The defection of Cardinal Hill robs tomorrow's Navan card of some possibly vital Cheltenham information, but the featured Golden Pages Boyne Hurdle should still provide Commanche Court with an ideal warm up for the festival.
The 1997 Triumph Hurdle winner was third to Lady Rebecca in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, but although the Scottish-trained dual Wetherby winner Birkdale and Tony McCoy's mount Derrymoyle are lined up against him here, Commanche Court should be up to getting back on the winning trail.
Racing has been brought forward to a 2.00 start because of the AllIreland club football championship semi-final being played in Pairc Tailteann and people travelling from Dublin have been advised to avoid Navan town and travel via Slane.
It should be worth making it in time, because the opening novices chase is an intriguing little contest.
The National Hunt Chase hope, Lanturn, takes on Micko's Dream, and Notcomplainingbut cannot be left out of the calculations either. Micko's Dream is a course winner who thrives on heavy ground but who didn't jump too well behind Ferbert Junior at Thurles last time.
Back among novices, he should still be able to give Lanturn 5lb, especially on this testing surface.
The following novices hurdle is now wide open in the absence of Cardinal Hill, and the selection is Dessie Hughes's Rathbawn Prince, who ran a fine third to the smart Hoh Invader at Cheltenham back in November. The Bank Of Ireland Handicap Chase sees McCoy on Nuzum Road Makers, but he will find Glin Castle a hard nut to crack now that Andrew McNamara's horse drops back to two and a half miles. Three Kings is marginally preferred to Tricia's Pride in the Supporters Maiden Hurdle.
The nap, however, goes to Dermot Weld's Peerless Motion in the bumper. This one was just beaten by the highly-rated Hobart Frisbey at Leopardstown last month and the experience should see him come on significantly. The Willie Mullins newcomer, Alexander Prize, has to be respected on his home reputation, but that Leopardstown experience should swing it for Peerless Motion.
