Sunday Irish Racing: There’s Plenty More to Come from Monbeg Notorious at Navan

There’s another top day of Irish racing on Sunday, and I’ve picked out my best bets for the card at Navan.

1:50 Get Your 2018 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle

I’m not at all convinced that former top-class flat stayer Pallasator has the cojones for the winter game, and while he will surely be well supported for this modest maiden hurdle, he looks opposable given his profile, and ready preference is for Antey, who failed to progress for his hurdling debut at Leopardstown when only sixth here last time, but he is reported to have had a valid excuse for that effort, and given he was last off the bridle on that occasion, it ought to pay to take a positive view of him overall. He certainly shaped like a certain future winner when third at Leopardstown, and he should have no trouble winning a race of this nature.

2:55 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Wings Like Arion has shown much improved form in winning her last two starts, and showed that she wasn’t dependent on Gowran with an authoritative display at Punchestown last time, and while this represents a stiffer test, her progressive profile suggests she can take advantage of a good racing weight under Paddy Kennedy. The daughter of Beneficial gets lumps of weight off Grand Partner, and looks a solid bet in this company.

4:00 Ten Up Novice Chase

Named in honour of the 1975 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who also landed the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown in his later years, the Ten Up has proved an exceptionally good guide to the Irish Grand National over the years, and Monbeg Notorious makes loads of appeal for the Fairyhouse contest given his progress over fences and experience against handicappers which saw him win the Thyestes at Thurles last month. There is plenty more to come now that he’s shown a visor is a big help to him, and he is hard to oppose back against his peers in this graded event.

Tips:

Antey 

Wings Like Arion 

Monbeg Notorious