Betfair columnists Rachael Blackmore and Ryan Moore share their thoughts ahead of Saturday's action.
13:45 Navan - Camille Pissarro
We had seven in here originally but we rely on Camille Pissarro and this Wootton Bassett colt is a half-brother to Richmond Stakes winner Golden Horne and Line Of Departure, both very good horses. I’d like to think he will put on a good show here, but I am sure others will feel the same. Donnacha’s Sorella Carina is a half-sister to Porta Fortuna, for example.
14:17 Navan - His Majesty
We have three in here and all have similar form claims. I ride His Majesty. He didn’t show his best in the Phoenix Stakes on his final start last season but his string of placed efforts in Group 2 and 3 company before that gives him every chance here.
14:52 Navan - Everlasting
Everlasting, a half-sister to the Irish Derby runner-up Adelaide River, ran well enough on her return in Group 3 company over 1m at the Curragh last month and she could be better suited by this 1m2f trip. I’d have happily ridden her or our other filly Wingspan, who picked up well on deep ground to win at Leopardstown on her debut. She is a beautifully bred filly, by Dubawi out of Hydrangea, who won in Group 1 company over a mile and 1m4f, and this extra 2f could really suit her, too. We shouldn’t get carried away though, as she goes from maiden to Group company here and Purple Lily is very much the one to beat in this, but hopefully we have two fair shots.
16:00 Navan - Kyprios
He clearly had a truncated campaign last year, but he returned to run a couple of very good races at the back-end. He was obviously even better in 2022, when he went unbeaten, and won four Group 1s in a row. He actually started off by winning this very race that year, and we are very happy with him at home. He is the obvious one to beat.
Rachael Blackmore
3.35 – Amirite
I’m looking forward to riding Amirite in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.
He stayed on well the last day to finish fourth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas. He hasn’t run since then, but he has been in really good order at home.
He should appreciate the ground at Sandown, and we hope that he will stay the trip. It is obviously a really competitive race, it’s a top-class handicap chase, but we hope that he can run a big race.
4.10 – Ballyadam
Ballyadam ran another good race in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. He won his beginners’ chase at Wexford in July, but he went back over hurdles and finished third in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December, and he ran a big race in the Coral Cup.
He was conceding weight to the winner Langer Dan at Cheltenham, and he receives weight from him here, so we hope that that can help him narrow the gap. Impaire Et Passe will obviously be difficult to beat, but Ballyadam goes there in good form and he goes there fresh having skipped Aintree. I hope that he can put up another good performance.
