Joseph O’Brien-trained pair of Shady Operator and Tower Bridge are others who feature prominently in the betting, with both having demonstrated a useful level of ability in novice company last season.

Shady Operator shaped as if retaining his ability after six months off when third at Galway last time, appearing to need the emphasis more on stamina. He has unfinished business over 3m+ and looks just the type to pick up a handicap or two this winter, comments that also apply to Tower Bridge. Still a maiden after five starts over fences, he is yet to race beyond 21f in this sphere, despite shaping as if stamina was his strong suit in a productive 2017/18 campaign over hurdles.

Discorama leads the way on weight-adjusted ratings and looks to hold sound claims with Sean O’Keeffe taking an extra 5 lb off his back. Second in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he proved better than ever when filling the same position on his return at Wexford (beaten over three lengths by Champagne Classic) last month, lacking the winner’s class but confirming himself a thoroughly likeable and smart gelding in his own right. He looks set for another productive campaign on that evidence and will be of interest in all these valuable staying handicaps.

Le Breuil and @CoddJJ battle gamely to the line, getting the better of Discorama in what proved to be an eventful National Hunt Chase! #CheltenhamFestival

(🎥@RacingTV)
pic.twitter.com/YPgTjOkxvb

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) March 12, 2019

Henry de Bromhead is another trainer who fields multiple runners in the shape of Chris’s Dream and Solomn Grundy. Both hold claims but preference is for the former, who was a determined winner of a Grade 2 novice over C&D (by half a length from Champagne Classic) and makes his handicap debut from a fair mark. Young Paddymc is also worth a mention. He was pulled up on his reappearance at Cork but remains one to be positive about given the rate of progression in his first season over fences.

Earlier on the card, the Grade 3 ‘Monksfield’ Novice Hurdle (13:00) is always an informative heat, with Samcro and Death Duty among the star names on the recent roll of honour. Unsurprisingly, that pair both represented Gordon Elliott, who looks to hold all the aces once again with Abacadabras and Fury Road forming a two-pronged attack.

Abacadabras looked a smart prospect when following up his debut win in Grade 3 company here last time, asserting on the bridle on the run-in to win by three lengths, but speed looks to be his best asset and he could be vulnerable trying to concede 6 lb to Fury Road over this longer trip. The latter was impressive when winning by 18 lengths on his hurdling bow at Down Royal and, with further improvement on the cards, he is fancied to draw the sting out of his stablemate and make the weight difference tell.

Smart bumper performer ABACADABRAS makes it 2/2 over hurdles with an impressive performance in the (Grade 3) For Auction Novice Hurdle at @NavanRacecourse for @gelliott_racing and @Robbie_Power_!

📽️ @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/sF53S0bYsN

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) November 10, 2019

The maiden hurdle (12:30) that opens the card looks a good opportunity for Entoucas to get off the mark. The five-year-old has some strong form to his name, notably chasing home Klassical Dream at Leopardstown last December, and he shaped as if the run would bring him on when third behind the exciting Envoi Allen on his return at Down Royal last month. The runner-up from that race, Front View, was an impressive winner at Cork last weekend and Entoucas is fancied to give the form another boost if taking the expected step forward here.

Elsewhere on the card, Bigbadbeautiful looks to hold standout claims for that man Elliott in the listed mares’ bumper (15:30) that concludes proceedings, while the winner of the beginners chase (14:00) is also likely to prove well worth following in the months ahead. Willie Mullins has won recent renewals of the race with Vautour, Douvan, Min and Al Boum Photo and is represented in this year’s renewal by Cash Back, who showed useful form in three hurdling starts for the yard.