1.20 Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden 5f

Clonmacash is taken to get off the mark. Natalia Lupini’s colt probably has the best form in this race having finished just three quarters of a length away from Gunzburg at Down Royal and is advantaged by the weights today, given he will receive 6lb off both Ocean Baroque and Chandigah, who both have some nice form but must concede weight all around. It’s also worth noting that Clonmacash didn’t have the smoothest passage at Down Royal, receiving a bump at the start and becoming unbalanced crossing the road, so the experience should help him further.

Of the two top weights, Chandigah makes slightly more appeal. He improved from a debut last of eight at the Curragh to find only Mountain Bear too good on his second start. The drop in trip might have helped him there and the stiff five furlongs today should be fine for him.

SELECTION: CLONMACASH

Next best: Chandigah

1.50 Cusack Hotel Group Handicap 5f

Sosallycanwait is 0-22 but she has been running very well recently and can get off the mark belatedly. Leanne Breen’s filly likes to race prominently and she led most of the way over this course and distance when third to Collective Power three runs back. She has since run well twice and, although 5lb higher now, looks sure to put up another good effort, and rates a solid each-way option at the very least.

Pretty Smart finished fifth in that Collective Power race and she could be nicely handicapped off a mark of 62, not least when you consider she was 10lb higher as recently as September. Greek Flower is also worth considering. John Feane’s filly has gone close twice this season and her fourth to Coumshinghaun at the Curragh recently was a good effort, in probably a hotter race than what she faces today.

SELECTION: SOSALLYCANWAIT

Next best: Pretty Smart

2.25 Navan Adventure Centre Maiden 5f 164y

Paradise Perfect disappointed in a good handicap at the Curragh last time but his form up until that race had been very consistent and coming back into maiden company, he could be tough to beat now. Willie Browne’s colt hit the frame on four different occasions this season and in truth, this could be the softest maiden he has had to face so far. His run was too bad to be true at the Curragh, and coming back to this extended five-furlong trip on a stiff track will be fine.

Wooden Head finished behind him at Cork earlier in the season and although well held, it was the Darren Bunyan-trained four-year-old’s track debut so he is expected to improve now. Freedom Falls has disappointed on both of her previous two starts but on her two-year-old form, she would hold every chance.

SELECTION: PARADISE PERFECT

Next best: Wooden Head

3.00 Woods & Partners Anniversary Handicap 5f 164y

Spirit Of Eagles is taken to build upon a promising effort at Down Royal. Michael Grassick’s filly had to bide her time when coming with her run from a held-up position, but made up the ground well when clear, and she was only beaten just over a length by So Majestic, who has since went in again. That was a step forward from her previous fifth to Autumnal Breeze at Tipperary, and she looks to be progressing now.

Yuzu is noteworthy on her handicap debut, not least off the back of her penultimate run to finish second to Aussie Girl at Sligo. A mark of 67 looks very workable based on that effort. Havana Notion, the only last-time-out winner in the field, has a 5lb rise to contend with for his Tipperary success but was a comfortable winner in a 16-runner heat and can progress again.

SELECTION: SPIRIT OF EAGLES

Next best: Yuzu

3.35 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race 1m 2f

Harbour Wind could be a tough nut to crack. The Moyglare gelding was good enough to win on his debut at Cork but his key piece of form was a half-length second to the 103-rated Pivotal Trigger at Roscommon. He has been given plenty of time since that race which gives hope that he has progressed again at home and if that is the case, he may prove a cut above these.

The top two, Bright Legend and Dutch Gold, are interesting. Bright Legend has a similar profile to Harbour Wind, having emerged best in a very strongly run 10-furlong maiden at the Curragh, defeating Jim Bolger’s Young Ireland which again is strong form. He may be able to kick on now on just his third ever start. Dutch Gold bolted up at Down Royal on what was his first start at this trip, having proven a little frustrating prior to that. Endless Sunshine, Jessica Harrington’s filly, returns to the scene of her course and distance win last month and is another who could progress into a stakes class operator.

SELECTION: HARBOUR WIND

Next best: Bright Legend

4.10 Treo Eile Apprentice Handicap 1m 2f

A chance is taken on Boher Road to regain the winning thread. Jarlath Fahey’s four-year-old ran reasonably well when eighth in the Cork Derby last time, trying to make all before fading late in that mile-and-a-half contest. Previously he had finished second in a Killarney maiden hurdle, so he’s in good form. The drop back to 10 furlongs and a smaller field might just play to his strengths here, in that he could well get his own way in front, and he should be able to stay strongly up Navan’s uphill finish.

Hasten Slowly will be a threat after winning at Naas at the end of last month. Noel Meade’s filly now makes a step up to 10 furlongs for the first time and if she does improve for that move, she will be hard to beat.

SELECTION: BOHER ROAD

Next best: Hasten Slowly

4.45 Navan Racing Festival November 18th & 19th Handicap (Div 1) 1m 2f

A lightly raced three-year-old, Tom McCourt’s Glyde Ranger ran easily his best race yet when finding only the well treated Final Orders too good at Bellewstown last week. He was competing from 6lb out of the handicap on that occasion, so it was a fine effort, and he is effectively only up 1lb today.

Qasbaz has ran consistently well this season and that should stand to him here. He also went close to winning at Bellewstown, when just three quarters of a length away from Franno, and previously he caught the eye when fifth over this course and distance, finishing out his race well. Lady Kai is the potential springer. She has shown little in her three maidens but should be much more competitive now off an opening mark of 58.

SELECTION: GLYDE RANGER

Next best: Qasbaz

5.20 Navan Racing Festival November 18th & 19th Handicap 1m 2f

Shining Aitch could be the one for the second division of this handicap, another difficult puzzle to solve. He has been running well, having finished fifth to Final Orders at Bellewstown and more significantly for this race, going down by just a neck to Court Of Appeal over today’s course and distance. He has edged up the weights, but is still only 3lbs higher than that latter effort.

Deluca Chop may be able to step forward again after a much better effort at Tipperary when fourth to No Hassle over a mile and a half.

He met plenty of trouble in running that day but was only beaten four lengths and if he can improve again, he will definitely be in the shake up. Barretstown is another to consider after a good effort to finish fourth to Pinot Gris at Down Royal.

SELECTION: SHINING AITCH

Next best: Deluca Chop