The Navan Grade 2 Novice Hurdle over 2M4F has the best set of 5-day entries seen all season.
It’s a special race as a Grade 2 and invariably the winner of this race has ended a short-priced Festival runner in their chosen race, usually the Ballymore or Bartlett.
Historically the last 9 winners of this race have ran in a Festival Novice, and none of them have started in March above 11/1, with 6 of the 9 at 4/1 or lower. Bizarrely none have won though four have placed.
Last nine winners and subsequent Festival run details
2018 Easy Game (WPM) - 2019 Ballymore 7/1 (8th)
2017 Next Destination (WPM) - 2018 Ballymore 4/1 (3rd)
2016 Death Duty (Gordon) - 2017 Albert Bartlett 13/8F (PU)
2015 Bellshill (WPM) - 2016 Supreme 11/1 (Unpl)
2014 No More Heroes (Gordon) - 2015 Albert Bartlett 6/1 (3rd)
2013 Briar Hill (WPM) - 2014 Albert Bartlett 2/1F (Fell early)
2012 Pont Alexandra (WPM) - 2013 Ballymore 6/4F (3rd)
2011 Boston Bob (WPM) - 2012 Albert Bartlett 6/5F (2nd)
2010 Oscars Well (J Harrington) - 2011 Ballymore 4/1 (4th)
Sunday’s race is a significant race for Festival Ante Post Novice Markets, the nine entries on Sunday currently have the following best prices in the three Festival Novice races.
Andy Dufresne 20/1 Supreme, 9/1 Ballymore, 14/1 Albert Bartlett
Abacadabras 9/1 Supreme, 20/1 Ballymore, 25/1 Albert Bartlett
Easywork 33/1 Supreme, 33/1 Ballymore
Fury Road 33/1 Supreme, 33/1 Ballymore, 20/1 Albert Bartlett
Elixir D’Ainay 33/1 Supreme, 25/1 Ballymore
Latest Exhibition 50/1 Supreme, 66/1 Ballymore, 66/1 Albert Bartlett
Sixshooter 66/1 Supreme, 50/1 Ballymore, 50/1 Albert Bartlett
Conflated - no current a/p prices
Thatsy - no current a/p prices.
It’s clear that the Post race market moves for Festival races after this Grade 2 are important.
I will be really interested which ones Gordon picks to run given he has 6 of the 9 entries this year.