Cadmium bids for Navan prize Connections will be hoping the decision to skip Cheltenham reaps rewards with Cadmium in the featured Toals.com Webster Cup Chase at Navan on Monday. Willie Mullins’ charge had an engagement in the Grand Annual last week but was re-routed for this Grade Two contest. The French-bred gelding comes into the two-mile event in winning form having landed a Grade Three at Naas last month. Most of his recent form has been on a sound surface and Steve Massey, racing manager for the Supreme Horse Racing Club, said of his chances: “Cadmium is in great order. He was entered in the Grand Annual in Cheltenham, but with the way the ground was looking at the start of the week Willie decided to leave him at home and run him here instead. “We were delighted with his last run and two miles suits him well. “We’d have a slight concern about the ground, but he’s a tough horse who always run well — he’s Mr Consistent — and I’m sure he’ll run well again, all being well.” Ball D’Arc is top-rated of the five in the field, but has been well beaten on recent outings and would need recapture some spark. Woodland Opera makes his first outing since chasing home Road To Respect in Grade One company at Down Royal in November. Jessica Harrington’s charge had previously won the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran and has to be respected if reproducing his best after a break. An interesting contender is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Darasso who switches to fences now after an impressive win over hurdles at Gowran last month. The French-import won twice over the larger obstacles in his native land and two miles on soft ground seemed to suit well when he won the Grade Three Red Mills Hurdle last time. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase is the most valuable prize on the card with a nice pot of €65,000. The enigmatic Lilshane heads the weights in the three-miler and if he is on a going day he could produce another big show at the track. The 11-year-old won a veterans’ contest over course and distance 16 days ago but is still a novice over fences despite his advancing years. Se Mo Laoch also has plenty of experience and bids to continue a terrific campaign having already scored three times this season and been placed on a further six occasions.
