KATIYSA came close to making a successful opening to her career at Tipperary last month, but was run out in the closing stages by the odds-on favourite, Hamad. The Doyoun filly reappears in the Old Rectory Maiden at Navan this evening and may be worth supporting.
Class Note, a stable companion of Hamad, should provide serious competition for Katiysa, having finished six lengths clear of Saturday's winner, Zaynal, when a close third to Theano at Naas.
Gazalani, despite running a cracking race in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, where he finished sixth, is still a maiden over hurdles. He subsequently burst a blood vessel at Punchestown, but reappeared on the Flat in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown and was in contention for a long way.
He is the only four-year-old in the field for the Meath Farm Machinery Hurdle and should take advantage of a considerable weight concession to outstay Bamapour, who has figured prominently in a couple of Flat races lately.
The Fairy King filly, Classical Risk, shaped like a future winner when third to Nevada on her debut at Tipperary. She might be good enough in the Breeders Supporting Navan Race, although such is the dominance of Jim Bolger's juveniles at the moment that either of his runners, the newcomer Malatuko or Legal Project, could take this prize.
Sir True Blue, runner-up to the ill-fated Peace Process, at Fairyhouse, has to concede weight all round in the City Furniture Handicap. He won a maiden over the course and distance in October.
Katiymanu, who was confirmed as the winner of the Seafield Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on May 22nd after an appeal by the trainer of the runner-up Kephren at the Turf Club yesterday, is the selection in the Breeders Supporting Navan Handicap Hurdle.
Dermot Weld introduces the Woodman filly, Smile Awhile, in the Navan Driving Range Maiden and she should go well. Preference, however, is for the former John Gosden-trained Keiko, who performed far better than her final placing would suggest at Naas.
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