Mars Harper© Photo Healy Racing
Navan, Cork, Sandown and Aintree offer up this weekend’s feature action in Ireland and the UK, with dual champion chaser, Energumene, set to make his comeback in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday. Vincent Finegan and Stephen Harris have selected their best bets of the weekend.
14:17 Navan Saturday, 2m. 4f. 150yds. Handicap Chase
Mars Harper ran well for a long way in the Troytown Chase over this course last month and should have a solid each-way chance this time over a significantly shorter distance. This 2m4f trip looks ideal and with top claiming rider Carl Millar taking 5lbs off his back he should be bang there at the business end with a similar performance.
14:52 Navan Saturday, 2m. 4f. 150yds. Beginners Chase
Mahon's Way is worth taking a chance on here on Chasing debut for the in-form Henry De Bromhead stable. Mahon's Way was bought for £360,000 after winning a four-year-old Point-to-Point and is expected to come into his own over the larger obstacles.
1.50 Sandown 2m Grade 1 novice chase
Dan Skelton’s useful hurdler has always been a chaser on looks, and he has really impressed with his jumping in winning both starts so far in this sphere. This represents a step up in class on paper, but none of these rivals have his potential and the yard continues in blistering form (with 9 winners in the last fortnight).
2.25 Sandown 2m4f handicap hurdle
Harry Fry’s classy sort has been off the track for ten months, but he seems sure to be primed for this Saturday prize and the stiff Sandown hill on eased ground would be his optimum conditions. He has won 2 from 6 over hurdles so far in a relatively light career, and remains with the scope to do a lot better in handicaps granted a test of stamina in the mud.
3.00 Sandown 2m Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase
Nicky Henderson’s top class chaser has now won 10 of his 12 career starts over fences, and is entitled to strip fitter for a workmanlike reappearance at Cheltenham last month. He has plenty in hand on ratings over all the usual suspects, and a clean round of jumping under Nico de Boinville should be enough to land the odds with the minimum of fuss.
3.35 Sandown 3m4f handicap chase
Lydia Richards’ stable star has a terrific record at this most demanding of tracks, and returned to his best form when winning over three miles here last time out. He has stamina assured for this sapping marathon trip, and regular rider Marc Goldstein is sure to be positive and make the most of his sound jumping and proven stamina on the soft ground.
