2019 Troytown Chase Preview and Tips by Dave Stevos
2019 Troytown Chase Preview And Tips
It wasn’t a brilliant day for us at Haydock on Saturday. Man Of Plenty was hampered at the worst possible time and you can put a line through his run. Mega Yeats ran a blinder and she will be very interesting next time out. Moving In Style at least meant we didn’t fire a complete blank. Our 10/1 e/w NAP ran a gutsy race to finish 2nd and he is a stayer with a future. There is another proper stamina test at Navan tomorrow and Dave Stevos has been busy studying the form. Check out his free 2019 Troytown Chase preview and tips below…
2019 Troytown Chase Preview: 2.30pm Navan – Handicap Chase (Grade B)
The racing highlight in Ireland this weekend is the Troytown Chase. A field of 23 are due to go to post and the ground is yielding/soft. It was yielding on Friday and after the horrendous rain we got in the East of Ireland that night, I was sure heavy would be in the description. The first couple of races should give an indication of just how testing the conditions are. It makes sense to chance a couple of horses that will handle different types of ground and I like a couple at big prices each way.
Dempsey’s Diablo Likely Laid Out For This Race
If the ground rides on the better side of yielding/soft, last year’s runner up Mr Diablo has to have a serious chance. Philip Dempsey’s charge made a bold bid in this on good ground last season off 133. He is just 3lb higher now and this is likely to be his Derby, Grand National and Gold Cup all rolled into one. Brian Hayes rides for the first time but that isn’t a worry because Mr Diablo is an uncomplicated ride.
He likes to be at the front and loves attacking his fences, so Hayes’ biggest task will be to get a good racing position at the start. The 3 mile trip might just stretch him if the ground is on the heavy side but odds of 33/1 are way too big. Philip Dempsey’s charge goes well fresh and he looks to hold solid each way claims. His trainer reports that he is in good shape too, so hopefully a big run is forthcoming.
Digger Could Be Well Handicapped
Another one at a huge price that could surprise with a big run is Gun Digger. This fella is an all or nothing character and most of the time it has been the latter. However, he has a couple of pieces of form that make his odds of 40/1 look massive. He chased home Chris’s Dream at this course over 20f on yielding ground off level weights, going down by 3L. Henry De Bromhead’s charge is rated 146 now, while Gun Digger is in off 135.
Kevin Brogan’s claim means that Gun Digger is 18lb better off with that rival, a huge swing for 3L. He was also bang there in the 4 miler at Cheltenham when falling at the 18th on soft ground. Discorama was 2nd in that race and carries top weight here, conceding 16lb to our selection. Admittedly, Gordon Elliott’s charge needs to rediscover his mojo after two poor efforts this season but there is no doubting his ability. The 7yo son of Stowaway has winning form on heavy ground (and good) so the weather won’t worry him. At 40/1 he is not one for maximum faith, but he could outrun those odds in a first time visor.
