12.00 Welcome Back To Navan Rated Novice Hurdle 1m 7f 170y

Landrake can concede weight all around. There was lots to like about the way Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old stayed on to win a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse on his previous run, seeing out the two-and-a-half-mile trip very well. He steps down in trip today but the soft conditions should bring his stamina into play. The form of his penultimate start, a win at Clonmel, has also been advertised by the runner-up Corbetts Cross.

Strictly on ratings, there won’t be much between him and Spirit Of Legend, who ran well when second to Green Glory in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown. He also won his maiden hurdle at this track. Intranet and Path D’oroux are dropping significantly down in class now having struggled to lay up with Facile Vega at Leopardstown. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see either involved.

SELECTION: LANDRAKE

Next best: Spirit Of Legend

12.32 Buy Your Navan 2023 Membership Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

Shanbally Kid has to reverse form with stablemate Aime Desjy but he has been given a big vote of confidence as the choice of Paul Townend. The pair finished fourth and third respectively in the maiden hurdle won by Maidenstreetprince at Limerick over Christmas, a race in which the Gigginstown horse seemed to get outpaced before staying on over the two-mile trip. He ran inefficiently, so a mistake at the last wasn’t a surprise and bar that he’d have been upsides Aime Desjy, who stayed on strongly to his credit. This rise in trip should suit Shanbally Kid, and he has to scope to improve for his second start over hurdles.

So has Aime Desjy, who should also appreciate this trip. Others to note are Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty, second in a bumper at this venue in November, and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monty’s Star, runner-up in two point-to-points and now making his debut over hurdles.

SELECTION: SHANBALLY KID

Next best: Aime Desjy

1.07 Navan Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m 4f

Drop The Anchor is taken to land another nice pot for Pat Fahy and J.P. McManus. His last win came off a mark of 131 in the Ladbrokes Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2019 but he has shown he can still be competitive off higher marks, notably in the same race last season when fifth to Call Me Lyreen off a mark of 141.

More significantly, he put up a big performance on the flat on his most recent start when staying on really strongly to score in the November Handicap from My Mate Mozzie. He’s always shaped like this trip and soft ground would suit over hurdles and has been given a bit of respite from the handicapper, competing today off a mark of 138.

Rebel Ivy has to be a big player. She was a surprise winner of a listed mares’ hurdle at Limerick in October where she had proven quality mares Heaven Help Us and Queen’s Brook in behind. That pair may have needed the run but James Motherway’s mare fairly bolted up and might well be underestimated by a 12lb rise.

Bois De Clamart should appreciate the soft ground conditions and ran a fine race when finding only Longhouse Poet too good in Limerick while, at a likely big price, don’t discount Spyglass Hill, who may have needed the run in the Tim Duggan and has a much lower hurdles rating to contend with now.

SELECTION: DROP THE ANCHOR

Next best: Rebel Ivy

1.42 Ardmulchan Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

A tentative vote goes to Indie Belle. Robert Widger’s mare has been in good form on her last four starts, notably running well enough despite finishing last of five in a listed chase won by Darasso at Thurles. She took advantage of a drop in class soon after to score over fences at Tramore before finishing third back over hurdles at the same track. She should run well again and remains slightly better treated over hurdles off a mark of 94, which is 4lb lower than her chase assessment.

Penny Jar is obviously respected for local trainer Pat Downey. He comes here on a four-timer but none of those wins were on ground as testing as this. Cocoplum could go well at a big price. He ran better than his finishing position suggested in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse and earlier also ran well in a couple of maiden hurdles. On just his seventh hurdles start, he has the scope to improve off a mark of 100.

SELECTION: INDIE BELLE

Next best: Cocoplum

2.17 Racing Again Feb 12 INH Flat Race 2m

It’s For Me is taken to make a winning debut for Willie and Patrick Mullins. The Isaac Souede and Simon Munir-owned five-year-old was an impressive winner of a Loughanmore point-to-point in April, and that race has worked out reasonably well since. His trainer/jockey’s record in bumpers speaks for itself and he ought be tough to beat.

My Trump Card is an obvious danger. He caught the eye when finishing off well to place fourth to Grangeclare West at this track earlier in the season, jumping poorly early in that maiden hurdle. He makes his bumper debut now and should go well though his stable form is a little worry. Ballystone, another point-to-point recruit, looks promising for Tom Gibney, while Run For Harry ran well on his debut when finding only Better Days Ahead and Chapeau Du Soleil too good at Fairyhouse.

SELECTION: IT’S FOR ME

Next best: My Trump Card

2.52 Wilkinstown Beginners Chase 3m

It’s interesting that Paul Townend is booked for Aione and not Tenzing who, on the book, looks to have a stronger chance. Aione finished fifth on his seasonal debut, in behind Shantreusse and Mahler Mission, so he has to reverse form there but may be a different proposition with that pipe-opener in the bag.

That said, Tenzing still looks a stronger proposition off the back of two really promising runs over fences. He finished 10 lengths ahead of the aforementioned Shantreusse when third to Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse and then finished second to the well regarded Ramillies at Thurles. He is much less exposed than his stablemate and should be able to improve.

Shantreusse should also run well again. He was a beaten favourite on his latest start but his conqueror, Must Be Obeyed, has since won well again.

SELECTION: TENZING

Next best: Aione

3.27 Gormanlough Handicap Chase 3m

Three Loud Knocks has only one win from 24 starts over fences but he could well double his tally. Brian Mortell’s gelding put up a big performance to finish third to Sir Bob from 17lb out of the handicap at Limerick. There is every chance that run is too good to be true but there is also a chance he just needs very heavy going, which he raced on for his sole win over fences. He is effectively running off a 17lb lower mark today so if he can run anywhere up to the standard of his previous run, he’ll win.

Spancil Hill might be able to get involved again after a fine effort to finish second to Highstreetfashion on his most recent start. That showed he retained plenty of ability at 13 years of age. His last win came off a mark of 107 and he is racing here off a mark of 95

SELECTION: THREE LOUD KNOCKS

Next best: Spancil Hill