Weekend racing preview: Plenty reasons to take on classy Majborough at Navan
Charlie Mullins on Majborough pictured at the launch of the National Hunt Season at Willie Mullins' Yard. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The National Hunt season goes up a notch this weekend with the Navan Racing Festival the Irish focus.
Saturday’s eight-race card includes two Grade Two contests and it’ll be especially fascinating to see how Majborough fares if given the green light to reappear in the BAR 1 Betting Fortria Chase.
In terms of raw talent, there’s little doubt Majborough is the best horse in the race but his jumping has too often proven his undoing, making him a risky betting proposition at a short price.
Another worry is the ground, with Willie Mullins voicing concern at the launch of the National Hunt season on Wednesday as to whether conditions would be sufficiently soft for his weekend runners. That’s particularly relevant when it comes to Majborough given his best performances, most notably in the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival last February, have come on testing ground.
At the same event, Mullins revealed that the previous day was the first time Majborough had worked to his satisfaction since his return to training, hardly a ringing endorsement. Perhaps his class will see him home in front but there’s plenty of reason to take him on, on his first start of the season.
A case could be made for Solness or last year’s Fortria winner Found A Fifty but preference is for the Gavin Cromwell-trained Only By Night.
This classy mare finished in front of Majborough when just touched off by subsequent Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie in the 2025 Arkle and again found only one good on her return to Cheltenham when chasing home Dinoblue in Mares’ Chase last March.
A further positive for Only By Night is her excellent record fresh, one that she can enhance this weekend for her in-form trainer.
The Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle, the other Grade Two on a fine card, is an intriguing puzzle but, at the likely prices, Feet Of A Dancer might be worth chancing.
Trained by Paul Nolan, Feet Of A Dancer has a similar profile to Only By Night in that she’s a classy, consistent mare who goes well fresh.
A Grade Two winner at Doncaster last January, she ran a good race to finish third to Wodhooh in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and should she run close to level this weekend, she won’t be far away.
Elsewhere on the card, the Grade Three BAR 1 Betting 'Download Our App' For Auction Novice Hurdle looks a match between Thinkitdontjinxit and City Of Cork.
Both go to Navan on the back of impressive reappearance wins last month but Thinkitdontjinxit was especially eye-catching when bolting up at Galway and Gordon Elliott’s charge is fancied to follow up.
At a meeting he always targets, Elliott can also win the first and last race on Saturday’s card. Charismatic Kid is a strong fancy to make a winning start to life over obstacles in the Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle while there’s positive word about Uncle Pad in the bumper.
Elliott saddles nine of the 18 runners in Sunday’s feature, the BAR 1 Betting Troytown Handicap Chase, and The Enabler can ensure the trophy goes back to Cullentra House for an eighth time.
The seven-year-old ended last season with a career-best effort to finish third in the Irish National and Elliott has been quoted as saying he has a “big chance” in this contest.
Stablemate Will Do was another Cullentra contender Elliott spoke positively about and he has decent each-way claims under useful claimer than O’Sullivan.
Elliott can also bag the other Grade Three on Sunday’s card, the John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle, courtesy of With Nolimit.
A Grade One bumper winner last season, With Nolimit made a winning start to life over hurdles at Down Royal last month. A tougher test awaits on Sunday but he can rise to the challenge.
NAVAN (Saturday)
Darren Norris
11.52 Charismatic Kid
12.27 Miners Bridge
1.02 Rightfolksplease
1.35 Thinkitdontjinxit
2.07 Feet Of A Dancer
2.43 Only By Night (Nap)
3.18 Mighty Park
3.53 Uncle Pad
Next best
11.52 The Irish Avatar
12.27 Macshadow Des Crai
1.02 This Songisforyou
1.35 City Of Cork
2.07 I'll Sort That
2.43 Solness
3.18 Saint Baco
3.53 Kanzler
NAVAN (Sunday)
Darren Norris
11.40 Green Soul
12.10 La Valserine
12.40 Asthelightdeclines
1.15 With Nolimit
1.50 Mart Lane
2.25 Kopeck De Mee (NB)
3.00 The Enabler (Nap)
3.35 Sarahs Lawn
Next best
11.40 Norman Prince
12.10 Moonverrin
12.40 Tropical Twist
1.15 Reaching High
1.50 Beyond Your Dreams
2.25 Classical Creek
3.00 Will Do
3.35 Brosna Shine
