17:13 Navan

Saturday 29 February 2020

All13:4514:1814:5315:2816:0316:3817:13

Navan Members Veterans Handicap Chase

10YO plus | 3m | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 133| BF| CD

Won well over course and distance in December and ran well for a long way over fences at Gowran Park last month; respectable effort last time over hurdles at Punchestown and deserves respect.

Form: 1-46175

Mr Diablo^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 131

Veteran who finished runner-up in this race last year off a 5lb lower mark; recent form has been fairly atrocious exemplified by being beat over 100 lengths last time out; chance if back to best but recent form worrying.

Form: 2582-70

Ice Cold Soul^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 125| D

Won competently at Thurles in January over 2m5f but could not land a blow off revised mark last time at Leopardstown; difficult to write off but will need to be at the top of his game to land this.

Form: 404/710

Bilbo Bagins⁸³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Moore| T: A Murray| OR: 122| C

Has only raced the twice since winning here over 2m1f last March; yet to prove he stays this far and could do with dropping a few pounds in the handicap.

Form: 3/251-80

Prince Of Scars^p¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: G Elliott| OR: 122| C| D

Has been mixing up chasing and hurdling and certainly a better hurdler; has shown bits and pieces of promise over fences but others look a better betting proposition.

Form: 3/6-965P

Cappacurry Zak^p³²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: L Young| OR: 118| D

Won for the third time over fences when landing a Limerick handicap chase over a 2m6½f trip over Christmas; useful effort last month at Down Royal and will appreciate any softening of the ground; one to consider.

Form: P-P2213

Smokey Joe Joe^t³⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 10-5| J: A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 114| D

Veteran who looks to be regressing fast now and his last three runs temper any enthusiasm.

Form: 30/P8-P6

Wishmoor^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 114

Fine second in valuable Grand National Trial at Punchestown last February but went the wrong way afterwards and left Joseph O'Brien for £9,000 in September; looks in the handicapper's grip at present but solid each-way claims.

Form: 065022

Champagne Harmony¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: S J Mahon| OR: 113| C

Has finished just one race in his last ten appearances over hurdles or fences and was tailed off in that contest; very unlikely winner.

Form: 0PPP-PP

Night Sir³⁵

Age: 14| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms H P Markham| OR: 64| D

The veteran ran well in defeat finishing fourth of 16 beaten over 18L in a course and distance handicap on soft/heavy ground in January and produced another fair effort last time at Fairyhouse; but will struggle from so far out of the handicap.

Form: P-P8844

Forecasts

Wishmoor (3/1), Mick The Jiver (4/1), Cappacurry Zak (4/1), Ice Cold Soul (9/2), Mr Diablo (7/1), Prince Of Scars (7/1), Bilbo Bagins (16/1), Smokey Joe Joe (25/1), Champagne Harmony (50/1), Night Sir (100/1)

Course and distance winner MICK THE JIVER could be the call in this contest with many looking incapable of winning. The ten-year-old showed his versatility when running well over hurdles last time and given he is a better chaser then he holds every chance if running up to his best. Cappacurry Zak loves heavy ground and has been in reasonably consistent form of late, if showing a similar level of performance then he is capable of going close. Wishmoor has been running some fair races in defeat and could take advantage if either of the other more likely winners fail to run their race.