Hi all,
Wins by Bold Plan & Capeland gave us a solid Saturday profit.
I woke up full of cold this morning so I will keep today’s post short.
It’s the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan this afternoon and there’s also a recent eyecatcher at the meeting.
Navan
3:00 – Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade B)
Burgas – Trainer Noel Meade won this 12 months ago and the consistent Burgas has each way claims if he stays today’s 3m.
Roaring Bull – Looks the sort to land a staying handicap chase this season but has work to do reverse placings with Discorama on their recent running at Wexford.
Discorama – Could well end this season a Grade 1 staying chaser. Runner-up in the 4m at the Cheltenham Festival before finishing runner-up to Delta Work in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. A good return to action at Wexford well ahead of Roaring Bull. The softer the ground the better given his proven stamina. A solid contender even under top-weight and a useful 5lb conditional has been booked.
Portmore Lough – Comes into the race seeking the hat trick after wins at Galway. A different track today and up 10lb complicates matter for the 8-year-old. Must be considered a contender if he’s as good away from Galway.
Joseph O’Brien saddles a pair of contenders in Shady Operator & Tower Bridge. Both have a had a recent run and have potential over 3m. Slight preference for the latter who stayed 3m over hurdles and is having his first start over fences at that trip today.
Ravenhill showed he could land a handicap like this when runner-up in the Kerry National. Best form has come on yielding or quicker so any further easing of the going would be a negative.
Chris’s Dream – Made it 2 from 2 at the track when winning a Grade 2 over C&D in February. Disappointed in Grade 1’s at Aintree and Punchestown on his final two starts but will find this easier. Competitively handicapped on his best form and can’t be ruled on his seasonal reappearance.
Verdict: I’m not expecting a shock result here so concentrating on those runners at the head of the market looks a wise move. Tower Bridge has plenty of scope for improvement for his first go at 3m over fences. Discorama has plenty of class but may want the ground even softer. While Ravenhill’s chances would be increased by the ground not easing further.
1pt each way – Tower Bridge – 7/1 @ Coral (Paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
1:30 – Recent Navan eyecatcher Encore Lui looks to have a good chance of breaking his maiden tag in this handicap hurdle. The lightly raced 5-year-old is up just 3lb for his excellent seasonal return over C&D two weeks ago.
Cheers
John