Flash De Touzaine © Photo Healy Racing
Liz Doyle has been enjoying a nice bit of success in recent weeks and Yabo was another winner for her yesterday when landing a restricted beginners' chase at Gowran Park.
Doyle is hopeful of a big run from Flash De Touzaine in today's Bar One Racing-sponsored Troytown Chase at Navan.
The seven-year-old, who started off with Doyle before having a spell with Paul Nicholls, has been brought along steadily since returning to the Wexford handler.
He was second to last weekend's Punchestown winner Farceur Du Large at Fairyhouse in January before rounding off last season with a creditable fourth to Troytown rival Velvet Elvis in a valuable handicap over the course and distance of today's contest.
The Kapgarde gelding jumped notably well for Richie Deegan when relegating Farceur Du Large to fourth in an impressive reappearance victory at Galway last month and, despite a 9lb hike, has a nice racing weight of 10st 7lb in the 100,000 Euros feature.
“I think he has a lovely profile," said Doyle.
"It was his fifth run over fences when he won well in Galway the last day. He has a nice weight, the ground will be perfect for him and I don’t think that I’ve ever had him better.
“I’m really pleased that we got the bit of rain in Navan (ground is soft after 3mm of rain since declarations) so fingers crossed I think he can be very competitive. Himself and Frontal Assault (clear favourite this morning at around 5/2) are probably the least exposed horses in the race and those second season novices go close in it.
“Fences have made him back off a bit and drop the bit and made a man of him. I think the fact that he didn’t win last year has been a huge help to him.
“He’s had a break during the summer and he looks the finished article over a fence. He jumped super around Galway for his second handicap.
“I haven’t had any trouble with him in the last 12 months and he’s really starting to grow up. I’m hoping the handicapper has still given him a chance.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
