Tips: Emma Nagle finds the value at Navan on Sunday

The name Limestone Lad stirs up feelings of great nostalgia within many racing fans and today’s Boyne Hurdle will bring back memories of the tough, brilliant and hardy champion, who won this contest in 2000 and 2001.

Among other greats to have landed this Grade 2 at Navan are dual Aintree Grand National hero, Tiger Roll and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, War Of Attrition.

Today’s renewal boasts some high-class individuals, including last year’s winner Blazing Khal and Stayers’ Hurdle victor Sire Du Berlais. Half an hour earlier, Brighterdaysahead is the star turn in the Apple Jade’s Mares Novice Hurdle and Nick Rockett will be a warm order to take the Grade 2 novice chase.

Bet365 is offering you the chance to get €30 in free bets ahead when you sign up and is going non-runner no bet on all Cheltenham Festival races this year.

Our expert Emma Nagle, has analysed the form ahead of Sunday’s action and selected her three best bets of the day.

3.15 Navan, Gibney’s Handicap Hurdle, 2m6f.

This isn’t the strongest contest with plenty of duck eggs in the formbook. Your eye would be drawn to the run of Grace Faraday on handicap debut at Christmas. Finishing fourth that day she should have learned plenty for her first handicap experience and could be nicely treated on this mark. Only a six-year-old she could be more progressive than some of her competitors and a repeat of that Limerick performance should put her right in the mix.

3.45 Navan, William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase (Grade 2) 3m.

Although deserted by Paul Townend, Minella Cocooner was a Grade 1 performer over hurdles and impressed when getting off the mark over fences last time. Danny Mullins knows him well having won the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy at the Dublin Racing Festival together back in 2022 and they are a good match given his front running style. To look at him you would say he should improve for fences and if that’s the case he should be very hard to pass here.

4.15 Navan, William Hill Extra Place Races Every Day Handicap Steeplechase, 3m.

Atacanter makes handicap chase debut for Ross O’Sullivan and a mark of 107 seems reasonable after a good run at Punchestown last time. The Well Chosen gelding looked a winner coming to the last that day before getting reeled in late on. He meets Roly Bowley Boy on 4lbs better terms off this opening mark and could be smarter for that initial handicap outing.