Navan preview: Just six line up for tomorrow's Grade One Navan feature, the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle, but a similar size field didn't stop last year's race producing a Cheltenham winner and Aran Concerto could be the one to emerge with festival potential this time.
It was Aran Concerto's stable companion Nicanor who went on to land the SunAlliance after just failing to overhaul Travino 12 months ago and there is no doubting the quality of some of the opposition against Noel Meade's horse this time either.
Footy Facts again makes the six hour trip from Kinsale after impressively scoring in the Monksfield Hurdle last month, while Le Toscan has been impressive in winning at both Clonmel and Naas.
What is certain though is that any winner will earn his Grade 1 tag as conditions are sure to be testing after a week of rain that resulted in an early track inspection yesterday morning. The course passed the test but the runners will still have to endure a real slog.
"We couldn't have raced on Thursday but I was surprised at how much it had improved when we looked at it again. Mind you, we wouldn't want any more rain. The good bit is that none is forecast and unless the weather surprises us, no further inspection is planned," said Navan manager Richard Lyttle yesterday.
In the circumstances it might initially look wiser to stick with a horse like Footy Facts who has already been involved in some slogs but it's still very hard to ignore the reputation that Aran Concerto will bring with him tomorrow.
After his first bumper start, Meade called him potentially the best he has ever had and an easy course win last month had the champion trainer saying that Aran Concerto is displaying form at home that he has never seen from any horse before.
Of course it is one thing doing it at home, and Aran Concertodoes look a raw talent still, but by definition Meade's judgement is more often right than wrong and an impressive success this weekend could see the horse's odds for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle, formerly the SunAlliance, tumble significantly.
Ground conditions have ruled out an attempt by Asian Maze at the Grade 2 Giltspur Tara Hurdle but the race could still develop into a scrap between the fairer sex with Celestial Wavetaken to reverse form with the Hatton's Grace third Brogella.
Meade's Downpatrick winner Orbit O'Goldwill take some beating in the conditions hurdle but his impressive course winner Mick The Man could have a big task on his hands in the Grade two bumper against Shirley Casper. Meade will also be well represented at Thurles where Jazz Messengeris 5lbs well in at the weights with Powerstation in the Listed hurdle.
Templers Halllooks a decent bet to repeat a course and distance win in the opening chase now that he drops back half a mile from his last start, while Thursday's Gowran runner-up Idealrisecan go one better in the novice handicap.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)