The rescheduled Navan card was held yesterday and featured 3 Grade 2 races with Cheltenham and Aintree clues likely. A few Grand National horses were having prep runs over much shorter distances. The ground at Navan looked to be riding really heavy and so plenty of emphasis was put on stamina.

Navan

Red Mills Chase

Chicago Grey was the outsider of 4 in this race but won it relatively comfortably and this was a fantastic run from a horse who is being aimed at the Grand National. He travelled very nicely the whole way and whether he just ran the race of his life or the others were somewhat disappointing we will never know.

The Grand National looks the perfect race for this horse who possesses plenty of stamina as he showed when beating Beshabar in the 4 mile race at Cheltenham a few seasons ago who then went on to frank this form by winning the Scottish National.

Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle

On His Own was a surprise winner of the Boyne Hurdle with odds on shot Thousand Stars running no race whatsoever finishing last. Willie Mullins has said Thousand Stars probably didn’t handle the holding ground but even that wouldn’t account for such a poor display.

On His Own is likely to have one more run before heading back to Aintree for another tilt at the Grand National where he was still going really well when falling at Becher’s Brook 2nd time round. If he gets round at Aintree he will surely have a big chance.

Flyingbolt Novice Chase

Buckers Bridge and Twinlight were involved in a great battle in this Grade 2 novice chase the former rallying to get back on top at the line from the front running Twinlight.

Twinlight made the running and was clear for most with only Buckers Bridge able to close him down. After initially being passed by Buckers Bridge, Twinlight battled back to lead again on the run in only for the lead to change again close home with Buckers Bridge winning by a head.

Both Twinlight and Buckers Bridge are probably above average with only one defeat each over fences now and should both win races in the future.

Wetherby

theconistonhotel.com Ideal For Business and Pleasure Novices Hurdle

Whispering Gallery was probably the most impressive winner on the day in any race across the 4 meetings and made it 2/2 over hurdles in effortless fashion. This former very smart flat horse who won a Group 3 at Meydan for Godolphin has made a very impressive and professional transition to hurdles and will in time probably need 3 miles. After winning both his races on the bridle he surely must be heading the Cheltenham festival next with the Neptune Investments Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett Hurdle his target.

Wetherby Racecourse Family Sunday 28th April ‘Newcomers’ Open NH Flat Race

Diamond King was another very impressive winner in the bumper which was ran surprisingly for a bumper at a reasonable pace and Diamond King seemed to relish this. Travelling well throughout he was allowed to move to the front 3 furlongs out and very quickly had pulled 20 lengths. When Jason Maguire looked around at the 1 furlong pole to see he was a distance clear he eased down dramatically. His winning distance of 16 lengths is very unflattering and he looks a horse with a huge future on the back of that.