14:35 Navan

Sunday 15 December 2019

All11:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:10

www.navanracecourse.ie Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 6m 51.90s

Gun Digger^t,v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

14/1

Sole win over fences came in a Leopardstown beginners contest 12 months ago. Pulled up before three out on his two most recent starts last month and hard to make a case for given the yard have other options in the race.

Form: 4FP-3PP

Wonderoftheworld^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 129

13/2

Off the mark for connections over fences when landing a Gowran Park handicap chase over 3m1f on yielding ground in October off a 7lb lower mark. Well held off revised mark at Cork last month and could be vulnerable to better handicapped sort.

Form: 3-43315

Mick The Jiver²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 126| CD

14/1

Disqualified after winning a Fairyhouse handicap chase over 2m7½f 12 months ago. Well held in a couple of starts since returning to action in October. Needs to take a big step forward to get competitive at this level.

Form: F671-46

Colms Dream^t³⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 125| D

66/1

Lightly raced gelding in recent seasons showing very little in a series of dismal efforts over hurdles and fences. Not seen since falling at Punchestown over 12 months ago and has plenty to prove on return to action.

Form: 007P/PF-

Graineyhill^b⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

7/1

Fortunate winner at Fairyhouse in February and put up resurgent performances in a couple of appearances at Perth in September. Ran well in defeat at Punchestown when last seen two months ago and shapes like we may not have seen the best of him yet.

Form: 0732F3

Rooster Byron²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: P Nolan| OR: 123| D

10/1

Ended last season in poor form after winning a handicap hurdle at Cork back in May. Down the field beaten 53L on seasonal return at Punchestown in a soft ground handicap chase last month and may face a tough task in this contest.

Form: 13U0P-7

Red Jack²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 120

10/1

Not much to shout about in four starts over the larger obstacles, yet to hit the frame on any occasion. Hasn't looked a winner in waiting in a couple of starts when well held last month.

Form: 15/6-6F9

Flemenstorm^h,t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: E Cawley| OR: 116| C

9/1

Course winner that has also won over the trip. The gelding has won three of his 16 starts over fences, hitting the frame on a further four occasions. Lightly raced in the last 12 months but no forlorn hope here.

Form: 221/43-0

Minella Till Dawn^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 116| D

5/2

Ran well in defeat when finishing third of 11 on his first run for 630 days in a Punchestown handicap chase last month. First-time cheekpieces may well assist.

Form: 55U88/3

Glorious Galway^t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: D McNamara| OR: 115

3/1

Running with plenty of credit in defeat in a number of starts in handicap company since October. Entitled to have designs on place money.

Form: 183-224

Forecasts

Minella Till Dawn (5/2), Glorious Galway (3/1), Wonderoftheworld (13/2), Graineyhill (7/1), Flemenstorm (9/1), Rooster Byron (10/1), Red Jack (10/1), Mick The Jiver (14/1), Gun Digger (14/1), Colms Dream (66/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained GRAINEYHILL can add to his sole victory over the larger obstacles by landing the spoils in this contest following a fine run in defeat at Punchestown in October. The eight-year-old can win for the second time over fences at the expense of stablemate and J P McManus-owned Minella Till Dawn in first-time cheekpieces and Glorious Galway who has been running well in defeat in a number of starts since October. The Barry Connell-owned Wonderoftheworld should not be taken lightly following an earlier win at Gowran Park off a 7lb lower mark in October.