El Fabiolo bids to bounce back from fall in Navan feature - but Irish Gold Cup second Grangeclare West among opposition

This time last year El Fabiolo was one of the hottest horses in town. The 2023 Arkle winner was odds-on favourite for the Champion Chase following a flawless season to that point, but it all started going astray from there and he arrives here at Navan lacking confidence and craving a clear round.

Rated 175 at his peak last season, El Fabiolo returned to action at the Dublin Racing Festival but only got as far as the second fence where once again his jumping demons came back to haunt him.

It was far too early to know whether he would have laid a finger on the tearaway Solness that day, but the fact he is showing up here would suggest that neither the Champion Chase or the Ryanair, for which he is still entered at the festival, is on the agenda. It's all about restoring confidence.

Back at the start of the season in his stable tour for the Racing Post, Willie Mullins suggested the Ryanair might be the logical place to aim El Fabiolo and now we will get a glimpse of what he is like over further than two miles.

The way he hits the line over the minimum trip would suggest he could thrive over it, but it's those jumping errors that could put the big-hitting punters off getting stuck in at skimpy prices and Navan is a stiff test of any jumper.

Paul Townend riding Grangeclare West clear the last to win at Leopardstown

Grangeclare West: is entered in the Grand NationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Stablemate Grangeclare West, in contrast, comes here on the back of the best performance of his career. The Grade 1-winning novice bounced back to form spectacularly in the Irish Gold Cup when getting closest to the mighty Galopin Des Champs. He edged out Fact To File for second there.

That was his third run of the campaign and there has been improvement on each start, so he cannot be dismissed lightly. Gentleman De Mee is a spring horse and this trip on this heavy ground must be a huge cause for concern.

Fil Dor ought to relish conditions so he looks the main danger to the Willie Mullins-trained pair, and he gets a tasty 9lb from both of those as well. Don't rule out a big showing.

That said, this would appear the perfect place for El Fabiolo to get back on track and he should be able to give his trainer a first win in this Grade 2 since Great Field back in 2018. It could be next stop Aintree and the Melling Chase after this.

What they say

Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer of El Fabiolo, Grangeclare West and Gentleman De Mee
El Fabiolo has schooled well since Leopardstown and hopefully that fall will have taught him a lesson. The trip is a question mark but we think he should handle it fine. Grangeclare West ran a cracker last time out and seems to have bounced out of it well. He has a big penalty to carry, like El Fabiolo, but the extra experience will do him a world of good. Gentleman Du Mee normally starts to find his form around this time of year but may still want nicer ground again.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Fil Dor
He's obviously been a bit disappointing this season and it hasn't exactly gone according to plan, but the track, the trip and the ground should all suit. Willie [Mullins] has a strong team, but hopefully our fellow can come back to some of his old form and make them work.

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