RACING/NAVAN:ONLY FOUR horses remain in contention for Sunday's Grade One highlight at Navan but they represent four of the most powerful stables in Ireland with Mount Benbulben's trainer Gordon Elliott predicting a "real slog" despite the tiny turnout.
Mount Benbulben is already proven over the two and a half miles of Sunday’s Navan Hurdle, having impressed with a defeat of Rebel Fitz in last month’s Monksfield Hurdle.
His name was one of a quartet left in the €70,000 weekend highlight after yesterday’s forfeit stage and the Barry Connell-owned star is among a small-but-select team of possibles from this country’s top yards.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins has left in Boston Bob while Noel Meade has opted to side with Ipsos Du Berlais. Jessica Harrington could be represented by Jetson. Along with Elliott, they comprise four of the top five trainers in Ireland this season in terms of prize-money and have collected a remarkable 162 race wins between them.
Ground conditions at Navan yesterday were officially “heavy” and despite the small numbers nothing is likely to come easy.
“The fact there’s only four isn’t an issue. It’s going to be a real slog on the ground,” Elliott said yesterday. “Our horse stays very well and there will be no excuses there. He’s won over two and a half miles already and has plenty stamina.”
Elliott also had news of his big-race holiday plans with the Cheltenham winner Chicago Grey set to head for Chepstow for the Welsh Grand National and Beautiful Sound remaining at home for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. Beautiful Sound is as low as 8 to 1 in some ante-post lists for the Welsh Marathon but Chicago Grey will instead head to Chepstow with Elliott reporting: “Testing ground there wouldn’t be a problem for him. Beautiful Sound will go to the Paddy Power.”
Beautiful Sound finished only ninth in the lucrative Leopardstown handicap last year after a major gamble but is already ante-post favourite for the race.
A total of seven entries remain in Sunday’s Grade Two Tara Hurdle at Navan with Dessie Hughes leaving in Rick, who also holds an entry in Saturday’s Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
However, Willie Mullins looks to dominate the race with a triple-entry that includes last season’s top novice Zaidpour and Shakervilz. The champion trainer has also left in the mare Dare To Doubt.
Sunday’s other Grade Two is the Future Champions Bumper which has attracted an entry of nine horses, including the Elliott-trained Don Cossack, who made a huge impression when winning on his last start.
Nina Carberry is expected to team up with him again at the weekend.
Willie Mullins has also left open the option of running Tawaagg in Saturday’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot. The horse is currently at the lower end of the weights for the hugely valuable pot off a weight of 9st 13lb.
