Preview navan 16th Feb

Navan moved their card back a day to allow Leopardstown's rescheduled Hennessy meeting to take the spotlight on Sunday, and the result is a cracking card to get the week under way.

The Flyingbolt Novice Chase is the first of three Grade Twos of the afternoon and sees Made In Taipan attempt to get his Cheltenham campaign back on track.

Tom Mullins' smart prospect appeared a lively Arkle contender until defeats at Leopardstown and Naas, although he's too good to dismiss just yet.

Majestic Concorde will provide him with a stern test judging on his impressive fencing debut at Leopardstown, while last-start fallers Northern Alliance and Shazand, along with chasing newcomer Cuan Na Grai, add further lustre to the event.

The Boyne Hurdle sees a fascinating clash between Aitmatov and Catch Me.

The former chased home Kazal in this 12 months ago and regained the winning thread in the Limestone Lad Hurdle last time, but he's been beaten twice by Catch Me already this term.

Edward O'Grady's seven-year-old found his stamina stretched to breaking point in the Christmas Hurdle, but still maintained his unbeaten record for the campaign and he'll relish the drop back to this intermediate distance.

Siegemaster should appreciate having his sights lowered in the Ten Up Novice Chase.

A wide-margin winner at Thurles, he was then put in his place by Trafford Lad before a commendable third in a Leopardstown Grade One.

He meets nothing of that ilk here, because Dashing George and Operation Houdini have been plying their trade in handicaps, while Florida Express and Nuvelli have already been found wanting at this level.

The action kicks off with the Navan Racecourse Handicap Hurdle at 1.40m and Crerum should confirm his Thurles superiority over Mythical Prince, while the latter's stablemate An Innocent Man, who boasts excellent bumper form, bids to justify some lofty entries on his jumping debut in the Mirror Group Maiden Hurdle.

end

end

end

© www.irish-racing.com