DAVY RUSSELL: Navan Sunday

Nice to get a winner on Saturday at Gowran with Saint D’oroux for Gordon (Elliott) in the opener. Things really clicked for him and he put his recent experience to good use. As I thought he would, he revelled in the ground. Later on Milan Native ran well for me when second in the beginners chase and he deserves to pick up a race soon.

Fingers crossed Navan gets the go-ahead on Sunday as there is plenty to look forward to. It might be touch and go though depending on what happens overnight. The course tweeted out on Saturday night that the ground is now heavy with more rain on its way before racing.

SUNDAY

NAVAN

SUNDAY A PARIS (1.20pm)

I don’t know too much about this fella who I ride for the first time. He joined Gordon’s yard from France where he had plenty of experience including over fences. He was down the field on his Irish debut over this course and distance the last day and will obviously need to improve to get involved here as there’s a few with good recent form including Jungle Junction who keeps knocking on the door.

CRACKING SMART (1.50pm Boyne Hurdle)

Obviously I was thrilled this week to hear the news that Tiger Roll is on course for the Grand National again. Just like 12 months ago, he starts his year off here with Keith (Donoghue) riding. The pair won this easily in 2019 and Tiger Roll is such a classy horse that chases and hurdles seem to come alike to him. I’m on Cracking Smart who is a useful horse but is mixing it in the deep end and will need to go back to some of his novice form to get competitive you’d have thought. It’s a very competitive race with Magic Of Light, Penhill and Killultagh Vic all ones that can be given strong chances.

THE VERY MAN (2.20pm)

I’ve ridden him on his last two runs and he’s run well enough for me, staying on quite nicely the last day at Leopardstown and should relish the stiffer track and going here. Hopefully the first time tongue tie will be a positive too – his only previous win came at this track in a bumper and I’m hoping for another big run with the Willie Mullins trained Francin looking a big danger after finishing third in what’s turned out to be a really hot race in Leopardstown.

SASSY YET CLASSY (2.55pm)

I was set to ride her at Punchestown last week which unfortunately was a victim of the weather. As I said last week, she’s just struggled since her maiden success which came on good to yielding ground and it will be a much tougher test of stamina. We’ve also got a little bit of form to find with some of her rivals in this.

CHERIF DE L’ISLE (3.30pm)

All three of his runs since joining Gordon have come here at Navan and he’s put some good runs together. He’s now up in trip and Gordon has switched the cheekpieces for blinkers. He’ll need to step up again as a few of these bring good recent form to the table including Difficult Decision who loves the testing ground.

ELWOOD (4.00pm Ten Up Novice Chase)

He’s a nice horse and a brother of Delta Work. I rode him in a Grade 3 at Naas last month and he did OK in third but I think he’ll need to build on that experience and jump a bit better in this race which looks tougher. Gordon also has Milan Native entered who I was runner-up on at Gowran today.

Good Luck
DAVY

---

If you have a question for Davy drop us a line at content@starsportsbet.co.uk and we’ll try and include in the next blog…

---

---