Eric can be the elite at Navan
FAVOURED: Eric Bloodaxe
TODAY
Navan 11:30 Gracchus De Balme Gracchus De Balme won a point-to- point last year and made a good start for us when fourth in a bumper at Fairyhouse.
He was always going to be more of a jumper than a bumper horse, so we’re looking forward to getting him started and seeing how he gets on.
12:33 – Eric Bloodaxe
Eric Bloodaxe is a horse we’ve always loved and it was great to see him make such a good start over hurdles when winning at Naas last month. He should come on from that run. We have always hoped that he would make up into a proper Graded horse over jumps, so hopefully he can justify our opinion of him by running a big race in this.
Navan 1:43 – Embittered Embittered has already won twice over fences this season, but was put in his place by Riviere D’Etel at Punchestown last time and has a lot of ground to make up, even at these revised weights. Hopefully he will run another good race, but it’s hard to see him reversing that form.
Aintree 1:30 – Six Feet Apart This is a race we’ve targeted a few times over the years, but haven’t had much luck in it. We think we have a good candidate for it in Six Feet Apart and hopefully she can justify her journey over. She made a winning hurdling debut at Fairyhouse and should be capable of improving from that. Getting black
JOSEPH O’BRIEN gives us the lowdown on his weekend runners type with her would be a great result.
TOMORROW Cork 11:40 – Champion Green and Classy Choice Champion Green is a horse we’ve always liked and it was great to see him get off the mark in a maiden at Punchestown in September. We decided after that to go hurdling with him and he has had plenty of schooling in recent weeks. Hopefully he takes to it, as he has the potential to be quite a nice horse if he does.
Classy Choice has been a bit disappointing on the Flat, but he has done plenty of schooling over hurdles and can hopefully show more in this sphere.
Cork 2:20 – Darasso Darasso had his big day when winning the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan a few weeks ago. His versatility allows us to swap things around with him and it will be interesting to see how he gets on back over fences in this company.
Punchestown 2:00 – Fakir D’Oudairies Fakir D’Oudairies is our stable star in this sphere and it was great to see him make a winning return in the Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel last month. This trip seems to suit him very well and while this looks a strong renewal of this race, he is entitled to take his chance and hopefully he’ll acquit himself well.
Tomorrow’s John Durkan Chase at Punchestown is surely the best ever renewal.
This is a big test to see if Envoi Allen lives up to all the talk, as he faces the first three home from the Ryanair Chase and the 162-rated C&D winner.
I think the value may be with the other Cheveley Park runner, ALLAHO (2.00, Punchestown). He has been there, done that and bought the t-shirt at topgrade senior level.
Special
There could also be something special on show at Cork, with last season’s top novice, ENERGUMENE (2.20, Cork), ridden by new jockey on the block Sean O’Keeffe.
The keen runner won’t have it all his own way with Notebook bidding to serve it up.
At Navan today Noel Meade, Denis O’Regan and Gigginstown can keep the ball rolling after they combined at Fairyhouse. HARALD HARDRAD (11.30, Navan) was a con- summate winner of f his bumper.
Point winner r WHACKER CLAN N
(12.00, Navan), who o looks the first string with Darragh O’Keeffe up, gets the nod in the second division.
GINTO (12.33, was a big purchase after his point win and looks like he might not have been a bad investment now.
He could add graded success to his two recent wins.
Michael Hourigan is keeping his faith in BALLYWILLIAM BOY (1.08, Navan) and thinks he can compete at this level.
RIVIERE D’ETEL (1.43, Navan) was breathtaking when trouncing a small field at Punchestown.
She took a fair pull so it will be interesting to see if she settles and puts up a similar show. She won’t be beaten if she repeats.
FAROUK D’ALENE (2.18, Navan) is an obvious choice for the Beginners’, just touched off by subsequent Alb Albert Bartlett win winner Vanillier wh when last seen.
Pain
WA W WA (2.53) has had the bo bookies crying of late and can inflict more pa pain still.
H He’s a revel elation since jo joining Dermot M McLoughlin. It It’s a step up in grade but he co could be capab ble once again. Thomas Gibney is having a cracker of a year and JUNIOR ALLIANCE (3.28) won’t need much improvement to add to his tally.
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