TEMPLEGATE tackles a very interesting Saturday of racing from Navan – where there are Cheltenham clues aplenty.
Willie Mullins unleashes arguably the star of last year for his chase debut.
While Gordon Elliott is typically mob-handed and runs last season’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle runner-up.
It looks like a mega four-fold could be on the cards.
Read on for his picks and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
Templegate’s Navan tips
1.35
I’LL SORT THAT can keep up his unbeaten record over hurdles.
He powered home at Listowel before putting Ma Jacks Hill away at Galway despite never being asked for everything.
Testing ground holds no fears, he travels sweetly and this test looks ideal for a horse already shaping like a class act.
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Ace Brannigan is the big danger after an impressive Tipperary debut where he cruised clear and looked made for graded company.
He’ll be bang there if handling this deeper ground.
Ma Jacks Hill needs to do more after chasing home the tip last time and will be happier back at 2m with a stronger pace likely to help his finish.
Whimsy brings proven heavy-ground form, so it wouldn’t be a shock if she made the frame.
2.10
THE YELLOW CLAY is a short price but is the class act in the race and looks miles ahead of these if returning anywhere near the horse that was second in the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival.
He showed the effects of that effort when falling at Punchestown but he likes testing ground and they’ll do well to lay a glove on him.
Maxxum is a solid performer at this Grade 2 level and he’s proven over this course and distance.
He’ll keep grinding when others have had enough and can grab the forecast spot.
Jetara has Paul Townend on board returning from the Flat and has good placed form at the highest level over hurdles.
Colonel Mustard had a confidence booster at Sligo last time but will find this a lot tougher.
2.45
MARINE NATIONALE can show his Champion Chaser class on comeback in soft ground that holds no fears.
His Cheltenham demolition and Punchestown follow-up mark him down as the class act and with fitness never an issue for the Connell yard, he should simply out-speed them when it matters.
If he reproduces anything like his spring form, they’ll be gasping for air behind.
Dinoblue proved herself the pick of the mares last season but would ideally like 2m4f.
Saying that, she should still be right on the premises.
Solness is respected in a race where he could get his own way out in front.
He acts on soft and is a proven Grade 1 performer at this trip.
Found A Fifty on this last year and blew away the cobwebs at Down Royal just 14 days ago.
He prefers this shorter trip and that fitness edge will help.
3.20
KOPEK DES BORDES is not a betting proposition on his chasing debut but it will be fascinating to see how the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner copes with the bigger obstacles.
We can be sure Willie Mullins will have him well prepared and he has the potential to reach the very top as a chaser.
If he does slip up, Lovely Hurling has run just three times over hurdles but was good enough to finish second in the Punchestown Champion in May.
He’s another one to watch trying fences for the first time.
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