15.21
Yielding To SoftRacing Again At Navan On December 18th INH Flat Race
- Prize money: £4957.98
- 2m 0f 0y
- 9 runners
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Runners: 9 runners
Type: NH Flat
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
2024 Brown Advisory winner, 2025 Ryanair winner; won the 2024 John Durkan at this venue, had a hard race when narrowly beaten by Gaelic Warrior in this season's repeat bid; failed to do himself justice in the King George; back to best when readily beating Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup; fascinating rematch now after bypassing Ryanair. |
5/4 |
|
1st 3 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Four Grade 1 wins, including the 2024 Brown Advisory, and last season's Ryanair; narrowly denied by Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan Memorial Chase; raced keenly and never looked like imposing his presence in the King George; three-time course winner, just lost second to Grangeclare West here 12 months ago; capable of matching that effort if on back on song. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4 BF
Last run: 27 days
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16th 8 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. |
50/1 |
|
6th 2 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today. |
33/1 |
|
4th 4 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable. |
66/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
6th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 54y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
0-15; ran okay 16 days ago at Southwell with headgear removed but never remotely threatened the winner; others preferred. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
18th Feb 2026 3m 0f 60y Class 5 |
11st 3lb |
Ex-Irish 14-race maiden under rules who has suffered four heavy defeats over fences for this yard, twice in a tongue-tie and once in cheekpieces; no aids today, which might be a straw to cling to, but he has a lot to prove. |
12/1 |
|
8 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 110y Class 5 |
11st 3lb |
Irish point winner in 2022 but winless since and has suffered three crushing defeats over fences for this yard; has a lot to prove with refitted cheekpieces replacing a tongue-tie. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 90/05-
Last run: 400 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 |
14th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
10st 13lb |
Course bumper winner; 1-6 over hurdles and rated 120; rated 7lb lower over fences after three chase runs; 7.5l behind Littlefoot at Downpatrick on latest and 10lb better off now so should get closer; place chance. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
29th Mar 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 100y |
11st 12lb |
Won a Clonmel bumper in 2023, and took a 3m2f Sligo maiden hurdle last season; not a betting proposition after a fall and a refusal on his first two runs over fences. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 70878
Last run: 21 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 1f 157y |
10st 0lb |
Galway win in September 2024 was a flash in the pan; unplaced in 33 of his 34 starts; pulled up in 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown last week. |
66/1 |
|
18 |
13th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 0y |
10st 2lb |
Galway win in September 2024 was a flash in the pan; unplaced in 31 of his 32 starts; beaten 27l at Thurles when last seen in January. |
40/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 13 |
19th Nov 2023 Soft To Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 4lb |
Might have been closer but for a mistake two out on his stable debut here in September; ground is a doubt, the trip less so, and a case can be made if he handles the ground. |
8/1 |
|
10th 16 |
16th Sep 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 120y |
11st 4lb |
Ordinary form in maidens for Charles Byrnes; now makes handicap debut for new yard. |
25/1 |
|
5th 4 |
10th Aug 2023 Good 2m 4f 80y |
11st 4lb |
Early faller at Wexford; Moderate sixth at Kilbeggan; in action in the 5.30 at Roscommon on Tuesday. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 11 |
6th May 2024 Good 2m 0f 180y |
11st 4lb |
midfield, still plenty to do 2 out, headway approaching last, kept on, never on terms |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 9 |
20th Dec 2022 Yielding To Soft 1m 7f 201y |
12st 0lb |
Workforce 4yo cost 7,200Euros as a foal and 26,000Euros as a 3yo; fifth foal; dam unraced sister to high-class 2m hurdler Shadow Leader; newcomer likely all the better for the experience. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 7lb
4 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
3rd Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 80y |
10st 11lb |
Heavy ground maiden hurdle winner at Punchestown in February before some decent efforts in competitive contests; struck again with a supremely comfortable victory at Bellewstown in August (2m1f, good); tongue-tie now added to the previously worn hood after she weakened quickly at Listowel last time; avoids penalty and leading contender if back to her best. |
10/11 |
|
5 |
21st Sep 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Twice-placed in bumpers for Harry Kelly; off the mark in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last February (2m, heavy); keen throughout at Kilbeggan in June when finishing third (2m3f, good); supremely comfortable victor at Bellewstown last time when allowed to dominate (2m1f, good); jumps left at times so this track should suit and will be dangerous if given soft lead but step back up in trip raises a question; Townend chooses Jalila Moriviere. |
6/4 |
|
1 |
27th Aug 2025 Good 2m 1f 40y |
11st 3lb |
Twice placed in bumpers for Harry Kelly; Punchestown maiden hurdle winner on heavy in February on second start for Willie Mullins; no disgrace in Naas third in April; lesser effort at Killarney before a more satisfactory display at Kilbeggan; has tended to race too keenly; should be thereabouts if settling better. |
7/2 |
Verdict
Willie Mullins won this with the smart Kilcruit two years ago, while Gordon Elliott has taken three of the last five editions. This has the makings of a head-to-head between the two top trainers. Expensive purchase FIREFOX looked raw when appearing over hurdles here last month but may now prove superior to point-to-point winner Fact To File. [Alan Sweetman]