ATOMIC BOMBS FIELD? Elliott’s charge is looking good at Leopardstown
Jetz puts on the afterburners in Navan
IRISH RACING
The quick ground means that just eight horses line up in the day’s €50,000 feature and Gordon Elliott supplies three of the runners.
The Elliott challenge is headed by Monatomic who ran so well in defeat when chasing home Poker Party at Naas last Sunday.
That was the six-year-old’s best run over fences and it suggested that he could be placed to advantage in a decent handicap chase on good ground. A five pounds rise in the weights for his Naas effort doesn’t look excessive while the slightly longer trip of this race won’t present him with any difficulties.
It wouldn’t surprise if Monatomic was given most to do by the top weight Jett who isn’t the easiest to predict.
The Jessica Harrington inmate has plenty to do on his showing behind Real Steel at Thurles last week.
However, prior to that he showed up well to take fourth in a Thurles Grade 2 won by Tout Est Permis and a return to that form would give him a chance.
Gordon Elliott will also be fancied to land the opener with the Grade 1-placed Tombstone.
The useful nine-year-old THE Jessica Harrington-trained Jetz took the honours at Navan yesterday with an all the way success in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Only four went to post in the day’s feature and the favourite Duca De Thaix proved a disappointment after a very slow jump at the fourth.
Up front Jetz and Paul Townend maintained a clear lead in the straight and the pair came home eight and a half lengths ahead of Benruben. looks very well treated by the race conditions having been totally outclassed in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time.
Previously he showed up well to take third in a Naas Grade 3 won by Espoir D’allen. If he matches that form he should be able to see off Oscars Den.
The rest of the card offers Noel Meade a strong chance of a treble and he can strike first with The Red Menace.
This dual bumper winner has progressed with each outing over hurdles and his latest third to Dallas Des Pictons is a solid effort.
The Red Menace is preferred to Licklighter who chased home the classy Felix Desjy last time but is coming off a break of 127 days.
In the handicap hurdle the
“I only declared him when I saw there was so few in the race. He made a mistake at the first but otherwise he jumped super,” said Mrs Harrington.
“He is entered at Cheltenham but I doubt he will travel and I’m actually not sure where he is going to go next.”
Cheltenham is on the agenda for Our Legend following his victory in the four-year-old maiden hurdle.
The David Mullins-ridden gelding built on some solid efforts in defeat to defeat Volatile Lady by a length and Meade-trained Curley Bill is put forward even though the hasn’t run over hurdles for over five years.
This lightly raced elevenyear-old goes well fresh as he showed when returning from two years off to win on the flat last year.
Also his efforts on the flat in 2018 suggested that he still retains much of his old ability.
The treble should be completed by Aint Dunne Yet who would have won a beginners chase at Fairyhouse last weekend only to be brought down after the last.
In the opportunity handicap chase it is impossible to look past The Church Gate who is bidding for a hat-trick following two victories over hurdles.
NAVAN REPORT
three parts.
“He had a wind operation after he ran in early December and he seems to be getting his confidence back,” stated Mullins.
“He’ll get a penalty for this which could help him get into the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and if he doesn’t go there he could run in the Triumph Hurdle.”
From Eden looked as though he could be a horse to follow when he got up late on in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle.