Rain fails to dampen Swan spirits

Connections of Teeming Rain are confident of a decent comeback run after a seven-month absence in the williamhill.ie Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday.

The eight-year-old was pulled up behind Nil Desperandum when sent off 3-1 favourite for the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February.

Plans to get the Charlie Swan-trained gelding back on the track earlier this year were scuppered by unseasonably quick ground, however.

Swan said: “It’s his first run since he pulled up in the Eider at Newcastle but he seems in good form.

“I would have preferred to have been able to get a run under his belt, but at the same time I’m hoping he’ll run well.

“Nothing came to light after Newcastle but it might just have come too quick for him after he won the National trial beforehand.”

Dessie Hughes would prefer much softer ground for his runner, Black Apalachi.

“He ran in a conditions chase at Thurles and I was quite happy with him,” said Hughes.

“I think it will be goodish ground at Navan and he wants it very soft, nearly heavy, to be effective.

“There’s no more rain forecast.”

A field of 18 runners declared for the three-mile contest, with Mister Top Notch set to carry top weight of 11st 10lb.

Merdeka, trained by Tom Taaffe – who won the race 12 months ago with Cane Brake - is 6-1 favourite with the sponsors to take home the £65,100 first prize.

Tony Kenny, spokesman for the sponsors, said: “It looks like a really competitive race, and fingers crossed, we get a great race this Sunday.

“Merdeka has been relatively easy to back in recent days, but we still believe that he’s a worthy favourite for the race.”

Williamhill.ie Troytown Chase

Sponsors bet: 6-1 Merdeka, 7-1 Royal County Star, 8-1 Gazza’s Girl, 10-1 Baily Breeze, Well Tutored, 12-1 Benefit Night, Teeming Rain, 14-1 Chelsea Harbour, Homer Wells Mister Top Notch, 16-1 Black Apalachi, Mercuric, News Item, Sound Witness, 20-1 bar.