Elliott To The Double At Navan

Full 30 runner fields at Navan is a sure sign that the National Hunt season is about to heat up, even though the good ground is a bit unseasonable.

The big field handicaps present some good betting heats and local trainer Gordon Elliott is likely to have his supporters too on an entertaining card.

Elliott To The Double
Batts Rock switches from the Flat to hurdles and five-year-old should be able to make a winning transition.

Twice a winner on nice ground since joining Elliott, Batts Rock was no match for Limini in a hotter race on Irish Champions Weekend but his Flat form would suggest that he’ll have too many gears for his rivals here.

Many punters might want to double him up with Cheltenham Festival winner Veneer Of Charm.

Elliott looks to have found a good opportunity for the Fred Winter winner to get back to winning ways in the 2m6f conditions hurdle.

He was a big price winner at Cheltenham but should appreciate the ground here and the underfoot conditions should also be a help to him getting the trip.

Not disgraced in the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel, Veneer Of Charm is well treated in this race on ratings and unless Madison To Monroe can show the potential he was said to have when bought at the sales…

this should be another winner for Elliott.

McDonogh Looks To Hold The Aces
Local trainer Des McDonogh can make it a good day for Meath-based trainers with Hearts Are Trumps in the second race of the day.

The five-year-old was a winner at Clonmel on nice ground on his handicap debut and while he hasn’t been able to win off his new, higher rating since then, Hearts Are Trumps might just be better suited by a more galloping track like Navan and…

that could see him be a big danger here.

He is preferred to the hat-trick seeking Cappacon who might just struggle dropping back in trip and Hearts Are Trumps might just be a shade more progressive than most of this 21 runner field.

The biggest danger to the selection would have to be Friday’s winner Grand Canyon if he were to make a quick reappearance for Amanda Mooney following his Ballinrobe win.

Recommended Bets:
Batts Rock – 2.05 Navan
Hearts Are Trumps (5/1) – 2.35 Navan
Veneer Of Charm – 3.40 Navan

*Prices correct at time of publication.