Navan today

[Guest]

Worth watching today ...horses who handle Navan should suit Cheltenham.

[mayo]

Four Grade 2s. Havent looked at it yet.

Gary O'Briens tips from www.starbets.ie

A welcome break in the bad weather means today’s high-class Navan card is set to go ahead 48 hours later than originally planned, and Willie Mullins can be expected to maintain his blistering run of form.

The champion trainer has sent out the winner of five of the last six domestic jumps races in which he has been represented, and in City Slicker looks to have the perfect vehicle to kick-start another profitable afternoon ‘at the office’. This five year-old was an impressive winner of a bumper at Fairyhouse in December and made a very promising debut over flights in what was almost certainly a hot race at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day, travelling strongly to lead turning in before weakening into fourth under considerate handling. Dropping back to the minimum trip for today’s opener is unlikely to trouble him unduly and he is taken to get the better of the consistent Some Drama.

Mullins is represented in three of the day’s four Grade 2 contests and is likely to be particularly disappointed if old favourite Thousand Stars cannot open his account for the campaign in the €40,000 Boyne Hurdle at 2.05. The ‘iron horse’, as he is affectionately known, ran a typically gutsy race to be second to stable star Hurricane Fly in last month’s BHP Irish Champion Hurdle, and with today’s longer journey sure to help is likely to be too strong for Whatuthink and Un Beau Matin. Fellow Closutton inmate On His Own is another fascinating participant as he has his first outing since falling when going well in the Grand National, and those who have supported him for this year’s edition of the Aintree spectacular will be looking for an encouraging effort.

Twinlight is likely to be a warm order for the Mullins/Ruby Walsh alliance in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase at 3.45 but marginal preference in this 2m1f contest which commemorates one of the true giants of the game is for Dedigout. Tony Martin’s charge admittedly has a question mark over him after a couple of heavy defeats on his last two outings but both of those came over longer trips at Grade 1 level and if back in top form he appeals as superior in terms of ability. Buckers Bridge, absent since an inexplicably poor effort in the Drinmore Chase (in which Dedigout was second) is another leading player out to restore his reputation and cannot be ruled out.

Leading owners Gigginstown House Stud and champion jockey Davy Russell should also be on the mark in the Ten Up Novice Chase which follows, with Tofino Bay – who enjoyed his finest hour when landing the Troytown Chase over course and distance in November – the clear pick despite having to concede weight to his three rivals. Rubi Light meanwhile gets the vote to capture a third successive Red Mills Trial Chase (transferred this year from its usual home at Gowran Park) at 1.35, with Hidden Cyclone and Foildubh the main stumbling blocks to Robbie Hennessy’s marvellous eight-year-old.

Selections
1.05 City Slicker (61-100, Betfair)
1.35 Rubi Light (4-7, Boylesports, Paddy Power)
2.05 Thousand Stars (4-9, bet365, Boylesports, BetVictor)
2.35 Mullaghnoe River (121-50, Betfair)
3.10 Jabus (14-1, Paddy Power)
3.45 Dedigout (2-1, bet365, BetVictor)
4.20 Tofino Bay (8-11, BetVictor)
4.50 Made In Germany (37-25, Betfair)

[mayo]

Red Mills Steeplechase (Grade 2) of €40,000.00 5-y-o plus 2m. 4f.

Red Mills Previous Winners


2012 Rubi Light 7 11-10 A E Lynch 2/5Fav (Robert Alan Hennessy)
2011 Rubi Light 6 11-6 A E Lynch 7/1 (Robert Alan Hennessy)
2010 J'y Vole 7 11-5 P Townend 11/8Fav (W P Mullins)
2009 Glenfinn Captain 10 11-8 M P Walsh 5/4Fav (T J Taaffe)
2008 Ballistraw 9 11-3 Andrew J McNamara 33/1 (Denis Hickey)
2007 Watson Lake 9 11-10 P Carberry 3/1 (Noel Meade)
2006 Forget The Past 8 11-12 B J Geraghty 9/4 (M J P O'Brien)
2005 Rathgar Beau 9 11-10 J R Barry 4/9Fav (E Sheehy)
2004 Rathgar Beau 8 11-8 J R Barry 3/1 (E Sheehy)
2003 More Than A Stroll 11 12-0 C O'Dwyer 2/1JFav (A L T Moore)
2002 Moscow Express 10 11-12 R Walsh 7/4 (Miss F M Crowley)
2001 Bob Treacy 12 11-12 J L Cullen 10/1 (M W Hickey)
2000 Micko's Dream 8 11-12 J F Titley 6/4Fav (W P Mullins)
1999 Bob Treacy 10 11-9 R Walsh 4/7Fav (M W Hickey)

Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) of €40,000.00 5-y-o plus 2m. 5f

Boyne Hurdle Previous Winners

Previous Years
2012 Mourad 7 11-8 P Townend 3/1 (W P Mullins)
2011 Voler La Vedette 7 11-3 A E Lynch 9/4Fav (C A Murphy)
2010 War Of Attrition 11 11-8 D N Russell 7/1 (M F Morris)
2009 Catch Me 7 11-10 Andrew J McNamara 4/9Fav (E J O'Grady)
2008 Kazal 7 11-8 B J Geraghty 4/1 (Eoin Griffin)
2007 Sweet Kiln 8 10-11 D N Russell 8/13Fav (James Bowe)
2006 Golden Cross 7 11-12 J P Murtagh 8/15Fav (M Halford)
2005 Emotional Moment 8 11-10 B J Geraghty 8/11Fav (T J Taaffe)
2004 Rosaker 7 11-8 P Carberry 1/5Fav (Noel Meade)
2003 Emotional Moment 6 11-6 B J Geraghty 2/1 (T J Taaffe)
2002 Bannow Bay 7 11-12 C F Swan 4/9Fav (C Roche)
2001 Limestone Lad 9 11-7 S M McGovern 2/9Fav (James Bowe)
2000 Limestone Lad 8 12-0 S M McGovern 2/7Fav (James Bowe)
1999 Sallie's Girl 6 11-1 P Carberry 9/2 (Noel Meade)


Flyingbolt Novice Steeplechase (Grade 2) of €37,500.00 5-y-o plus 2m. 1f.

Flying Bolt Previous winners

2012 Donnas Palm 8 11-4 D J Condon 8/1 (Noel Meade)
2011 Saludos 7 11-4 R M Power 5/2 (Mrs John Harrington)
2010 Shakervilz 7 11-4 R Walsh 3/1 (W P Mullins)
2009 Made In Taipan 7 11-4 D N Russell 7/4Fav (Thomas Mullins)
2008 Maralan 7 11-4 J L Cullen 50/1 (Patrick O Brady)
2007 Young Desperado 9 11-4 R Walsh 10/1 (Robert Tyner)
2006 Mansony 7 11-4 C O'Dwyer 2/1 (A L T Moore)
2005 Watson Lake 7 11-12 P Carberry 3/1 (Noel Meade)
2004 True Blue Victory 8 11-4 R Walsh 7/2 (T M Walsh)
2003 Schwartzhalle 6 11-4 M F Mooney 14/1 (D Harvey)
2002 No Discount 8 11-2 R Walsh 5/2 (T M Walsh)
2001 Arctic Copper 7 11-9 R Walsh 2/5Fav (Noel Meade)
2000 Lyreen Wonder 7 11-9 C O'Dwyer 6/4Fav (A L T Moore)
1999 Micko's Dream 7 12-0 D J Casey 9/4 (W P Mullins)


Irish Form Book Ten Up Novice Steeplechase (Grade 2) of €37,500.00 5-y-o plus 3m.

Ten Up Previous winners

2012 Lion Na Bearnai 10 11-3 A P Thornton 50/1 (Thomas Gibney)
2011 Quito De La Roque 7 11-8 D N Russell 1/1Fav (C A Murphy)
2010 Telenor 7 11-3 A E Lynch 6/1 (J T R Dreaper)
2009 Siegemaster 8 11-3 D N Russell 11/8Fav (D T Hughes)
2008 Pomme Tiepy 5 10-6 R Walsh 4/6Fav (W P Mullins)
2007 Snowy Morning 7 11-5 R Walsh 10/3 (W P Mullins)
2006 Church Island 7 11-8 Andrew J McNamara 7/2JFav (Michael Hourigan)
2005 Point Barrow 7 11-7 J P Elliott 5/4Fav (P Hughes)
2004 Satco Express 8 11-8 J R Barry 9/4Fav (E Sheehy)
2003 The Premier Cat 7 11-5 J R Barry 2/1Fav (T Cahill)

[mayo]

National weights out Chicago Grey a new horse

Something amiss with Rubi Light ?