Rely on Over The First

RACING: A spokesman for Navan said yesterday they are "95-99 per cent certain" of racing getting the green light from this morning's 7.00 a.m. inspection.

Course manager Richard Lyttle said: "We have no major concerns but if we had a very severe frost it might hamper us. We would cope with a reasonable frost and that is all we have been having for the last couple of nights so the prospects look good."

The main race in a seven-strong card is the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle and Limestone Lad's absence means a close on three stone rise in the weights. Glens Music is topweight now but in a trappy contest the winner could come from further down the field. Bizet is the eye-catcher following wins at Thurles and Limerick but maybe Over The First is the value option.

Fans of the SunAlliance Hurdle favourite Hardy Eustace will be looking intently at the novice hurdle where the Leopardstown placed horses Nil Desperandum and Fota Island clash again. It's worth a bet, however, that Khetaam will trump them both over the two-mile trip. He was just beaten over the course and distance last time by Scarthy Lad but that was on dreadful ground and he went to win the race until giving way in the final strides.

HRI announced yesterday that eight Irish flat races have been upped in status. The Derrinstown Derby Trial has been upped to Group Two. The same move has happened to the Matron Stakes, the Beresford Stakes and the Railway Stakes. Races to have been promoted from Listed to Group Three are the Ballysax, Brownstown, Athasi and Mooresbridge Stakes.