Apache set for Navan Novice Hurdle Impressive Navan scorer Apache Stronghold is likely to return to the Co Meath circuit for a tilt at the Navan Novice Hurdle on December 15th. Third in last season's Grade One bumper at the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old scraped home on his hurdling debut at Punchestown in mid-October before slamming some talented opponents in Navan's Monksfield Novice Hurdle. Trainer Noel Meade is now looking forward to seeing Apache Stronghold test his powers at Grade One level. He said: "There's not a bother on him after the last day and I would imagine he'll go back to Navan in a couple of weeks. "We always liked him and we were hoping he'd win last week, but you couldn't have expected him to win like that. "It was a surprise to see him do it so well, but definitely a nice surprise."
