Caviar bids to maintain flying start

Runaway Fairyhouse winner Royal Caviar aims to keep his unbeaten record intact in the 'Future Champions' INH Flat Race at Navan.

The Irish point-to-point winner cost owner Rich Ricci £90,000 at Cheltenham's Brightwells sale in April, but it already looks money well spent judged on his stunning debut under Rules last month.

The five-year-old is as short as 12-1 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March and looks to enhance those claims against five rivals at Grade Two level this weekend.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins said: "He won on a good, galloping right-handed track and we're switching him left-handed now on one of the most testing and fairest tracks in Ireland. If he shows an improvement from Fairyhouse, he sets a high standard."

County Antrim-based Stuart Crawford has a fine record with his bumper runners and the trainer is hopeful Fine Rightly can make his presence felt.

The five-year-old travelled to Ayr three times earlier this year, winning on his debut in January before placing a month later and at the Scottish Grand National meeting in April.

Crawford said: "We were planning to go straight over hurdles with him, but it's just the way things worked out we decided to give him a run here first.

"For a Grade Two race it is probably not the greatest race in the world, so we're happy to let him take his chance. They are forecast a bit of rain, which will help him, and he's always been a horse we thought a fair bit of.

"He's a chaser in the making really, but I hope he can run well on Sunday for his owner-breeder. It would be nice if he gets a bit of black type."

Philip Fenton saddles the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Desertmore Stream who was fourth behind the Mullins-trained Rathvinden on his latest appearance. Dannicourtney Dream Beat and Perfect Promise complete the field.