Elliott dominates Troytown acceptors

A total of 47 horses stand their ground for the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday and the remaining entries are dominated by Gordon Elliott.

The season's leading trainer has left 14 in the historic race, headed by his dual Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes, Noble Endeavour and last year's winner Riverside City.

Elliott could also be represented by Mountain King, Roi Des Francs, Bless The Wings and Empire Of Dirt, a Cheltenham festival winner in March for Colm Murphy, as he chases a third straight success in the €100,000 event.

Of his seven original entries, champion trainer Willie Mullins has left two in the race and his remaining contenders are Sambremont and New Kid In Town. Mullins was previously successful in the race with the Paul Townend-ridden Beroni in 2009.

Bonny Kate holds a prominent position in the ante-post betting and she could yet represent local trainer Noel Meade who won the race with Heist, ridden by Jason Titley, in 1997.

Trainer Mouse Morris has left in both Thunder And Roses and Rogue Angel, the last two winners of the Irish Grand National, and other notable entries include his Folsom Blue and Venitien De Mai, trained by Jim Dreaper who was last successful in the race with Notre Pere in 2008. Dreaper could also be represented by Sizing Coal.

Raz De Maree and As De Pique are other leading fancies after finishing first and fourth respectively for trainer Gavin Cromwell in the Cork Grand National earlier this month.

A winner for Michael Hourigan at Galway at the end of October, Hash Brown is another notable entry. The cross-channel entry has been reduced from seven entries to five and all are trained by Rebecca Curtis.

Peter Killeen, Manager of Navan Racecourse, said, “It's terrific to see our flagship race not only being supported by our strong sponsor Ladbrokes but also attracting such top quality entries. It looks like Gordon Elliot is aiming for a hat-trick in the race and it is shaping up to be an absolute must-see for all National Hunt fans.”

Hayley O'Connor of Ladbrokes, said, "You couldn't get a greater homage to the race than the current leading trainer bringing such a robust team to represent him. It's a favourite feature of the Irish national hunt season and we go even money that Gordon Elliot will train the winner for the third year on the trot."

Ladbrokes bet:-

10 Mountain King, 10 Noble Endeavour, 12 Bless The Wings, 12 Cause Of Causes, 12 Empire Of Dirt, 14 Bonny Kate, 14 Sizing Coral, 14 Venitien De Mai, 16 Folsom Blue, 16 Raz Dea Maree, 16 Riverside City, 16 Roi Des Francs, 20 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)