Cawley looking to strike Gold at Navan The Grade C Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Handicap Chase Final has attracted a smaller field than usual, but the seven-runner affair is still a worthy centrepiece at Navan on Sunday. Given the conditions of the three-miler, it's pretty unusual to have a horse back for a second shot at the big prize. However that is the case when it comes to the only previous course winner in the line-up, Forever Gold. Eddie Cawley owns, trains, and bred this eight-year-old, and in 2014 he went off at the head of the market in the 16-runner field. On that occasion, competing from a rating of 107, Forever Gold finished in a well-held eighth place. As a result, it may seem strange to be giving the Gold Well gelding a strong vote of confidence, now off a 2Ib higher mark. That would be to ignore a career-best effort, when the Phillip Enright-ridden contender bolted in under Davy Russell at this venue in a handicap hurdle four weeks back. The handicapper saw fit to hike Forever Gold up 13Ib, to a new assessment on 122, such was the ease of that victory. In this sphere, though, the Cawley hope remains on 109, and he should be difficult to beat. Having said that, Heathfield will appeal to many for the Tony Martin/Paul Townend alliance. Half an hour earlier, the John Lynch Carpets Kells European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle is next in line to the feature. The aforementioned Paul Townend could be on the mark here for his boss Willie Mullins on Vedettariat. Vedettariat has a similar profile to Forever Gold in that he won a point-to-point at the start of his career before taking a bit of time to find his feet on the racecourse proper. He was sufficiently impressive at Clonmel last time to earn him the vote in this near-three mile race over Fine Article and company.
