NAVAN Sun: SHAMROCK previews the competitive seven-race card at Navan on Sunday.
⭕ The action begins with a 5f maiden (2:00pm) where 10 two-year-olds are set to stand their ground. Strong Possibility and in particular Pearls And Rubies are interesting newcomers, but I Am Invictus showed a high level of ability on debut when finishing third to River Tiber at Naas. Michael O’Callaghan’s son of Cotai Glory holds an entry in the Group 2 Railway Stakes early next month and could be up to breaking his maiden at the second time of asking.
⭕ Next up is a 5f handicap (2:35pm). Harmony Rose has to be of interest, now a pound lower in the handicap than when winning at Dundalk on her most recent start back in February. However, it could be worth chancing the often-frustrating Sunday Sovereign, who continues to drop in the weights and is now 24lbs below his last winning mark. James McAuley’s runner is clearly tough to win with, but it’s likely he needed his reappearance run last time and now could be the right time to catch him.
⭕ Another 5f handicap (3:10pm) sees a much bigger field of 22 runners set to take their chance. There was plenty to like about the way Autumnal Breeze picked up and went away to win on her last start over 5f at Tipperary. She looked to score with plenty in hand and is actually better off at the weights now with 7lb claimer Sean D Bowen in the saddle. Denis Hogan’s Bungle inthejungle filly has only had three handicap starts and should have more progression to come.
⭕ Following that is the feature race on the card, the Listed Kooyonga Stakes (3:40pm) over a mile. In a competitive-looking renewal it might be worth chancing Joseph O’Brien’s Didn’thavemuchtodo on her seasonal reappearance. While this daughter of Highland Reel is likely to need more of a trip in time, she should be suited by the ground conditions and has won over a mile in the past. Her sixth in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes last September is form that reads well in the context of this race, and she might have a bit more class than her nine rivals.
⭕ The fillies’ & mares’ maiden (4:10pm) over 1m2f doesn’t look the strongest of events. John James Feane’s Letiza has probably shown the highest level of form and looks set to go well, but she doesn’t set too daunting a level. With that in mind, it could be worth taking a chance on Jessica Harrington’s newcomer Endless Sunshine. This daughter of Churchill is a half-sister to Gallante, a Group 1 winner in France and Australia over trips from 1m4f to 2 miles, so makes plenty of appeal on pedigree.
⭕ A valuable Premier Handicap (4:40pm) over 1m2f is another of the day’s feature races. It looks a fascinating contest with plenty of lightly-raced runners that should have scope for improvement off their current marks. Gimme Shelter and Satin are both worthy of respect on their handicap debuts, while it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kalikapour take a sizable step forward from his last start. Canute could be the one to be on though. Aidan O’Brien’s runner produced a likable performance over an inadequate 7f on his handicap debut last time. He looks to have been crying out for a return to this trip, and, now faced with better ground, he can strike from an attractive handicap mark.
⭕ Finding the winner of the finale, a 1m2f handicap (5:10pm), looks a daunting task. Bright Moment could be the one to side with. She’s a runner that has more upside than most in this field, being lightly-raced and having finished a good staying-on second over a mile at Gowran on her reappearance. She shaped as though this step up in trip would suit her and she runs off an unchanged rating of 54 here for trainer John James Feane.
