Four entries for Navan feature

Just four horses remain in the featured Grade 1 €70,000 Navan Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday on a high quality seven race card.

Mount Benbulben, who displayed a very willing attitude when he accounted for Rebel Fitz in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at this venue last month, bids to extend his winning sequence in the feature event.

A £250,000 purchase at Brightwells Sales earlier this year, the six year old looks a smart prospect and for trainer Gordon Elliott who said “he will definitely run on Sunday and after that, we’ll try and find a race for him in January before he goes to Cheltenham. He stays very well and is a horse that we have always thought a lot of. I think The Albert Bartlett will be his race at Cheltenham”.

Willie Mullins could be represented by Boston Bob, who created a big impression when he ran out a clear cut winner of a maiden hurdle at Navan last month, while Noel Meade could run Ipsos Du Berlais.

The latter looks an out and out stayer and speaking last week he said, “I think it was a combination of the gallop and track that got him beat at Thurles. They went no gallop and it developed into a sprint. He has been in great form since.”

Completing the line up is the Jessica Harrington trained Jetson, who was successful in a maiden hurdle at Cork, but was held by Mount Benbulben when the pair met in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle here last time.

In other races, Prima Vista, who was placed in Grade 1 company last season, looks set to kick start his campaign when he lines up in the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle.

His trainer by Noel Meade stated “’the plan is that he’ll start off on Sunday. We have been a bit held up with him, but I have always thought a lot of him. We were thinking about going chasing with him, but we’ll see how Sunday goes first.”

Willie Mullins is treble handed in this contest and he can choose between the much improved mare, Dare To Doubt, and last season’s Royal Bond Hurdle winner Zaidpour, who got back to winning ways with a runaway success in a conditions hurdle at Thurles last month.