De Bromhead hoping to get Identity Thief back on track at Navan

Henry de Bromhead is hoping for a change of luck for Navan-bound Identity Thief, who will this weekend bid to augment his Cheltenham Festival prospects with what would be a welcome and much-needed victory in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase on Sunday.

After looking like a potential star in winning his first two early-season chases in style, Identity Thief was pulled up behind Min in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Christmas. He was soon back in action again at Leopardstown, but failed to get beyond the first fence in last month's Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle.

De Bromhead said on Wednesday: “He seems in good form and we'll be hoping to get our season back on track.

“Hopefully it all goes well with him we'll have Cheltenham to think about, but at the moment I just want to get this weekend out of the way.”

Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook make Identity Thief 4-5 for Sunday's race at Navan, with Ballyoisin best at 15-8 with Betfair Sportsbook. It is 6-1 bar the two.

On Saturday Colin Kidd will have a better idea as to whether the British handicap mark allotted Rashaan was fair or, as he believes, excessive, with the five-year-old due to face Jezki and Limini in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Kidd sidestepped the Betfair Hurdle and has pledged to do likewise with the Cheltenham Festival after his stable star was allotted 154, a mark 15lb higher than he has in Ireland.

He said: “We're likely to run on Saturday, although it's going to be very hard to give a horse like Jezki, a former Champion Hurdle winner, weight.”

He added: “He takes his racing very well and he has come out of his win at Dundalk last Friday night in great shape. I think he’s a better horse over hurdles and is best on better ground as well. Hopefully he can give a good account.”