I'm headed to Navan this afternoon for what should be another interesting late-season card. Conditions will once again be very testing but there are a few interesting angles worth following, and with varying degrees of confidence, I'll be striking three bets.
By far and away the most high-profile horse on show is dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll who is a fascinating runner back on the Flat in the 1m6f Flower Hill Maiden at 4.15.
All eyes will be on him and his 16-year-old jockey Sam Ewing but I can't see anything being good enough to cause JESSE EVANS too many problems.
Noel Meade has his horses in tremendous form at present and there was so much to like about this lightly-raced four-year-old when he ran out a facile winner of a Listowel bumper before he followed up by making a similarly striking impression when scoring over hurdles at Gowran Park just under three weeks ago.
A strong traveller who clearly has an engine to match, he could be a very interesting prospect now switched to the level and has the potential to make up into a top-level handicapper in this code.
I fully expect Jesse Evans to take another step up the ladder today and make him my strongest bet on the card, for all I'll be watching Ilmig with interest following his encouraging debut second at Thurles. I doubt he'll have the tools to take down the selection today but he is very much a work in progress and could pay his way in due course.
The meeting begins at 1.20 with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden and given favourite Colfer Kay is backing up quickly following a slightly underwhelming run at Naas only four days ago, I want to take her on with HALA JOUD.
Colfer Kay had had five runs in a relatively short space of time now but despite proving herself most consistent, she remains a maiden and without an ideal trip. She tries 5 1/2f again today but I'm not convinced and was really taken with Hala Joud when she won a Barrier Trial on September 7, finishing well without being knocked about to win snugly at the line.
She galloped out really strongly on that occasion and I think today's intermediate trip could prove absolutely ideal. The hood she wore in her trial is dispensed with now but I'm not taking that as a negative and think she is worth a bet against the favourite at 9/2.
To even smaller stakes, I can't let BALLYQUIN go unbacked in the Blackcastle Handicap (3.05), a race that has a nice each-way look to it.
This is only Ballyquin's second start for the Joseph O'Brien stable but I thought he shaped better than the bare result when only getting tired late on in a Fairyhouse claimer last time. Having broke well, he probably overraced when leading for much of the race before eventually paying the price and fading into fifth.
However, that was his first start in over a year it is entitled to have done him the power of good, as should the drop back to the minimum distance, and don't forget that this horse has some very solid sprint form in England to his name, most notably when winning twice last summer as well as finishing second at Ascot and Newmarket.
It goes without saying that I'm taking a leap of faith here but I'm sure he retains some of his old ability and at 10/1, am happy to pay my money to find out.
Preview posted 1120 BST on 22/10/2020
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