Fascinating battle in Boyne

THE progressive Off You Go is the one to side with in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan tomorrow afternoon.

The Charles Byrnes inmate is stepping out of handicap company and is moving up sharply in distance but neither factor should concern his supporters.

Off You Go has looked every inch a graded performer for some time and he produced a tremendous effort to win the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out.

That was the second year in a row he won that handicap and he did so off a 20lb higher mark than 2018.

This points to his ability to make his mark at graded level and a notable aspect of many of his victories has been his strong finishing effort.

This suggests the Boyne Hurdle trip will be no problem for the son of Presenting and he has won over two and a half miles in the past.

He probably has most to fear from who is looking for his fifth win in his last six starts.

This Willie Mullinstrained gelding was an early casualty in last year’s Gold Cup and, on his first run since, he won on his return to hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.

The runner-up from that race, has since shown up well at Grade 2 level to give Bachasson’s form a solid look.

Even so, Off You Go looks to have more potential and time could well show him to be a Grade 1 performer.

In the Ten Up Novice Chase,

is put forward to score after his fine return to action at Naas last month.

The former Cheltenham winner was running for the first time in almost two years when he was third to Ballyward in a Naas Grade 3.

He finished behind Chris’s Dream that day but probably has greater room for improvement given he had been off for so long.

Furthermore, Champagne Classic jumped brilliantly at Naas to show that he should have a real future in decent company.

His trainer Gordon Elliott could also land the mares handicap hurdle with

She loves good ground and showed up well in a good handicap at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

In the bumper, the Elliott-trained

gets the vote having shown enough in two runs this season to suggest he is good enough to win a bumper.

has been a little disappointing since going hurdling but he has been found a good opportunity to make amends in the opener. Meanwhile,

is a consistent sort and he deserves to get his turn in the handicap hurdle following a couple of recent second place finishes.