Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: William Hill Boyne Hurdle Day Preview

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here to preview the William Hill sponsored card at Navan on Sunday, featuring the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle.

Navan, Sunday

The opener at Navan is a maiden hurdle over two miles (1:40pm), and I think this will go to Honesty Policy. He was second on course debut on heavy ground behind Joystick, finishing strongly after some lacklustre jumps. That experience will bring him along for this contest, and on that running, he has St Cuthbert’s Cave well held. I think he will be very hard to beat in the opener.

The Grade Two William Hill Boyne Hurdle (2:40pm) is the feature, and I like Thedevilscoachman. He’s been a lovely dual-purpose horse for Noel Meade and JP McManus; however, his last win came in this race in 2022, so it’s been a while since he got his head in front. That said, his return to the track in the Galmoy Hurdle was very encouraging—he looked as if he would improve plenty for the run, was weak in the market, but ran with credit behind Rocky’s Diamond. I think there’s plenty of life left in him at nine years old. With plenty of his opposition looking towards other targets, I think he’s the one to beat here.

The Gibney’s Handicap Hurdle (3:12pm) looks a difficult race to pick apart. I think Coffeys Forge’s first run for the Gordon Elliott yard was a step in the right direction—he had completely lost his way before that. He’s likely to improve having been with Gordon for longer and has a nice racing weight of ten stone eight pounds. I see no issue with the trip, and he’s the way I’m going.

The best horse we are going to see at Navan will be Better Days Ahead, who I fancy in the Grade Two William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase (3:45pm). He was the winner of the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last year, finished third behind Dancing City at Punchestown, and I thought he was good on his chase debut at Navan, beating Slade Steel. He showed his stamina over Christmas, and I believe he would’ve beaten his stablemate Croke Park in another stride. The winner has come out and confirmed the form with Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival. I can’t see past him here.

The William Hill Proper Prices Handicap Chase (4:20pm) is a proper test, and I think this will suit Verdant Place. He beat Salmanino over course and distance in December and, whilst he carries an extra seven pounds, I think the return to this track will see him to best effect. His best form is on softer ground, and I think this brother to Shuffle The Deck can bounce back for Pat Foley and JP McManus.