Navan preview: Three horses to follow on Sunday

Andy Dufresne (Timeform rating h140P) – Navan Novice Hurdle, 12:00

The Navan Novice Hurdle was downgraded to Grade 2 status in 2014, but its reputation for producing horses capable of mixing it at the highest level is still very much deserved, with four of the five winners in the intervening period going on to do just that.

Gordon Elliott has been responsible for two winners who proved capable of taking that next step up the ladder – No More Heroes (2014) and Death Duty (2016) – and he is also set to be represented by the odds-on favourite for this year’s renewal in the shape of Andy Dufresne, who looks to have a similarly bright future on the evidence of his two starts under Rules to date.

Bought for £330,000 after winning his sole outing in points in March 2018, Andy Dufresne justified strong support when landing a bumper at Down Royal (by 10 lengths from a subsequent winner) in January, before making a smooth transition to hurdles over this C&D last month. 18 runners went to post on that occasion but there was only ever going to be one winner, Andy Dufresne making all the running and looking right out of the top drawer as he eased 11 lengths clear in the closing stages.

That form sets the clear standard on weight-adjusted ratings here, and the large ‘P’ attached to his rating denotes that he is open to significant improvement. An exciting prospect, this contest should prove his for the taking on the way to bigger and better things.

£330,000 purchase ANDY DUFRESNE puts in a professional round of jumping on his debut over hurdles and wins well at @NavanRacecourse for @gelliott_racing!

How far can this lad go? 🤔

📽️ @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/jobrqcbvKp

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) November 10, 2019

Dom Dolo (Timeform rating h130) – Tara Handicap Hurdle, 12:30

Elliott also won this valuable handicap at his local track in both 2016 and 2017, and he saddles four runners in a 16-strong field for this year’s renewal, the pick of which looks to be Mengli Khan. Admittedly, the six-year-old has been below his best over fences of late, but he was a Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler and is potentially well treated if a return to the smaller obstacles sparks a revival on Sunday.

However, preference at the current prices is for Dom Dolo, who caught the eye after 12 months off when fourth in a steadily-run race at Galway last time. Making his first start after leaving Alan Fleming, he simply shaped as if needing the emphasis more on stamina, finding himself outpaced on the run to two out but staying on well in the closing stages to be beaten less than 10 lengths in a race that is working out well (the three who beat have all run well in defeat since).

Still relatively lightly raced after only six starts over hurdles, there should be more to come from Dom Dolo on that evidence – especially if getting a stronger gallop to aim at – and it will be interesting to see whether the market speaks in his favour with Sean Flanagan taking over in the saddle.

Gran Geste flies home under @jody_mcgarvey, winning the Race In Pink Handicap Hurdle in the McManus colours for Elizabeth Doyle pic.twitter.com/9NfdBLhRir

— Galway Races (@Galway_Races) October 27, 2019

Uhtred (Timeform rating b102p) – ‘Future Champions’ I.N.H. Flat, 15:10

Don Cossack (2011), Samcro (2016) and Envoi Allen (2018) all feature on the illustrious roll of honour for this listed prize, while another thing that they share in common is their trainer, namely a certain Gordon Elliott, who has won five of the last eight renewals of this race overall.

Elliott is set to be double-handed this time round, with Pencilfulloflead appealing as the marginal pick of his duo ahead of Fantasio d’Alene. The latter looks held by Dewcup on the form of their recent meeting at Punchestown, but Pencilfulloflead has more scope for improvement having beaten six previous winners when making a successful debut at Down Royal last month, forging clear under a hands-and-heels ride to win by four and a quarter lengths.

Another who remains with potential is Uhtred, who identified himself as a fairly useful prospect when landing a valuable sales bumper on his debut at Fairyhouse in April. Not everything went right for him that day (twice met interference in the second half of the contest), but it was hard not to be impressed by the way he finished his race, staying on strongly in the closing stages to beat a pair who both won next-time-out.

Still green when second on his hurdling debut at Cork last month, he is set to go back over obstacles later in the season, but this looks a good opportunity for him to gain some more experience in the interim, with a repeat of his Fairyhouse form entitling him to the utmost respect.

Uhtred lands a card-double for Joseph O'Brien in the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper under Tom Hamilton 👏 pic.twitter.com/iSclNiHZCr

— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) April 21, 2019