2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Preview – DS
2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Preview
It was a profitable day on Saturday, even though we drew a blank in the big one. Sirobbie ran ok but he just seemed to get outpaced at a vital stage. Our 18/1 NB Zanza hacked up, his fifth win from six starts at Newbury. As predicted, Greaneteen ran a stinker but unfortunately, Malystic’s jumping wasn’t good enough. Glory And Fortune flattered to deceive but Onemorefortheroad was clearly out for a spin and we’ll be backing him again before the season is out. Let’s hope for another winner on Sunday, Dave Stevos’ 2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle meeting tips are below.
1.40 – Maiden Hurdle (5yo+)
Nothing really appealed in Division 1 of the maiden hurdle, but there’s a horse worth a second look in this one. We all know how these maiden hurdles go. The triers usually set off in front and a big gap opens up to the remainder. More often than not, the horses from the major yards dominate but sometimes, a horse from a smaller yard can pop up with a big run. I’m, hoping that Banjaxed might be one that fits into the latter description.
Trained by Meath handler Lorna Fowler, this son of Blue Bresil ran a blinder on his debut in a Fairyhouse bumper a year ago. He led, was keen and he only went down by 0.5L to Mister Bo. The winner hasn’t pulled up any trees over hurdles yet but the 3rd, Desertmore House, has since won a maiden and a novice. Kansas City Star was 4th and he was beat a length by Ashroe Diamond on his hurdling debut. The 5th and 6th have both won under rules too so it was a solid run.
Over a month ago Banjaxed reappeared in another Fairyhouse bumper. This time he was held up and it looked like he badly needed the run given how he faded late on into 5th. You’d imagine he’ll strip fitter now and hopefully, Kieren Buckley reverts to the more positive tactics that were deployed on his debut. That debut is arguably amongst the best form on offer in this race and at odds of 10/1, Banjaxed can hopefully run a big race. (He was 20s when I initially wrote the blog but 10s is just about big enough to warrant a bet).
2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Tips: Banjaxed e/w @ 10/1 NB
2.10 – EBF Novice Hurdle (Listed)
Only seven run in this race but it is an absolute cracker. I nominated The Big Doyen as a horse to follow this season and he is unlucky not to have a maiden hurdle under his belt. He actually did finish first past the post at Punchestown but he lost the race in the Stewards’ Room.
He has done nothing wrong in three starts over timber and this will be the best ground he has encountered this season, a huge positive in my opinion. Both his ultra-impressive bumper wins came on nice ground and he hasn’t got those conditions since. If there is good in the description at Navan, he could run a massive race.
Another horse I am looking forward to seeing on nice ground is Imagine. He ran really well on yielding in a C&D G3 earlier this season and while the winner disappointed in a G1 subsequently, Imagine showed a very willing attitude to finish 2nd. He was again brave in defeat in a Gowran novice on heavy last time but he just found Inothewayurthinkin too good by 0.5L. That horse re-opposes today on 3lbs worse terms and is half the price of Imagine but on this ground, the form might be turned around.
Retrieval Mission
However, with a mark of 135 I wouldn’t be surprised if Elliott has a handicap in mind for Imagine next month. American Mike is the mount of Davy Russell and he’s on a retrieval mission after a poor effort last time. Will this drop in trip suit? You couldn’t be certain it will.
Hunters Yarn finished behind The Big Doyen at Punchestown but hacked up in a Naas maiden next time. Willie Mullins’ charge might have been a touch short of fitness that day at Punchestown but he still has to turn that form around. To be honest, I’m happy to leave this race alone but I’ll be cheering The Big Doyen on. No bet.
2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Tips: No bet
2.40 – Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2)
The feature and though nine run, it is tough to make a case for any of the outsiders. It would be brilliant if Dreal Deal could win it for Ronan McNally. He’s been sentenced to a 12 year ban for orchestrating a few handicap plots, an absolute disgrace of a sentence. When you see lads who have actually neglected poor animals walking away with bans far shorter, it makes you wonder. However, Navan isn’t Dreal Deal’s favourite track and he’d also prefer slower ground.
So would the 11/8 fav, Saint Sam. He looks a bit of a bog monster to me. His form figures on soft/heavy read 21911241, whereas on yielding or quicker they read 32U56. Blazing Khal is back from a long absence but he’ll love the ground, the question is will he need the run? Meet And Greet ran really well over Xmas at Leopardstown before flopping over 16f last time. Back up in trip, Oliver McKiernan’s charge should go well.
The outsiders in this race are a raggedy bunch. There’s a couple of horses in here after their chasing careers were aborted (Grand Roi, Highland Charge) and it usually takes a run or two for them to get their eye back in over smaller obstacles. This is a prep for the X Country for Delta Work and not even I can make a case for Beacon Edge at this stage. A race to steer clear of. No bet.
2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Tips: No Bet
3.10 – Handicap Hurdle (80-102)
I’m going to take a chance on one at huge odds here. Glorious Singer, an 8yo daughter of Fame And Glory, is trained in Dungarvan in Waterford by Alice Curran. She does alright with very limited numbers but she has yet to crack the code with this mare. There is no doubt that she has enough ability to win a bad race like this one, and the combination of this nice ground and trip could bring out the best in her.
She’s had three runs this season, all in maiden hurdles. Her return at Killarney (17f gd) saw her finish 3rd of 7, though she was well beaten. She was much better stepped up in distance next time on yielding at Thurles (23f), finishing 2nd of 15 behind Sainte Dona. Bottomless ground was no use to her over 20f at Limerick last time but today’s distance and ground should suit better.
This mare is a half-sister to no less than five winners and she is by a good NH sire in Fame And Glory. Young Jack Gilligan has never ridden for the yard before but he has partnered 12 winners to date and he takes off a handy 7lbs. Glorious Singer has done most of her racing on flat tracks but she did shape well at Clonmel a couple of times, a track with a stiff finish, similar to Navan. At odds of 40/1, if she is on her A-Game, Glorious Singer could sneak into the money.
2023 Navan Boyne Hurdle Meeting Tips: Glorious Singer e/w @ 40/1 (6 Places) nap
3.40 – Novice Chase (Grade 2)
I like Churchstonewarrior a lot but surely all roads lead to the Amateur Jockey’s race at Cheltenham for Jonathan Sweeney’s stable star. It would obviously be nice for him to pick up this lovely pot along the way but I doubt Aidan Coleman will be overly hard on him. He still could go and win but odds of 5/2 don’t appeal. He’ll definitely be more interesting at bigger odds come March.
Mahler Mission is the narrow fav for McConnell and Harvey. He has won on all sorts of ground, heavy here last time, good to soft at Perth in April and good at Doncaster in Jan 22 (beat The Real Whacker). Must Be Obeyed had his measure when they met at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, beating him by 1.75L. They meet on the same terms here but Tom Gibney’s mare might struggle to uphold the form on this better ground.
Darrens Hope owes us nothing and she will be happier back in this sort of company. However, she has never come close to producing her best in four previous visits to Navan. This doesn’t look the strongest of G2s so maybe Aaron’s Day can sneak a place.
Oliver McKiernan’s charge has run ok in maiden company over shorter at this track in the past and he produced a clear career best at Naas when hacking up off 123 last time out. A rating of 131 does leave him with a bit to find but a few of these have questions to answer. At odds of 22/1, Aaron’s Day is worth chancing e/w.
