Navan – Saturday 22nd January

For many, today has been the day they have been waiting for a long time. We have potentially one of the most exciting clashes in National Hunt Racing at Ascot, where it does seem like you’re either in Camp Shishkin or Camp Energumene. I would perhaps slightly favor the former, but it might be a 51/49 type of call. As I have done so the past few weekends, I am going to be concentrating on the Irish cards while we have them – and this Navan card is springing up plenty of opportunities to have a dabble. Keep an eye on the Lucky 15 selections if potentially favoring a bet on the British racing. 

Starting with the 12.30 at Navan – which is a 2m4f maiden hurdle and is the first division of the race and it looks competitive and open on paper, especially for Irish maiden standards. I am going to be siding with the consistent bumper performer, The Flier Begley – who perhaps deserves a turn in luck having gone close in a number of bumpers. He has bumped into somee above average sorts in Ginto and Sandor Clegane before slightly throwing it away last time out at Down Royal when hanging left. The return to this track should suit massively and the step up in trip looks exactly what this horse needs. At 6/1 with Bet365, he should be backed each way. 

The 1.40 race is the feature event of the card and this 2m4f handicap hurdle is going for decent prize money and has been well represented as a result. Damalisque has turned into a bit of a cliff horse for me in recent starts and this won’t be the first time I have put him up for a race of this nature, but he is returning to a course and distance he knows so well and he did win this race last year very impressively. He is further up in the weights this time around and will have to improve on his recent efforts, but there are more than enough grounds for optimism that this should happen. At a price of 5/1 with Bet365, who offer 5 places – he should be backed each way.

The 2.15 race is another handicap hurdle over the same course and distance of 2m4f – and this 80-109 rated race has an enormous field of 25 going to post. This could be needle in a haystack sort of stuff, but it is hard to get away from the form of Robert Tyner especially after supplying us with such a juicy winning NAP last weekend. Never Off Duty is a horse that has run very nicely the last twice, especially after a long lay off last time out at Naas. The only worry is the bounce factor as this is a relatively quick second run, but if improving from that effort – he must have a chance here. He was only second to a progressive rival last time out and this slight step up in trip should suit. At a price of 15/2 with Ladbrokes, who offer 5 places – he is another each way bet. 

The 2.50 race is a 3m beginners chase and is the first of only two chases on this card at Navan and looks a very open renewal. There are some horses that bring some decent form behind some solid yardsticks, with Aint That a Shame bumping into none more so than Galopin Des Champs last time out, while The Bosses Oscar has been steadily solid throughout the season. However, I fear that Cavalinno is being very underestimated in this race and his partnership with Danny Mullins has an opportunity for gaining a win this time around after a very polished display at Thurles last time out. He jumped superb when he finished second to Stratum and perhaps lacked some of that flat speed the winner had late on, but a return to this type of track should be the making of him. At a price of 4/1 with Bet365, he should be backed. 

And finally the 4.00 race, which is the 2m bumper and looks a good race to finish up the card. Eyes might be firmly fixed on this race as Joyeux Machin (NAP) brings close formlines tied in with the exciting Facile Vega. I can’t see past the favorite in this race and I am hopeful that the Paul Nolan team will have another star on their hands with the exciting Joyeux Machin. He would have won his PtP but for falling at the last and his second on racecourse debut at Leopardstown was full of promise. If taking another step forward, especially in a winnable bumper – he should win. At a general price of 11/8 – he is my best bet of the day.