Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 27.2s

Cracking Smart⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

5/4

Won on seasonal debut winning a Punchestown maiden hurdle beating Shady Operator 4L beating 21 rivals before following up on novice debut at Cork last month over 3m. Continuation of development expected here.

Form: F21-11

Jetz²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

13/2

Won on seasonal debut but ran in to Samcro last time out in the Grade 3 Monksfield novice hurdle over 2m4f finishing 12L behind the winner but 1L in front of Delta Work.

Form: 433-312

Next Destination³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

13/8

Smart bumper performer, having won twice on soft before finishing a close up fourth in the Champion Bumper on quicker ground. Was all class on seasonal debut winning easily over 2m3f at Naas last month. More progress possible here.

Form: 1/142-1

Poli Roi⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| C

6/1

Beaten favourite on seasonal debut behind The Rory Story before a 3¾L victory in a Down Royal maiden hurdle last month. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 113-21

Delta Work^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott

16/1

Heavy ground winner in France but has ran in to a couple of game sorts on two seasonal starts including last time out behind Samcro at Navan. May be up against it here.

Form: 41-2133

Half The Odds²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 125| D

16/1

Won at Galway on seasonal debut but is another in this field that bumped in to the impressive Samcro last time out at Naas over 2m4f. Looks a tall order.

Form: 1217-14

Forecasts

Cracking Smart (5/4), Next Destination (13/8), Poli Roi (6/1), Jetz (13/2), Half The Odds (16/1), Delta Work (16/1)

There could be plenty of pace on here in this Grade 2 contest with Delta Work, Half The Odds and the selection NEXT DESTINATION going a good clip from the front. Punchestown winner Cracking Smart and Jetz, runner-up last time out behind the well-thought of Samcro, can challenge for the minor honours.