13:55 Navan

Saturday 18 January 2020

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

Navan Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 5m 12.80s

Kilfenora⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 143| D

7/1

Produced a career-best effort win to score cosily at Naas last time out over this trip and expected going conditions; no reason why he can not improve again and looks to be a leading candidate.

Form: 1P/55-31

Coko Beach⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

7/1

Ran credit in a couple of graded contests in the spring before a win at Punchestown in October and finishing 2nd of 5 in a Grade 2 at Down Royal in November; needs to bounce back from last flight fall her last month but every chance if doing so.

Form: 32-512F

Dolciano Dici³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

12/1

Eight-race maiden yet to hit the frame in four starts over hurdles but showed improved form over course and distance last time out; more needed on balance of form but respected nevertheless.

Form: P564-54

Alfa Mix³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 136| CD

6/1

Has been raised 9lbs for a recent course and distance success but that might not be enough to stop this well regarded gelding from visiting the winner's enclosure once again; leading chance.

Form: 964151

Mind's Eye⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| BF| D

20/1

Returns to hurdling after a long absence over the smaller obstacles but was in a Grade 1 event at Aintree in 2018; difficult to assess given his patchy form over fences and a market check is advised.

Form: 5PR-724

Yaha Fizz²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 129| C

50/1

Rattled off a hat-trick at the start of 2017. Placed on several occasions since but recent form has been below par and despite being given a chance by he handicapper others currently preferred.

Form: 29/03-50

Court Maid²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 128| D

7/1

In the form of his life last winter but struggled when asked to take on stiffer company; needs to bounce back from below par run at Leopardstown in December and suspicion is she is not the best handicapped horse at present.

Form: 10066-0

Got Trumped^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 130

25/1

Showed plenty of promise as a juvenile but has struggled in handicap company of late and might need to wait until given a break by the handicapper to get truly competitive again.

Form: 34685-0

Clondaw Native⁴⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

20/1

Just a maiden hurdle win to his name and looks a difficult ride at times; certainly has some talent and has been given a break at the weights; something to prove based on recent performances but hard to totally write off.

Form: 387/638-

Drop The Anchor²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 123

9/2

Took advantage of his handicap mark to prevail at Punchestown (2m) on his penultimate appearance but mistakes cost him last time out at Leopardtown; not without a chance but others preferred in tough contest.

Form: 3-03217

Hareth^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 117| CD

9/2

Three times hurdles winner but without a win since 2018; showed signs he was back in some sort of form when 2nd recently at Cork; chances but this looks difficult from out of the handicap.

Form: 87BP-92

Our Boy Boru¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: J Woods| OR: 114| C| D

10/1

Was off the track for a year after winning at Down Royal in early 2018 and was not disgraced at Naas on his reappearance finishing 4th of 15; more needed here from out of the weighted but hard to rule out totally.

Form: 24631/4

Non-Runners

The Bosses Oscar²¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

The Bosses Oscar (11/4), Hareth (9/2), Drop The Anchor (9/2), Alfa Mix (6/1), Kilfenora (7/1), Court Maid (7/1), Coko Beach (7/1), Our Boy Boru (10/1), Dolciano Dici (12/1), Mind's Eye (20/1), Clondaw Native (20/1), Got Trumped (25/1), Yaha Fizz (50/1)

A fascinating contest with hardly any of the field easy to write off. There was plenty to like about the victory of ALFA MIX last time out over course and distance and although he has been raised in the weights, it would be no surprise to see him improving enough to win again. The Bosses Oscar has done little wrong on all his racecourse appearances and this last time out winner could be very progressive and may be able to run well here off his current mark. Kilfenora will need another career-best effort to land this but he is in smashing heart at present and a big run under topweight is expected.