17:10 Navan

Saturday 27 April 2024

All13:1013:4514:1714:5215:2716:0016:3517:10

Navan Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 59.15s

(4)

Teed Up¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: N G McCullagh| T: E Mullins| OR: 97

28/1

Again ran below the form he was showing at Galway in the summer when eleventh of 16 in handicap (12/1) at Naas (16.1f, heavy) 6 months ago. Has gone well fresh previously, so every chance he can make his presence felt.

Form: 2/21200-

(11)

Eastern Legend^p,t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95

11/1

Three wins from 9 runs last year. Shaped better than the distance beaten suggested when well held in Percy Maynard Juvenile at Fairyhouse on hurdling debut after 5 months off earlier this month. Won on final start in 2023 so warrants considerable respect back in this sphere.

Form: 131331

(8)

Vera Verto^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 95| C| D

5/1

Three wins from 8 runs last year. 16/1, below form 9 lengths eighth of 13 to Mukaddamah in listed race at Newcastle (10.2f) when last seen 5 months ago. Back up in trip. Each-way claims provided she's ready to roll.

Form: 541128-

(2)

Zoffman²⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 91

7/1

6/1, bit below form tenth of 17 in handicap at Galway (12f, good), unable to sustain effort. His return effort last year was a career best, so he's in the mix back at the same mark returning from 8 months off the track.

Form: 1210/20-

(3)

Almuhit^p,t⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen| T: E Mullins| OR: 90

12/1

6/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 3 months ago. Tongue strap on 1st time on the Flat. Enters calculations.

Form: 023019

(7)

Last Ammo^t²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 88

25/1

16/1, ran poorly when eighth of 10 in handicap at Newmarket (18f, good) when last seen 7 months ago. Back down in trip. May need this outing on return.

Form: 042148-

(10)

Edge Of Darkness^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J M Sheridan| T: D Hogan| OR: 83

40/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, given a considerate reappearance after 5 months off on first run since leaving Charlie Johnston when seventh of 14 in claimer at Dundalk (10.7f, 13/2) 43 days ago, slowly away. Back up in trip.

Form: 96521-7

(17)

Morph Speed^t²⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: N Slevin| OR: 83| D

66/1

Fell heavily 2 out in maiden hurdle (8/1) at Punchestown (20f, good) 6 months ago. Back up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Joseph Patrick O'Brien. Fairly useful on the Flat, poor on last run at Dundalk in September.

Form: 782450-

(1)

Reverend Hubert^p1¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Davis| T: C Byrnes| OR: 83

25/1

7/2, creditable third of 6 in novice hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, soft) 6 months ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Fairly useful on the Flat, poor on last run back in August 2022.

Form: 116949/

(6)

Whiskey Sour¹⁹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrew Slattery| T: S Wilson| OR: 83

100/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2017. Fifteenth of 16 in handicap (9/1) at Naas (16.1f, heavy) 6 months ago. First run for yard after leaving W. P. Mullins.

Form: 0800/50-

(16)

Astar^h¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 82

12/1

Found out in better company when tailed-off thirteenth of 15 to Dancing Tango in listed race at Naas (11.9f, heavy, 28/1) when last seen 6 months ago. Hood back on.

Form: 223210-

(15)

Boher Road²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 81| BF| C

7/1

Course winner last year. Still 10-12 lengths clear and apparently going well when inexplicably ran out in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Fairly useful on the Flat, poor on last outing last July.

Form: 210/810-

(5)

Charming Star^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: James Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 81| C

16/1

Won second time up at Listowel last year. Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 11/2 and visored for 1st time, proved a let-down when eleventh of 13 in handicap at Leopardstown (10f, heavy) 17 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 413-0

(13)

Squire Danagher^b³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 81

5/2

Off the mark at Dundalk in January and followed up making handicap debut in 11-runner event there (12f, 3/1) just over 5 weeks ago. Still low mileage for his age and remains of interest in this hat-trick bid up 4 lb.

Form: 433-311

(14)

Feud²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Shane Foley| T: R O'Brien| OR: 79| BF

11/1

Run best excused when third of 5 in handicap (7/4) at Haydock (11.6f, good to firm) 7 months ago, stumbling leaving the stalls. First run for yard after leaving Ralph Beckett.

Form: 541233-

(9)

En Or^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A J Martin| OR: 78

14/1

Below form seventh of 20 in maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy, 10/1) 27 days ago. Back up in trip. Fairly useful on the Flat, poor on last outing in October. Has fitness on his side so could feature.

Form: 0-42198

Non-Runners

(12)

Weston²¹⁶

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: H Rogers J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

Forecasts

Squire Danagher (5/2), Vera Verto (5/1), Boher Road (7/1), Zoffman (7/1), Eastern Legend (11/1), Feud (11/1), Astar (12/1), Almuhit (12/1), En Or (14/1), Charming Star (16/1), Weston (20/1), Last Ammo (25/1), Reverend Hubert (25/1), Teed Up (28/1), Edge Of Darkness (40/1), Morph Speed (66/1), Whiskey Sour (100/1)

An ultra-competitive finale with the vote going to ZOFFMAN, who put up a career-best effort when finishing runner-up on his 2023 return and Noel Meade's charge can go one better from the same mark. Second choice is Teed Up, who has gone well fresh in the past, with Squire Danagher, Feud, and Almuhit a handful of others worth considering, too.