GOLD’S STAMINA SHOULD SHINE

APPARENTLY well-handicapped over hurdles, Agusta Gold should make a bold bid to land the Grade B Navan Handicap Hurdle for Mags and Danny Mullins in Navan today.

Winner of this race two years ago, when beating recent Caspian Caviar Gold Cup winner Chatham Street Lad off a mark of 108, the eight-year-old mare hasn’t run over hurdles since finishing runner-up to Sunshade in a listed mares handicap at Cheltenham in April 2019.

Since

then,

she

has

proven herself a solid, staying chaser, winning her beginners at Thurles in late 2019 and posting a third to Ellimay at Thurles and a second to Salsaretta at Punchestown last season. She then ran a cracker to be beaten just a head by Ifyoucatchmenow in the marathon Grand National Trial at Punchestown.

Off the track since February, she returned at Fairyhouse two weeks ago and produced a gutsy display to win the Grade 3 John & Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase at the expense of Moyhenna – the pair finishing well clear.

That victory saw Agusta Gold’s chase mark reach 146. Today, she races off a 21lb lower hurdle mark (125). And it’s significant that she’s been re-routed here – rather than tackle the Thyestes at Gowran Park next Thursday.

Two and half miles in testing ground around Navan should see Agusta Gold’s stamina shine through. And I’ll be surprised if she’s not fighting it out at the business end of an ultra-competitive handicap.

Dangers are numerous, including Eddie Harty’s Damalisque, runner-up to Barnaviddaun in