Gordon Elliott has no fewer than eleven runners in a bid to win the Troytown Handicap Chase for a third year running at Navan. His challenge is headed by current favourite, NOBLE ENDEAVOUR, who looks to be going in to this off an extremely handy mark based on his efforts last season.
He has failed to finish on his last two chase starts which is a slight concern, and although the 6/1 available may look plenty short enough in what is a hugely competitive renewal, he just looks absolutely solid in this race and only carries 11st 1lb with Cause Of Causes at the top of the handicap.
Noble Endeavour ran a blinder in the 4m National Hunt Chase before coming down two out – a race in which Minella Rocco and Native River filled first and second place and are both rated in excess of 150. He remains unexposed over fences, should be happy on the ground, and his stamina is assured so there must be mileage off his current mark of 141.
He had a prep run over hurdles which should have put him spot on for this and Davy Russell is aboard. You get the impression this horse is aimed at bigger targets this year and he looks to be the pick of the trainer’s bunch.
At a bigger price, I think it’s worthwhile having a few pounds on VENETIEN DE MAI.
A horse from the Potts Partnership – who are doing so well with their horses that have gone to Tizzard – that has very few miles on the clock and goes in to this race 2lbs lower than his mark which saw him finish 9th in the Irish Grand National. That was during his novice season, and he was well fancied for that starting as the second-favourite.
His opening two races of this season were average performances at best, but it took him a couple of starts to get going last year where he racked up two consecutive chase successes that included the 3m Leinster National in testing conditions with a victory over dour stayer Goonyella nonetheless.
His reappearance was over too short a strip at 2m 3f, and his last race was on good ground which he has never won on so I do not think he has been seen to best effect yet this campaign.
A 3m test on soft ground should be right up his street, and is one of the few horses in the race that has the profile to garner further improvement for his yard with his price looking a little on the large side.
1pt win Noble Endeavour @6/1, 14:20 Navan, Sunday
0.5pt each-way Venetien De Mai @20/1, 14:20 Navan, Sunday (Paddy Power paying five places, 1/4 odds)
Leave a comment