Moment set for Navan test

Irish-trained hurdler Emotional Moment, who just missed the line-up when a leading fancy for the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury last weekend, will seek compensation in the McCabe Builders Limited Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Trainer Tom Taaffe originally nominated Saturday’s Red Mills Trial Hurdle over two miles at Gowran Park as the six-year-old’s likely target after he failed by one to make the cut for the Newbury race.

But now Taaffe has decided to step the gelding up to three miles for the Grade Two contest at Navan.

“Limestone Lad doesn’t run and that was the reason we decided to go for the Boyne,” the trainer said.

“He was wrong at the weights with a number of others in the Red Mills, so that changed my mind as well.

“We’re stepping up to three miles and we’ll see what happens. He’s raced over two and a half miles before, and I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Barry Geraghty will take the ride on Sunday.

Taaffe is eyeing the Coral Eurobet Cup, over two miles five furlongs as Emotional Moment’s Cheltenham objective.

“We cross each bridge as we come to it, but that’s the most likely target,” he said.