November 17 / 15.05 Navan

15.05

Good To Yielding

Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £7952.17
  • 2m 4f 150y
  • 4 runners
RTE2
View Course
Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00

Form: 14213- D

Last run: 200 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point and bumper winner; last season's Martin Pipe victor; confirmed a high standard of form when third behind two Willie Mullins-trained rivals in a 3m Grade 1 novice event at Punchestown; should offer a more potent threat than when fourth to Slade Steel in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at this venue last December.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 8lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the 2024 Martin Pipe, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National; returned with a satisfactory second behind a shorter-priced stablemate in the Boyne Hurdle here; capable sort is again the stable's number two.

7/2

2nd

5

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:50 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham two seasons ago, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National, running off a mark of 154; hurdles rating of 145 is the lowest of this sextet.

9/2

6th

1

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 5f 37y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Better Days Ahead

11st 12lb

J: Mr R James

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last year, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; 2-4 over fences, including Grade 2 at Navan over 3m on soft to heavy, when jumped notably well; on better ground, failed to confirm form with Stellar Story when third in the Brown Advisory; big burden for a novice, rider's 7lb claim a major asset.

11/1

Form: 11213- C

Last run: 201 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner in 2022; top novice hurdler last season; won Grade 2 over 2m4f here last December, with Better Days Ahead in fourth; second to Ballyburn at Dublin Racing Festival; beat Mystical Power in the Supreme Novices', failed to uphold form with the runner-up on much better ground at Punchestown; runs well fresh, ground is the main concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Slade Steel

11st 3lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Supreme winner two seasons ago; 0-7 in the meantime and has been chasing, last time beaten the thick end of 20l when one of the favourites for the 2m4f handicap at Cheltenham; if this return to hurdling and the first-time cheekpieces float his boat, then he might not be far away.

8/1

6th

3

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Slade Steel

11st 6lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has form on most types of ground; consistent sort who has never finished out of the first three in his completed starts; broadly suffering from a frustrating bout of seconditis since switched to chasing (2m4f/3m) but this return to Cheltenham may prove the cure, as he won the 2024 Supreme in sole attempt at this venue; major Irish stable landed this corresponding prize in 2019; on an attractive mark and holds solid claims.

15/2

2nd

6

17th Jan 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 0y

14:25 Navan

Slade Steel

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won 2024 Supreme Novices'; beaten odds-on favourite but decent form in two beginners' chases last season, notably when second to Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson at Naas; off for a year before second to Predators Glory over an extended 2m4f at this venue; stepped up to this trip at Punchestown, one length down when brought down four out; worth another chance.

11/10

Form: 32133- C

Last run: 199 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
126-rated hurdler; won a 2m6f maiden at this venue in March; stayed on for third in a valuable 3m novice handicap at Fairyhouse later that month; confirmed his liking for a test of stamina with a third placing in a 25-runner Punchestown festival handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Kinturk Kalanisi

10st 11lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Winning hurdler and 0-8 but better chaser, standout run on seasonal return when third of 28 in 3m1f Paddy Power Handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas (yielding); hasn't backed that up however on softer ground, well held in both Leopardstown handicap and Leinster National; return to better ground and first-time cheekpieces could see an improved showing.

20/1

7th

3

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 174y

16:02 Naas

Kinturk Kalanisi

10st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Just 1-13 and no wins from seven chasing starts; however, he was still travelling nicely when making a bad mistake and unseating at two out in this race last year off 3lb lower (3m1f, soft); led over the last at Leopardstown (3m1f, yielding) in a Listed chase on seasonal return before fading into a 5.75l third; had blood at both nostrils when tailed off last time; not ruled out if bringing his best.

10/1

17th

9

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Kinturk Kalanisi

10st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Thomas Gibney

Hurdle winner is a maiden over fences after six starts, but ran a cracker when third in the Paddy Power Chase over 3m here last time; should strip fitter for that seasonal debut and be a big player, even raised 3lb.

7/1

Form: 2-2103

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner, rated 119 over hurdles; fair third behind odds-on stablemate Firefox on chase debut at Down Royal; not in the same league as stablemate Better Days Ahead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:05 Ayr

Big Stage

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

0-12 as a chaser but ran well in first-time cheekpieces (joining tongue-tie) at Punchestown last time and won't be far away if taking to the blinkers.

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.50
Straight Forecast €3.61
Trifecta €8.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Slade Steel

POSTDATA:

Big Stage

The Irish Sun:

Slade Steel