Murphy bids for Navan pot My Murphy bids to defy joint top-weight when he brings some good novice chase form to the featured 50,000 euro Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final at Navan today. The Liam Burke-trained second-season novice has come back to form in recent months and having finally gained his maiden chase win in December, then performed with great credit to finish fourth in Grade One company at Leopardstown over Christmas and then a staying-on second in a Grade Two at Navan last month. My Murphy and Ipsos Du Berlais give away weight to 15 rivals with six of those runners (Leavethelighton, Grand Jesture, Cadspeed, More Madness, Too Late To Sell and Blissful Moment) being winners on their latest starts. Noel Meade and Paul Carberry were successful with Very Wood in Friday's Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle and the pair have bright prospects of following up with the topically named Festive Felon in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle. Festive Felon is top-rated at 135 and while he faces just eight rivals, the race looks quite competitive with Flaming Dawn, Say It Again and Noble Endeavor each winners last time out and Wicklow Gold representing champion trainer Willie Mullins.
