Mullins pair set to dominate feature event

RACING/NAVAN PREVIEW:WILLIE MULLINS has never won the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle but no one can accuse the champion trainer of not trying to mend that statistic at Navan tomorrow with Mikael d'Haguenet and Mourad dominating the €40,000 feature.

The pair dominate the race on ratings and Ruby Walsh has elected to stick with Mikael leaving Paul Townend on board Mourad.

The latter travelled to Cheltenham last time out for the thankless task of chasing home Big Buck’s and that followed two runner-up efforts to the star mare Voler La Vedette.

On balance, that sort of form looks to trump what Mikael D’Haguenet has achieved this season. But the former Neptune hero has looked to be getting progressively better with each appearance and Walsh on his back is an obvious pointer.

The two other Grade Two contests are for novice chasers and the Ten Up over three miles looks an intriguing contest with Medical Card attempting to confirm Naas form with Crash who is 5lbs better off for a neck.

Gigginstown Stud have dominated this division and are well represented here. But preference is for the former Cheltenham festival winner Berties Dream who stormed back to winning form for new trainer Henry De Bromhead at Thurles. A stiff three miles like Navan’s should suit him well.

The in-form Tony Martin fires Nearest The Pin into the Flyingbolt Chase and after mixing it with Flemenstar and Hidden Cyclone, this Grade Two event could be something of a drop in class.

Carloswayback is not guaranteed to relish the drop back to two miles while Donnas Palm has been relatively disappointing. Tennis Cap was an expensive failure at Leopardstown and strictly speaking has it all do to with Hawk Flight in the opening maiden hurdle. However the Mullins runner looks worth another shout.