Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Navan Troytown Meeting Best Bets

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews the two-day Troytown meeting at Navan.

Saturday, Navan

The two-day Troytown Meeting at Navan looks a fantastic couple of days of action, and my first fancy comes in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (12.25pm). I like the bottom-weight in Midleton Rare. He was disappointing at Down Royal last time but won in battling fashion at Limerick in October. That was on soft ground, and I think the going, and the way the race developed at Down Royal last time, didn’t suit him. Today is a smaller field and he’ll find more racing room, which will suit he’s a horse that has to be ridden with patience. I think they went too slow for him at Down Royal for those tactics to be executed effectively. There’ll be more space for Sam Ewing to manoeuvre on this occasion, and considering he’s a off a featherweight, and handles the ground, I think he’s an attractive prospect in the second race.

In the two-mile handicap hurdle (1pm), I like the look of Scalpnagoon who seems to be a progressive type, judged on his two quick wins at the start of 2025. It was probably the end of a long season when he went to Punchestown and he was outclassed in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse, but back in handicap company off a mark of 124, he could be ready to return to winning ways. It’s easy to forget that this horse is still only a five-year-old and has more potential to improve than his rivals here.

My next pick comes in the Lismullen Hurdle (2.10pm). There’s not a big field, and The Yellow Clay is a very short price favourite, and I think he’s worth taking on with stablemate, Maxxum. Gordon Elliott’s second-string will appreciate all of the rain that falls, is a dual course winner and I’ll be interested to see how his front-running tactics play out. He probably doesn’t have the class of the favourite, but if there’s ever a day he might overturn him, it might be today. Don’t forget, he’s a two-time Grade Two winner this year, and he might just be underestimated.

Next up is the Fortria Chase (2.45pm) where we have the Champion Chaser, Marine Nationale, making his comeback. The ground is going to be tough going, and I don’t think it’ll suit Barry Connell’s star. There are plenty of question marks about the others in the field, and my eye is drawn to Solness. He was beaten just a neck in the race last year by Found A Fifty, who reopposes, and we know what Joseph O’Brien’s runner went on to do at Leopardstown. He thrives in these conditions, and I think he can carry the penalty successfully and down some more heralded rivals.

Sunday, Navan

Let’s begin Sunday’s fancies with the mares maiden hurdle (12.17pm), a race which I wouldn’t usually have a pick, but I was absolutely blown away by the performance of Salsinha on her Rules bow. Henry de Bromhead’s filly powered clear to win by nine lengths under John Gleeson, who gave her an ultra-confident ride. The ground will be different for her, as will the test in general, but that bumper was breathtaking, and she could be anything.

The Monksfield Novice Hurdle (1.22pm) should be ideal for Kalypso’chance, who steps up in trip from his defeat the last day at Down Royal. I thought he was caught flat-footed on quicker ground the other day, and the rain and the more testing track should suit him. He was a top-class bumper horse last term, and this should see him get off the mark over hurdles.

There’s a huge field assembled for the two-mile-and-five-furlong handicap hurdle (1.57pm), and the one I like is Gavin Cromwell’s Reiki Revolution. He won on stable debut for my fellow William Hill ambassador a month ago, and I think he still has plenty of upside, with only nine runs under his belt. His form is on better ground, but if he handles the cut, he could keep the winning streak going. I must give Any Road a favourable mention, who makes his stable debut for Andrew Slattery and goes well fresh.

In the big one, the Troytown Handicap Chase (2.32pm) I like the handicap debutante Sportinthepark. He’s only had four starts over fences, and must be highly regarded by connections, who tried him in Grade Two company at Punchestown a year ago. He came back with a winning run over hurdles at Galway and he was very impressive in doing that. He runs off 135 and I think he’s probably a Graded horse in a handicap. He’s got a nice racing weight for local trainer Noel Meade, and I think he might just be ahead of the handicapper.