‘He ran an absolute beast of a race at Windsor’ - Tom Symonds hoping Navajo Indy can shine in £155,000 Newbury feature

Tom Symonds is hopeful a return to Newbury can lead to a career-best performance from Navajo Indy in the £155,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle on Saturday.

The progressive six-year-old has recorded two wins and a second from three starts at the Berkshire track, including when landing the Gerry Feilden Hurdle on his penultimate outing in November.

Navajo Indy was beaten three lengths by the reopposing Secret Squirrel in the Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Windsor’s Berkshire Winter Million meeting last month, but Symonds felt the sharper track did not play to his strengths.

Jockeys' championship leader Sean Bowen is jocked up to ride Secret Squirrel for the first time on Saturday, with the Hughie Morrison-trained hurdler heading the betting at 11-2 with the sponsors. Navajo Indy, who is set to be ridden by Gavin Sheehan, is fourth in the betting at 9-1.

Symonds said: “We were heading to Sandown for another race after the Gerry Feilden, but it was off. He’s better on long, galloping straights where he can really aim at things.

“I’d never had a runner at Windsor, and it turned out to be a track where he wasn’t necessarily at his best. He wasn’t quite where he should have been at the start. They jumped off and he was all at sea the whole way round.

“In the circumstances, he ran an absolute beast of a race to finish as close as he did. It looked more likely at one point that he was going to be pulled up as he was going nowhere, but he showed a good deal of ability to finish fourth.”

Tom Symonds: trainer of Navajo IndyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Greatwood Hurdle runner-up Be Aware is the only horse to have beaten Navajo Indy in three starts at Newbury and Symonds believes his runner, who is 5lb better off with Secret Squirrel this weekend, can rate higher still.

“I’m hoping he’s on an upward curve, and every time he’s gone to Newbury, he’s shown himself to be a much better horse around there,” said Symonds, who has Royale Margaux entered in the Listed mares’ hurdle at Warwick on the same day.

“He doesn’t blow you away at home – he does what he has to do – but I feel the open nature of Newbury really suits him. There is more room for him there and you can take your time with him. I think there’s still scope off his mark and he’s off a nice weight."

The Evan Williams-trained Minella Missile is another horse heading to Newbury's big handicap hurdle on the back of a run at Windsor's highlight jumps meeting.

He finished ninth in a 3m handicap hurdle on his first start in 14 months and is set to drop back to 2m½f.

Williams said: "He’s very difficult to train, but I’m hoping he’s come forward from his last run. It wasn’t a bad effort after a long break, but we’re dropping him right back in trip and going from one extreme to another."

William Hill Handicap Hurdle, 3.35 Newbury, Saturday
Sponsors: 11-2 Secret Squirrel, 6 Joyeuse, 8 Tellherthename, 9 Navajo Indy, 10 Favour And Fortune, Hansard, 16 Fiercely Proud, Washington, 20 bar

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