4.40 Navan: the one race you cannot afford to miss on Wednesday

4.40 Navan
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap | 1m | 3yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

The versatile Getaway Katie Mai, who won a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2018, makes her Flat handicap debut having won a mile maiden at Listowel on her most recent start.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has packed a lot into her short career. She began life in point-to-points, chasing home Posh Trish in a mares' maiden at Lemonfield, and her finest hour arrived at Aintree last year under Jamie Codd, where she had Cesarewitch favourite Buildmeupbuttercup back in fifth.

She won a maiden hurdle at Tramore in December, but has been plying her trade in Flat maidens of late and stayed on strongly to defeat Sheranda at Listowel last month. The handicapper has reacted by handing her a mark of 87 and Niall McCullagh takes the ride once again.

Carrying top weight will not be easy in such a competitive contest and the locally-based father-and-son combination of Gerry and Colin Keane will fancy their chances of success with the lightly-raced Mean Fomhair.

Colin Keane: the top jockey takes the ride aboard Mean FomhairCredit: Harry Trump

The four-year-old made an impressive winning handicap debut at Roscommon last month before chasing home Angel's Amy a week later at Listowel.

Mick Mulvany is double-handed with Stormy Tale and Passing Trade, while Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley, who teamed up for Group 1 glory with Albigna at Longchamp on Sunday, are represented with Bellakris.

What the stats say

Rachael Blackmore does not ride too often on the Flat but she is showing a €6.90 level-stakes profit to a €1 stake this season.

Fresh from her double over jumps at Tipperary on Monday, she teams up with the Pat Fahy-trained Stormy Belle.

What the trainers say

John Queally, trainer of Getaway Katie Mai
She's very versatile and it is hard to believe a mare who started in a point-to-point could win a mile maiden on the Flat. It was a pleasant surprise she won at Listowel but I think the handicapper has got a grip of her. I thought a mark of 87 was tough enough for her but I hope I'm wrong.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Stormy Belle
A mile is a bit far for her on this ground so she will have to be held up, but we have a top-class jockey on board in Rachael Blackmore. Fingers crossed she will go well.

Michael Mulvany, trainer of Stormy Tale and Passing Trade
Passing Trade would always beat Stormy Tale at home, but I wouldn't read too much into that as Stormy Tale always saves her best for the track. They are both in good form but my worry for Passing Trade is that she hasn't run too well at Navan in the past for some reason.

Mark McNiff, trainer of Engles Rock
Declan McDonogh thought the ground was too holding and gluey for her at Listowel. She just didn't act on it at all. Hopefully it will be looser at Navan. I think the track and the trip will suit her. She was a bit unlucky at Galway a few times this summer, as they didn't go much of a pace, and she seems in very good form at home.

David Marnane, trainer of Cracking Name
It's a good opportunity with some nice prize-money and she is entitled to take her chance. She just didn't handle Listowel last time. The draw could have been kinder to us but she goes there in good form.

What do our tipsters say?

A very open fillies' handicap. Getaway Katie Mai is obviously interesting but will need to have improved again for her maiden win to defy this mark, while Lady In Lavender was raised a whopping 16lb for her win last time. Another last-time-out winner, Tuamhain, loves this ground and could still be on a winnable mark so is the tentative selection. Mean Fomhair can run another solid race, while Stormy Tale is another to consider.
Tyrone Molloy

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