A wager could Erich your day

ERICH BLOCH should get favourite-backers off to a flying start and give trainer Ger Lyons a welcome boost after a lean September in today’s opener in Navan.

A Dandy Man gelding, owned in partnership by David Spratt and Sean Jones, he has filled the runner-up berth in his last two starts and should be very tough to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden over a trip short of six furlongs.

Having shown little, after a tardy start, on his debut at the Curragh on Guineas weekend in May, Erich Bloch stepped-up significantly when coming through late to finish second to clear-cut winner Invincible Karma, with one of today’s rivals,

a head

back in third.

The selection steppedup again in Naas last week, making the running before succumbing to expensive purchase and exciting Ballydoyle colt Old Glory in a seven-furlong maiden.

Erich Bloch is dropping back in trip today, which shouldn’t inconvenience him too much, and will have Gary Carroll in the saddle for the first time, deputising for the suspended Colin Keane.

He’s expected to confirm Roscommon form with Archaeology, which was unlucky in running when fourth to Isle Of Innisfree at Naas last time and can put his experience to good use against Aidan O’brien’s newcomer a Scat Daddy colt.

On a tough, eight-race card, with a total of 138 runners, winners won’t be easy to find. But handicap debutant

racing off a mark of 75, should have excellent prospects in the Follow Navan On Twitter Nursery over a mile.

This Australia colt has run three times without reaching the frame. But he has shown some potential in his second and third starts.

He was noted staying on late when fifth to Guaranteed in a Curragh maiden in July, from which the second, third and fourth have all emerged to score.

The Ballydoyle colt finished a length and a quarter behind Third World, to which he finished fourth when they clashed again in Killarney last month. On the latter occasion, Whitsunday Islands was slowly away and showed signs of inexperience.

Michael Hussey’s mount is clearly no star. But, just like Mount Tabora did in Listowel, Whitsunday Islands might be capable of taking advantage of his initial mark of 75.

Chief dangers should be a trio which dominated a similar event at Naas last week, Willie Mccreery’s

which has gone up 9lb for her defeat of today’s top-

and

In-form Joseph O’brien has a number of chances, including

which is expected to build on her course and distance third to North Face in the fillies maiden, and on his handicap debut off 58 in the finale.