3m Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade B)
Frontal Assault is a very short priced favourite for the Troytown Handicap at a curent best price of 5/2. He has a similar profile to Run Wild Fred, who won this last year, for trainer Gordon Elliott and looks very handily treated by the handicapper with his rating of 142 staying the same despite an impressive win on his seasonal reappearance in a Beginners Chase (form since franked by Darren’s Hope in a Grade 2).
Frontal Assault might take all the beating, but I’d much rather take the price offered for course specialist VELVET ELVIS at 15/2 in this big handicap. Velvet Elvis was clearly in need of the run on his seasonal debut in the Munster National when not quite getting home finishing 10/19. He had finished in sixth, a few lengths behind Frontal Assault in the Irish Grand National last season, but is now 3lbs better off with that rival and will have his favoured soft ground to help him this time.
Velvet Elvis was gearing up for a run in the Coral Gold Cup won by Le Milos yesterday, but the quick ground ruled him out and so connections have rerouted him to Navan for a crack at the Troytown, which should certainly suit this improving second-season chaser who is still only six-years-old. He remains highly unexposed over this sort of trip and a mark of 143 should not be beyond him winning from.
1pt win Velvet Elvis @15/2, 14:20 Navan, Sunday
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