Navan Racing Tips: 17th May 2025 Navan takes centre stage in Ireland on Saturday, with an eight-race card that features three maidens, four handicaps and the showpiece Listed Yeats Stakes. The action kicks off at 13:30 and runs through to the finale at 17:30 and we have provided selections and analysis for three of the races on Saturday's card. Navan Racing Tips 2.05 Navan - Hezahunk 4.25 Navan - Cleopatra's Needle 5.30 Navan - Kilcrea Rock Midnite Betting Offer Enjoying the PGA Championship? Check out our new guide to the best golf betting sites. 2.05 Navan - Hezahunk They will split into two groups in the competitive 6f apprentice handicap at Navan, but Hezahunk should be one of the leaders on the near side and could take some catching if Wayne Hassett gets his fractions right. Although both career victories have been achieved on the all-weather, PJ McKenna's runner has run well on turf, including when beaten just half a length at Sligo this month. Sligo resembles a greyhound track so an inside draw can be a huge advantage and Hezahunk did very well to get across from stall 11 to get into a good early position, before finishing a creditable third for a finish. Hezahunk has no such draw issues here being drawn in 18 and hopefully he is drawn on the right side of the track. If he is, he should be well up to landing this off a nice mark. 4.25 Navan - Cleopatra's Needle There might be plenty of value to be had in this 1m5f handicap. John McConnell's Fine Print is bidding for a hat-trick but both of those recent victories were on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and he has never won on turf. He has plenty to do from 6lb higher. The other likely market leader is Makaiah and, although Ger O'Leary's filly should be in there again, she is winless in 13 starts and could be vulnerable. That leaves us with the selection for the contest, Cleopatra's Needle. Harry Rogers' seven-year-old mare won at this course on return around this time last year and arrives here off the back of two good runner-up finishes over hurdles. She has to be a big player back on the Flat off her current mark. 5.30 Navan - Kilcrea Rock In the closing 1m2f maiden there should be plenty of support for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Scandinavia, but his son Joseph might hold the upper hand on this occasion with Kilcrea Rock. Fourth behind Shackleton on debut at the Curragh over 1m1f last September, the Wootton Bassett colt then finished half a length off another Ballydoyle runner in Serious Contender at Leopardstown, who has since gone on to win on handicap debut off 85. Kilcrea Rock looked in need of the run after an absence when seventh of ten in a Leopardstown maiden on return, but it's a race that has worked out very well on the form and he is likely to leave that run well behind here with the cobwebs blown away. The selection interestingly also still holds an entry for the Irish Derby, so they must think plenty of him. If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses
