Forty Licks Puts Unbeaten Record On The Line Upgraded to Grade One status for the first time this year, the ?90,000 Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday promises to be a cracking affair with 15 horses left in after today's (Tuesday) forfeit stage. Successful on his only three bumper outings and in his first race over hurdles at Naas in November, the Edward O'Grady trained Forty Licks puts his unbeaten record on the line here and is likely to meet some very tough opposition with some promising novices still engaged. Over the same course three weeks ago, the Charles Byrne trained Powerstation battled to a short head victory over Travino with Noel Meade's Nicanor a faller at the second last flight when still travelling strongly and all three are likely to clash again while Michael Hourigan's Mossbank met with a narrow defeat at Cork last time out but had earlier won his first two hurdles in great style. Others worthy of mention are Oscar's Advance, trained by Christy Roche, who chases a hat-trick of victories after winning well at Punchestown and at Thurles in recent weeks while Mr Nosie is a lightly raced sort from the Noel Meade stable that would also have to be respected. On a fine pre-Christmas card, the Kevin McManus Bookmakers EBF Novice Chase over two and a half miles has attracted 10 entries and here Noel Meade's Father Matt, only beaten narrowly in the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in early December is sure to be well fancied to gain compensation. However, recent Clonmel winner McGruders Cross, from the Tony Mullins stable, and the Ted Walsh trained Southern Vic, winner on his first start over fences at Galway in late October, are two likely to provide a stiff test for the likely favourite.
