12.30 Navan: the valuable handicap you do not want to miss on Sunday

Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) | 2m4f | 4yo+| RTV

Why is it interesting?

The most valuable race on the Navan card has attracted plenty of useful performers, with Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Mengli Khan topping the weights alongside talented stablemate Cracking Smart.

The Gigginstown-owned pair make up half of Gordon Elliott four runners, with the Cullentra handler bidding for a third win over the last four years in this €50,000 prize.

Owner Barry Connell, who has turned his hand to training but must wait until sitting the next trainers' course in 2020 before being officially accredited, also saddles two interesting runners in the shape of the returning Barwell and capable Dom Dolo.

What do the stats say?

Willie Mullins was out of luck with favourite Calie Du Mesnil in last year's renewal and, with Sayo on a non-runner, he relies on seasonal debutant Dolciano Dici in his bid to win this race for the first time since it was awarded Grade B status.

Sayo: reverts to hurdles having been campaigned over fences of lateCredit: Patrick McCann

Six of the last seven winners of this competitive handicap have been sent off single-figure prices so it could be pay to stick with those prominent in the market.

What do the trainers say?

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Mengli Khan, Cracking Smart, Count Simon and Present In Court
Mengli Khan is a class horse back in handicap company but he's been a little disappointing but hopefully he can run well now over hurdles again. Cracking Smart is another coming back over hurdles and we're hoping for the best with him. There's good prize-money on offer and hopefully Count Simon and Present In Court can take home their share of it.

Barry Connell, owner of Barwell and Dom Dolo
Barwell was unfortunate to injure himself when winning over those wooden hurdles at Wexford. He put his hind leg through the bottom of the second-last and through the other side of it, he pulled all the skin off his cannon bone. It was horrendous but thankfully he's 100 per cent now and seems in good order. Dom Dolo ran well at Galway last time but didn't jump as well as he can. He wore a tongue-tie then and we're taking it off him now. He should run well.

Dom Dolo (near side) ran creditably at Galway last time outCredit: Alain Barr

Michael Hourigan, trainer of Drumacoo
He's a bit wrong at the weights after going up 2lb and having nobody claiming off him now, but it's for a good pot and we have to take our chance. He hasn't had a huge amount of racing for his age and has had a few little setbacks before but he looks to be in good form now.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Alfa Mix
This is a big step up in class but it's for a big pot and he seems to be in good form and going in the right direction.

Charles Byrnes, trainer of Sky Marshal
He's generally consistent and hopefully he can leave his last run behind him. He has a nice low weight but wouldn't want the ground to get any softer, ideally he'd like it yielding to soft.

Sky Marshal had been running admirably before proving a little disappointing last timeCredit: Alain Barr

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Top Moon
We were delighted with him at Cork last time when winning a good pot. There's plenty of prize-money on offer here again so hopefully he can take home his share of it.

Denis Hogan, trainer of Moskovite
We're sending her back over hurdles to sweeten her up after running over fences. She has a nice weight and this is a good pot in conditions that suit her, having won over course and distance before.

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