A select field of seven go to post in the Boardsmill Sires Hunters Chase at Navan, which is run over three miles.
This is the inaugural running of the contest at Navan as the race was held at Leopartstown. However Punchestown hosted the contest last season, with Burning Ambition having his Cheltenham Foxhunters prep run in the race, when finishing second to Gilgamboa.
Derek O’Connor maintains his partnership with Sydney Paget, with the 12-year-old having his second start of the season, having won eight times between-the-flags last term. Pat Doyle’s charge has won 15 point-to-points and took the Joseph O’Reilly Hunter Chase back in 2016, on what was actually his most recent start under rules.
Ucello Conti is a well-established top grade handicapper and Gordon Elliot’s charge seems to have relished a change to the point-to-point/hunter chase sphere. The 11-year-old actually beat Sydney Pagent when taking an open at Aghabullogue and has since won a Hunters Chase at Thurles, on what was his last start. This appears to be an ideal stepping stone if connections wish to aim their charge at the Foxhunters in Cheltenham.
Thunder And Roses is a former Irish Grand National winner and has shaped well on his two start for Ross O’Sullivan since reverting to the point-to-point sphere. The 11-year-old could be an interesting contender in the race with Patrick Mullins aboard.
The Alan Fleming-trained Timewaitsfornoone is very much the unexposed youngster here and having finished second in the Punchestown Champion Hunter Chase, he could certainly play a part.
Salsify is a former Cheltenham Foxhunters hero, but at 14 he is in the latter stages of his career for the Sweeney’s. Billaway is an interesting contender for Willie Mullins, however as this will only be his fifth start he lacks some experience. Coastal Tiep is a dual open winner for the Crawford’s this season, so he certainly deserves to be amongst the line-up.
