IRISH ANGLE
NAP OF THE DAY
A LAST blast of flat action at Navan today before the Meath venue prepares to welcome the National Hunt fraternity back for the winter months. Billy Lee (right) rode the last three winners at Tipperary on Sunday and can make it four in a row in the opening Nursery on KEEL BAY (1.15).
The Ken Condontrained filly was a big price on her handicap debut at the Curragh but ran a cracker to finish third — beaten only a nose and a head.
She won’t have to improve much to score here over five furlongs.
AN INSIDE draw is usually a help in the sprint races at Navan and in the Apprentice
Handicap A COOL CASE (2.20) is a good each-way option in a wide open heat. Jarlath Fahy’s three-yearold has stall five and ran well at Cork on his last outing when three lengths fifth to Coffeemeanscoffee. He meets that rival on 9lbs better terms and Hugh Horgan’s 4lbs claim also strengthens his case.
ONE TO WATCH
Irish flat season and today could be the day he hits his target. He teams up with boss Ger Lyons in a few contests but FLAGGED (4.05) looks to have a big chance in the Fillies Handicap. She won a maiden earlier in the season at Limerick and has proved up to her mark with three placed efforts over the summer.
She was disappointing at Punchestown on her last start but the recent rain will be on her side here.
ONE TO SWERVE
SASTA (4.05) was a winner at Listowel in a quiet spell for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning but might struggle to go in again today.
She’s up
5lbs and has stall 13 to contend with too.
Bolger has only had three winners in the last month from over 40 runners and this one might be taken on.
WITH William Buick booked, Burning Victory was backed to give his trainer Willie Mullins a fourth consecutive victory in Saturday’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket.
Burning Victory, the 2020 Triumph Hurdle victor, was yesterday the best- backed runner with Ladbrokes and is 12-1 from 16-1.
Leader
Mullins (inset), also responsible for the 6-1 market leader MC Muldoon, has 11 entries in the £250,000 marathon
2m 2f handicap .
“The prize money in Newmarket makes it very alluring and what doesn’t get into Newmarket will probably go to the Curragh,” said Mullins.
“That’s the way I’d be looking at it.
“We left in what we could and I would imagine a lot will depend on the ground.”
Nicky Henderson, Mullins’ sparring partner for championship honours at the Cheltenham Festival, is after a third victory in the event with Buzz, the 8-1 second favourite.
Like Henderson’s past winners, Landing Light ( 2003) and Caracciola (2008), Buzz is a smart hurdler.
“I’m shocked to see Willie has the favourite,” said Henderson. “This has been the plan for Buzz for a long time.”
Henderson clearly means business as he has booked champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Despite Murphy leading Buick by 10 winners in his quest to become champion jockey for the third time, Buick has been backed down to 11- 4 with Ladbrokes to take the title. Murphy remains the odds- on favourite at 1- 4.
LIKE spotting the first swal■ low of the summer, the Nicky Henderson- trained Impulsive One received the season’s first quote for the Triumph Hurdle after his effortless victory at Huntingdon yesterday.
The gelding is 33-1 with Paddy Power for the juvenile hurdling crown which takes at the Cheltenham Festival in March.