Candle bids to light up Navan Luke Dempsey has enjoyed a decent spell with five winners over the past few weeks and he could again be on the mark aboard Candle Island in the Navan Members Handicap Hurdle on Saturday. The Michael McCullagh-trained gelding has taken advantage of a lowly handicap mark this season, winning at Thurles and also filling the runner-up spot both at this venue and at Fairyhouse. It is probably best to put a line through his latest outing at Thurles as he never got involved after blundering badly before halfway. Hes Our Vinnie and The Grey Guy renew rivalry after filling the first two places at Limerick last month, while top-weight Heathfield is another interesting contender. Racing at Navan gets under way with the Boardsmill Sires EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle, and West Bridge looks to hold solid prospects. The Sandra Hughes-trained five-year-old had one of her rivals here, Floral Fantasy, back in fourth when runner-up at Limerick last time, while Robbina is another to consider. Hughes enjoyed a real red-letter day at Fairyhouse last Sunday when Acapella Bourgeois recorded a gutsy win in the Grade Two Agnelli Motor Park Novice Hurdle, and the Curragh trainer has a good chance elsewhere on the card with Smoking Big Cigars in the www.meridiansecurity.ie Handicap Hurdle. The son of Kayf Tara has been expensive to follow on his latest two outings over two and a half miles, and is now dropped in trip and fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time. Thebarrowman looked a three-mile chaser in the making when an all-the-way winner of a Fairyhouse bumper, and this galloping track will play to his strengths in the Annual Family Day 15th May Maiden Hurdle. Davy Russell takes the mount on the Adrian Keatley-trained gelding, who also won his only point-to-point start in good style at Maralin last year. A 10lb hike in the ratings may not stop Tipped Up Harry following up a recent course and distance victory in the Follow Navan On Facebook Handicap Chase, while Down Royal bumper winner Dixie Lee looks the part in the Boardsmill Sires EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
