Three Standout Runners From Navan It was another major weekend of racing action, with Haydock's Sprint Cup taking centre stage on Saturday alongside quality racing from Kempton. There was also a good card at Navan on the Flat and we've picked out three runners who caught the eye at the Co Meath venue. Take our State of Racing Survey for a chance to win a €50 Amazon gift card Silkie Sevei The Paul Flynn-trained Silkie Sevei ran well to be second-best in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden over six-furlongs. This was her third start. She was no danger on debut at Fairyhouse (6f, good to yielding) in June and finished a remote third over this trip in a Dundalk maiden on the Polytrack last month. That effort came behind easy all-the-way winner Bear On The Run, with 77-rated Lucia Molly taking second spot. Silkie Sevei was a bit sluggish leaving the gates and made some encouraging late gains. This time she was prominent after getting away alertly from the stalls and gave the favourite, Treasured Royal, plenty to think about in the final furlong, Gavin Cromwell's charge having shown promise on debut at the Curragh previously. Silkie Sevei qualifies for a handicap mark now and could be one to watch out for over a stiff six-furlongs or maybe stepped up in trip. Nouvel Espoir Nouvel Espoir has a win on the board this season already, scoring over 5f at Cork in June. All three of his career victories have now come at the minimum trip, but three of his five runs since have been over 6f. He was back over the stiff 5f at Navan in their Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now Handicap and finished second behind all-the-way winner Amicitia from the Johnny Murtagh team. Ultimately the winner did things well and was on top by more than two-lengths passing the post, but Nouvel Espoir in turn came clear of the remainder of the 18-strong field. He did so from a mark 1lb lower than he won off at Cork in the early summer and he could have another race in him before long. It will also be interesting to see if connections look to Dundalk this winter with the gelded son of Harry Angel, who has yet to run on the all-weather. Launch Time Launch Time is now a five-race maiden for trainer Cian Hughes, but the gelded son of Time Test has started to show some promise. He was well down the field on handicap bow at Gowran Park in July, going off a 25/1 chance and being beaten some 8½-lengths, having been in the rear throughout. The assessor dropped him 6lb and connections clearly felt he could improve as he went off 4/1 favourite on this occasion, with championship-chasing Dylan McMonagle taking over in the saddle. They finished third in the end but it was far from a perfect trip and further improvement is possible when Launch Time is next spotted. This was the longest trip he has faced and it was his best effort. He's unlikely to go up in the ratings for this and should have more to offer at this trip.
