Gavin Cromwell
Navan Racing Festival preview
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners across this weekend’s Navan Racing Festival.
Saturday, Navan
We start off our weekend at Navan with Outofafrika in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle (11:52). He’s a very nice horse who had a few lovely bumper runs last year. He schools well and I think going over hurdles should improve him, so we’re looking forward to him here.
Grandy Lane goes in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (12:27). He hasn’t quite hit the heights expected of him after a nice first run for us, but he wasn’t beaten very far the last day and there was a bit to take out of that race. He didn’t travel over the two miles the last day and the step up in trip should suit him.
We run two in the two-mile handicap hurdle (13:02). Path d’Oroux has lost his way but he’s down to a mark he could be dangerous off now. Conditions should suit and fingers crossed he’ll run well.
Simply Natural also goes here on her first run in a handicap. She has a good bit of experience and she seems in good form. She’s owned by a syndicate from Navan, so it’d be nice for her to run well here and I expect her to.
Fiveandahalf is a horse who keeps surprising us and we’re giving him his chance in the Grade 3 novice hurdle here (13:35). He’s in good form at home, but he’ll have to take a big step up to go and win this race.
We run Only By Night in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase (14:43). She missed her original race in Clonmel due to the good ground so we’re starting her off here. It’s a big ask up against a strong field, but she gets her mares’ allowance and she’s capable of running well.
She’s in open company here but we would like to go back to mares company after this.
We finish off Saturday with two in the beginners chase (15:18). Largy Star schooled this morning and jumped well, so we’re looking forward to him over fences. He galloped through hurdles with no respect for them and he’s a fine, big horse who looks like a chaser.
Champagne Jury also goes here. The ground won’t be ideal for him and it’s a good race, so he might struggle here. He’ll have a better chance in handicaps.
Sunday, Navan
Four of our 10 runners on Sunday go in the three-year-old maiden hurdle (11:40).
Glen Echo jumps really well and he’ll like the ground, but his Flat mark would suggest he’ll struggle to be competitive in this. It’s nice to get him started and he’ll find his level this season.
Nustty was disappointing on the Flat at Roscommon where he just never got going at all. He got a bit upset in the gates and never travelled. He jumps well and was bought to go hurdling, so we’ll get him started and hopefully he can give a good account of himself here.
Based off his Flat rating and the fact he jumps well, Mergus Serrator could be a nice horse over hurdles. I’d expect him to run well here.
Matada is going to struggle at this level, but it’s good to get him started.
Theemeraldempress goes in the mares maiden hurdle (12:10). She won a bumper at Downpatrick nicely, but we’re onto the Navan Festival here which is a step up in class. She’s working well at home and she’s up to running well.
We have three in the next two-mile handicap hurdle (12:40), with Asthelightdeclines probably the form pick. She ran well to win the last day and she looks progressive, so hopefully she can be here.
Sheer Raz has threatened to win without getting his head in front. He’s locally owned, so it’d be nice to win with him here and he definitely has a chance with Eoin Staples claiming five pounds off him.
Mirfaq works like a nice horse but just hasn’t been getting home in his races. It makes me wonder whether he might still just be a bit weak. He works nicely enough, so hopefully he’ll run well.
We’re stepping up in class with Gillane in the Grade 3 novice hurdle. We were delighted with what we saw from him the first day in Gowran Park and he’s done really well for a break. He’s working away well and, although it’s a big jump in class, we’re happy for him to take his chance here and he’s certainly up to running well.
It’s still the case with Perceval Legallois that he’s a good horse on his day, but it’s hard to know when his next day is going to come. It’s tough to make a judgment on his chances in the Troytown (15:00). He’s been working well at home, it’s just whether or not he turns up.
