Bach Mullins For Navan And Stayers

As Cheltenham looms closer and closer there won’t be too many opportunities after today for contenders of Cheltenham’s graded races to get another run.

One horse running at Navan today is a 12/1 shot for the Cheltenham Festival and there’s every chance that his odds for the Stayers Hurdle could be much shorter by this evening.

Bach Mullins To Win Stayers
Willie Mullins is doing a Quevega with Penhill and going straight to the Cheltenham Festival without a run and it’s a brave shout but Ruby Walsh may have a bit of a decision to make if Bachasson wins for the second time this season at Navan today.

Bachasson suffered a career threatening fall in the Gold Cup last year but was nursed back to full fitness and made a winning seasonal return at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve when relatively unfancied.

The ground at Navan today is probably going to be as quick as Bachasson would want it but he is taking on Off You Go who is stepping up into this sort of grade for the first time.

Bachasson would appreciate further and the step up to three miles at Cheltenham on ground likely to be softer than today, could be ideal for him.

Despite holding an early entry in the Red Mills Chase, Mullins has opted to stay hurdling with Bachasson and while he is backable at 6/4 today…

it might be no harm to take some of the 12/1 and non-runner no bet for the Stayers Hurdle with BoyleSports before that.

Dempseys Can Combine With Light Weighted Iknowwhereiamnow
The Mares Handicap Hurdle on today’s Navan card is a real competitive affair but one that could be on the right side of the handicapper is the Philip Dempsey-trained Iknowwhereiamnow.

Rated just 95 and with 10st2lbs on her back today, Iknowwhereiamnow ran well at Naas over two miles a few starts back and was then unlucky that Robin On The Hill was able to sustain a good front running gallop to beat her at Punchestown on the five-year-olds penultimate outing.

A faller early on at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day, that is a race to put a line through but on form we have seen in recent weeks Iknowhereiamnow certainly has the ability to make her mark in this sort of company.

The 2m4f trip around Navan with a tough finish should suit her and…

at 13/2 she looks a decent each-way bet in an open field.

Recommended Bets:
Bachasson (6/4) – 2.20 Navan
Iknowwhereiamnow (13/2) – 4.30 Navan

*Prices correct at time of publication.