Harrington’s Magnium Won’t Have It Easy At Navan

The feature race at Navan is an early one today with the Grade 2 Navan Hurdle off at 12.30 and it’s a race with a fairly elite roll of honour featuring Oscars Well, Boston Bob, Pont Alexandre, Briar Hill, No More Heroes, Bellshill, Death Duty and Next Destination.

Whether there’s a Grade 1 winner in waiting in this line up remains to be seen but there might be some value in the betting.

Magnium Won’t Have It Easy
Jessica Harrington’s Magnium looked a winner on his last start in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle three weeks ago but just got done on the line by Easy Game and Ruby Walsh.

Only a neck separated them that day as Easy Game flew home and got the verdict and while he could easily be a typical Willie Mullins improver, a chance is taken that Magnium can reverse the form here.

That pair meet on the exact same terms but it looks like Easy Game will be much shorter in the betting despite just a narrow margin separating them and BoyleSports ambassador Robbie Power may well try and get a lead for as long as he can on the five-year-old.

Gigginstown are likely to have their say with three bullets to fire at the last major race in Ireland prior to Christmas, while Joseph O’Brien’s Rhinestone is certainly an above average novice but might just lack experience in this contest.

Magnium has been second on both starts for Jessica Harrington but…

can get back to winning ways today to make it third time lucky for his new yard.

Winters Has Bit Of A Chance
Mick Winters landed a nice gamble last weekend with Chatham House Rules at Cork and at Navan today Bitsandpieces looks a more obvious chance for the Cork handler.

The colours made famous by Galway Hurdle winner Rebel Fitz will be carried by top weight Bitsandpieces and despite having to concede weight all around, the nine-year-old should be good enough to oblige.

Allee Bleue is obviously going to attract plenty of attention having his first start for Gordon Elliott since joining the yard from Phillip Hobbs but he has been off the track for a while and Bitsandpieces has the benefit of a run under his belt having ran well at Clonmel earlier in the month and winning over hurdles at Cork last month.

On his handicap ratings Bitsandpieces was entitled to win at Cork as he was much better in over hurdles compared to his chase mark but he faces a small field of just eight rivals at Navan and many of them look fairly exposed.

Donie McInerney takes a valuable 3lbs claim off the selection whose biggest danger could actually come from longshot Allied Victory. Allied Victory will run with just 9st4lbs on his back factoring in Liam Quinlan’s claim but the ex-Gigginstown owned runner has been off for 483 days and it would look a tough ask for John Ryan’s charge although the light weight will be a big plus for a horse that was rated much higher in the past.

Bitsandpieces has the best recent form of these runners and while he may not be capable of winning off a rating much higher than the 116 he currently has…

but this looks a good opportuntity today.

Recommended Bets:
Magnium – 12.30 Navan
Bitsandpieces – 2.35 Navan

*Prices correct at time of publication.