News
ALL STAR CLASH SET FOR NAVAN ON SUNDAY(2)
Monday, 1 January 1
-3 Graded Races Attract High Quality Entries-
A feast of high quality National Hunt racing is on offer at Navan next Sunday, the feature event is the €42,000 Grade 2 Friends of Navan Fortria Chase and this has attracted a quality field. Trainer Colm Murphy has indicated that Big Zeb will bid to win the race for a third successive year. Successful in this contest last season, the son of Oscar went onto finish second to Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, before exacting revenge on that rival at this year’s Punchestown Festival.
‘He is in super form and I am very happy with him,’ reported Colm Murphy.
‘This race has been the plan for a while. We brought him away to Navan and to Leopardstown in the last few weeks and he went well on both occasions.
‘He will come on a fair bit for the run and I just hope the ground won’t be too soft.’
Regarding riding arrangements he added,’ I am not sure where Barry will be on Sunday, he might be in Cheltenham for Nicky Henderson, so we’ll just have to wait and see what he is doing first.’
Also in the early line up are the highly consistent Forpadydeplasterer, Noble Prince,Pyscho,Predateur and Trafford Lad.
The €37,500 Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle is also shaping up to be quite a race and has attracted entries from all the top yards. Voler La Vadette makes a welcome return to action when she lines up in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.The daughter of King’s Theatre returned to Murphy’s yard in August and he remarked,’ she is in good form and she will be fairly forward for her first run of the year.
‘Last year, she really began to settle and if she can do the same again this season, we’d be delighted.’
He continued,’ she came back to me in great shape and she looks a picture and she won’t mind soft ground. She is in the Morgiana Hurdle and the Hattons Grace, but we’ll get Sunday out of the way first before we decide on future plans for her.’Champion trainer Willie Mullins holds a very strong double hand with Mourad and Mikael D’Haguenet. The entries are strongly supported with Rigour Back Bob,Ric, Karabak, Fully Funded,Askanna,Aibrean, Berties Dream,the Hurl and Pineau de Re.
A third graded race on the day is the €27,500 Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle.Noel Meade holds a strong hand with his recent winners Dylan Ross and Il Fenomeno entered up. Other recent winners that could take their chance include Casa Joe, Flycorn , Make a Track and Owega Star along with Priors Golf, Shadow Eile and Burn and Turn.
Darren Lawlor, Navan Racecourse Manager said: - “The course at Navan is in great condition as the countdown to our new National Hunt season begins. The ground is currently ‘Yielding’. The first race of a seven race card next Sunday is off at 12.35pm, with gates open from 11.35am.”
For further information contact:-
Darren Lawlor, General Manager, Navan Race & Golf course
Ph: 046 9021350 or 087 9931135
Admission:-
€15
Student / OAP €10
Children U 18 FREE (with I.D)