Black Hercules primed for glory at Navan on Sunday

Ireland’s five Grade Two prizes this weekend could do with a timely pedigree boost for identifying Cheltenham stars a month later and Black Hercules may yet provide such a boost if lining up in Navan’s Ten Up Novice Chase on Sunday.

Currently a 4-1 favourite for the four-mile National Hunt Chase on Day 1 of Cheltenham, Black Hercules is unbeaten in two starts over fences, the first of which came in impressive fashion at Navan in December.

He followed that up with a good win at Warwick and is also as low as 12-1 in many lists for the RSA Chase at the festival.

Black Hercules is one of a trio of Willie Mullins-trained entries in the three-mile heat named after the 1975 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero.

Another of the Closutton team, Sambremont, is 16-1 in some lists for the four-miler at Cheltenham and is also an entry in the two-mile Flyingbolt Novice Chase on the same card.

Hopes the Gold Cup favourite Vautour could warm up for the festival in Saturday’s Red Mills Trial Chase at Gowran were dashed when he didn’t feature among half a dozen entries yesterday while Sempre Medici looks a stand-out among the six left in the Trial Hurdle.

Hardy Eustace won this race ahead of landing his second Champion Hurdle crown in 2005 and Sunday's Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle also has a history of producing championship winners at Cheltenham albeit it requires a greater leap back in time to find them.

Galmoy won the Boyne before the second of his Stayers Hurdle crowns in 1988. Two years later Trapper John also completed the double, as did Dorans Pride in 1995.

Ten remain in Sunday’s race this time and the dual-Grade One winner Lieutenant Colonel is a possible starter, as is another Gigginstown hope, Prince Of Scars, a general 20-1 shot for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham next month. Ground conditions at Gowran and Navan are “heavy”.