'String in cracking fettle' - Key connections to follow this weekend in Ireland Weekend racing in Ireland comes from Navan on Saturday, before Cork takes centre stage a day later. The Mallow venue hosts their big race of the season on Sunday afternoon, the Grade 2 BAR 1 Betting Hilly Way Chase (2.50), while at Navan on Saturday some quality fare includes the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Navan Novice Hurdle (1.10), another Grade 2 event. We've picked out a jockey, trainer and owner worth keeping an eye on across this weekend's two Irish meetings. Owner Any meeting at Navan over jumps plays a key role for Bective Stud, the Co Meath operation owned by Noel & Valerie Moran. The Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle (1.42) is one of Saturday's Listed events at one of Gordon Elliott's local venues and trainer sends out Gringo D'aubrelle in the silks of one his main patrons. In-form 7lb claimer Michael Kenneally gets the leg up on a horse which performed with credit back from 308 days off in a valuable 2m5f contest here last month. That was also his first run over timber since January 2022. He has a fair mark here and is unexposed at this longer trip. Later, look out for Wingmen in the Watch Danny's Diary At ToteRacing Beginners Chase (2.52). He's a likeable and consistent sort that ran well in top company over hurdles last season and he was best of the rest behind the hugely impressive Final Demand on chasing debut here last month. He tackles former Supreme Novices' winner Slade Steel on this occasion. On Sunday, the Bective Stud colours will be carried by Found A Fifty in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork (2.50). Trainer Elliott hoovered up all four Graded races at Fairyhouse last Sunday and the Cullentra chief has his string in cracking fettle with a 26 per cent strike-rate in recent times. Another busy weekend is in the offing as the likes of Port Authority & Classical Creek (Navan 1.10), Search For Glory (Navan 2.17) and Wingmen (Navan 2.52) go on Saturday afternoon, before Found A Fifty (Cork 2.50) tackles the Hilly Way at Cork on Sunday, with the likes of Kala Conti (1.40) and Kalypso'chance (2.15) also bound for the southern venue. Port Authority made a winning start at Naas last month when routing his rivals in a maiden hurdle and is one of three Elliott contenders in the Navan Novice Hurdle (1.10) over 2m4f on Saturday. Jack Kennedy partners Clonmel scorer Kovanis while Sam Ewing is on course and distance winner Classical Creek - both Gigginstown runners - but Danny Gilligan's partner could have something about him and is one to keep close tabs on here. Jockey Being the retained rider for JP McManus is a top job, but it brings with lots of tough choices, with the green and gold hoops often spotted multiple times in the same race or in major races at different venues on the same days. Mark Walsh is the man with those concerns, but he also a host of big names to choose between. On Sunday he rides Majborough in the Hilly Way Chase (2.50) at Cork. The Grade 2 attracted a field of five runners including three-time winner Energumene - also from the Willie Mullins yard. The King George winner Banbridge for Joseph O'Brien and Elliott's Found A Fifty help make this a super race. Walsh will be hoping this partner, who won 3-4 over fences last season and went close in the Arkle when his jumping let him down, has plenty more to come this season in open company. That's one of four rides at Cork for the pilot, while on Saturday afternoon he's at Navan to partner Inthepocket in the Listed Download The Tote App Foxrock Handicap Chase (2.17) and chasing newcomer Kopeck De Mee in the Watch Danny's Diary At ToteRacing Beginners Chase in another book of four rides.
