*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
James Shortt’s Selections
11:45 – Neigh Botha
12:45 – Flame Bearer
13:20 – Hercule Du Seuil
13:55 – Bob Olinger
14:30 – Ferny Hollow
15:40 – Found A Fifty
FANCY A CHANCE TO WIN £/€25K?
- ENTER PADDY’S FREE PICK 5 GAME TO SCOOP THE DAILY PRIZE AT CHELTENHAM
11:45 – Neigh Botha
Gordon Elliott and the Bective Stud are represented by three leading contenders with NEIGH BOTHA perhaps looking their best chance of landing this opening 2-mile 4-furlong Maiden Hurdle. The son of Doyen has the benefit and experience of two runs under rules having won a Musselburgh bumper for Donald Whillans before been purchased by Noel and Valerie Moran back in April. The step-up in trip from his hurdles debut when third at Listowel should bring out further improvement to score.
The market will give us a guide and perhaps connections might decide not to race all three-runners against each-other on the day. Jack Kennedy is booked for Firefox, a half-brother to The Bosses Oscar with Denis O’Regan riding Ballinaboola second Ideal Vert on his rules debut. Elsewhere, Hartur D’arc is an interesting contender on his hurdles debut, while hooded first time Got To Fly looks sure to improve from her first start at Limerick three-weeks ago.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
12:45 – Flame Bearer
FLAME BEARER was an excellent servant for Pat Doyle in recent seasons and should score on his chasing debut for new trainer Willie Mullins in this 2-mile 1-furlong Beginners Chase. The son of Fame And Glory secured back-to-back graded hurdles at Naas and Fairyhouse earlier this year before finishing a solid second to State Man at Punchestown back in April. Both trip and ground conditions look ideal on return, and he gets the verdict to score for me in what looks a strong contest.
Hollow Games also brings strong hurdles form to the table with the Martin Pipe Hurdle third dropping down in trip on his first start over fences for Gordon Elliott. He should appreciate a strong gallop but might be best watched until stepping up in trip later this season. Elsewhere, Colonel Mustard will be competitive for Lorna Fowler having raced behind Jonbon, Sir Gerhard and State Man last season – this trip looks perfect for his chasing debut and can give our selection most to fear.
STUDY THE FORM IN STYLE & GET ALL THE RESULTS YOU NEED FIRST
- CHECK OUT OUR SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY RACE, EVERY DAY
- WE HAVE ALL THE HORSE RACING FAST RESULTS YOU’LL EVER WANT
13:20 – Hercule Du Seuil
HERCULE DU SEUIL won a weak race but was very impressive on the eye at Tipperary and should progress further for connections to win this graded 2-mile Hurdle at Navan this Sunday. The Willie Mullins trained runner was a little free and disappointing on his Irish debut last Christmas but has clearly grown stronger and learned plenty throughout the year, hence that easy victory last month. This looks a good contest with five of the six declared runners all previous winners coming into this contest.
Tactics will also be interesting with all five-racing handy and forward in those victories with Gordon Elliot, represented with two runners here having previously won this race three times in the past six-seasons. Three Card Brag was a little workmanlike in victory at Galway with Imagine shown plenty of fight when scoring at Wexford. Kiki Badger might be over priced having returned from a break to win back-to-back races at Tipperary and Limerick last month in good fashion for Anthony McCann.
13:55 – Bob Olinger
What a fascinating renewal of the Lismullen Hurdle with BOB OLINGER on a retrieval mission over hurdles against the likes of Flooring Porter, Zanahiyr and 2020 winner Sire Du Berlais. Henry De Bromhead’s runner was a lucky winner at Cheltenham before pulling-up at Punchestown but remains a classy individual returning to hurdles without a penalty under Rachael Blackmore. He’s a former course and distance winner and it would be no surprise to see him win impressively.
Flooring Porter was travelling best when falling at the second last in this race last year and with Gavin Cromwell’s horses in excellent form, he’s clearly on the short-list despite giving weight away to all rivals and racing over this trip. Gordon Elliott has decided to keep Champion Hurdle third Zanahiyr to this trip despite falling behind Epatante at Aintree, while Sire Du Berlais and Ashdale Bob can remain consistent and run nice races – it’s a cracking contest with Bob Olinger set to return to glory.
14:30 – Ferny Hollow
It’s fantastic to see FERNY HOLLOW return to the racetrack from injury with the Closutton team reporting the former Champion Bumper winner in excellent form ahead of his comeback in the Fotria Chase. Patrick Mullins, speaking to our colleagues in the Sporting Life said, “we’re happy with him. He’s working well and schooling well but we just need to get experience”. He’ll be a short price on return with this race just his third over fences following two wins at the backend of last year.
It would be no surprise if Paul Townend decides to dominate from the front in similar fashion to both chase victories at Punchestown and Leopardstown. The son of Westerner jumped right on occasions in Foxrock, so it will be interesting to see if that happens again this Sunday. Rachael Blackmore is likely to play a waiting game on Captain Guinness with the Gordon Elliott pair of Andy Dufresne and Riviere D’etel the most likely to fight for third place prizemoney.
15:40 – Found A Fifty
Gordon Elliott has been firing in several nice bumper winners in recent weeks and can bang in another with FOUND A FIFTY in the Navan finale. The Cullentra House team has an excellent strike-rate in this contest having won three of the last four renewals which included success for the Bective Stud with Gringo D’aubrelle last year. Found A Fifty runs in the colours of owners Noel and Valerie Moran and makes his rules debut following point-to-point success at Boulta last November.
A host of winners have subsequently enhanced the form and I see no reason why this horse can’t score under Jamie Codd in the lucky last. Fermoyle looks the biggest danger following his second-place effort on debut for Noel Meade at Punchestown last month, while Givehimthehonour looks an interesting contender for Paul Nolan. The son of Workforce claimed a Castlelands point-to-point in March and can be competitive with Kieran Callaghan booked and taking off a valuable 7Ibs.
James Shortt’s Navan Sunday Selections
11:45 – Neigh Botha
12:45 – Flame Bearer
13:20 – Hercule Du Seuil
13:55 – Bob Olinger
14:30 – Ferny Hollow
15:40 – Found A Fifty
READ MORE
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- When is the Paddy Power Gold Cup? Cheltenham date, start time, runners and betting
- When does the National Hunt season start? Key Jumps fixtures and races ahead of Cheltenham Festival 2023
THE LATEST HORSE RACING ODDS ARE ON PADDYPOWER.COM NOW