Willie Set For Navan

Woodbine Willie will bid to add to a burgeoning reputation in the Ladbrokes.com Novice Hurdle at Navan on Saturday.

Philip Fenton's highly-regarded six-year-old finished second to Mick The Man in the championship bumper at the Punchestown Festival and eased to a most taking 11-length success over timber last month.

Fenton said: 'All being well, he'll run on Saturday at Navan.

'I was absolutely thrilled with him last time and he's come out of his race very well, so we're looking forward to it.

'He ran on all sorts of ground last year. He ran on heavy, and then in the Punchestown bumper it was pretty nice ground, so he seems to cope on anything.

'If everything goes to plan I hope he'll make up into a Sun Alliance horse (Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle).

'We have our options open but that's the route I hope he will take us down.'

(C) PA Sport