Navan: Tombstone can beat Saturnas to Land the Flyingbolt Novice Chase

There are a number of intriguing races on Sunday’s card at Navan, including the Flyingbolt Novice chase. I’ve given my thoughts on the card.

15:25 Toals.com Bookmakers Webster Cup Chase

An absentee in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham during the week, Great Field may be a little rusty, but he has a massive class edge over his rivals in this contest. A hugely exciting front runner over fences at the minimum trip, Great Field takes no prisoners, and in truth, the fences are a bigger danger to him than his rivals. Alisier D’Irlande also wants to lead, but has little chance of doing so against the favourite, and it will be left to Doctor Phoenix to pick up the scraps. Gordon Elliott has worked wonders with the former David Dennis inmate, but he can only win if Great Field is below his best. The advice is to back the forecast.

16:00 Flyingbolt Novice Chase

This looks a match between Saturnas and Tombstone, and the latter is just preferred. He was no match for the principals in the Flogas at Leopardstown last month, but will be more at home down in grade and on deeper ground, and his previous second to Dounikos when conceding that rival weight at Limerick reads very well on balance. He’s also shown a liking for this track, and while Saturnas may well be favoured in the betting, his defeat of De Plotting Shed in maiden company last time does not resonate as well as his rivals form in better company.

16:35 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Handicap Chase Final

Fitzhenry is a most progressive and likeable chaser, and can give Paul Nolan decent payday in this valuable event. A winner at Thurles in December when the mud was flying, he took his form up another notch when scoring at Naas last month, and impressed with how much he found to seal that win after making a last-fence error. His jumping is sound as a rule, and while he’s up again in trip, he has already proven he stays this far, and he’s preferred to the blinkered Without Limites at the weights. The latter is trying the headgear for the first time, and it should aid his concentration having taken an uncharacteristic fall last time. He’s feared, but Fitzhenry is the percentage call.

Tips:

15:25 Great Field to beat Doctor Phoenix in a F/C 

16:00 Tombstone to win 

16:35 Fitzhenry to win