Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan© Photo Healy Racing
The Boyne Hurdle and Ten Up Chase are the feature events at Navan on Sunday, but the supporting card features quite a few useful horses who have been knocking on the door in recent times in search of an elusive win.
Chief among those is the Gigginstown House Stud-owned, Noel Meade-trained Dis Donc who runs in the opening Get Your 2018 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle, having been second on each of his last three starts.
The five-year-old gelding has found one horse too good on each of his maiden hurdle outings, in October, November and December, and connections will be hoping for better luck and a win, possibly at the expense of the Willie Mullins-trained Antey who was a disappointing beaten favourite at this circuit last time.
The concluding Flower Hill (Pro-Am) Bumper sees no less than three last-time-out bumper runners-up do battle against the Mullins-trained Cemister who was second on his only point-to-point start last season.
Cemister notably makes his Rules debut in the well-known Sullivan Bloodstock Limited colours and is sure to have ability, but he will need to be useful to beat a few promising rivals. All For Joy and Bennaway have each finished second on their most recent bumper starts, a comment that also applies to Noel Meade's Calicojack
One horse who has recent winning experience is the Jessica Harrington-trained Wings Like Arion in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap. The six-year-old mare won handicap hurdles at Gowran and Punchestown in January and while now rated 110, should go well again over the same two-mile trip and again on testing ground.
