'He looks thrown in' - red-hot Gordon Elliott sweet on Troytown Chase favourite

Sunday: 2.20 Navan
Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade B) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTE1/RTV

Is history set to repeat itself in Sunday's €100,000 feature at Navan? The warm favourite for this year's running arrives with a highly similar profile to Run Wild Fred, who was a ready seven-and-a-half-length winner of this last year.

Frontal Assault has been solid at the front of the market all week and hardened further as favourite after main rival Ain't That A Shame was not declared on Friday.

Like Run Wild Fred he is a seven-year-old, second-season chaser representing Gordon Elliott and sporting the blue cap of Gigginstown House Stud.

The pair of smart stayers both also finished second in the previous season's Irish Grand National before having one run en route to this prestigious handicap.

Frontal Assault carries 11st 4lb off a mark of 142, while last year's winner shouldered 11st 6lb off 145. Their respective cases are very similar.

Death Duty: runs off just 2lb higher than when winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown last FebruaryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Stablemate Death Duty shouldn't be underestimated under a workable mark of 140. There are also live local chances for trainer Tom Gibney, who saddles Irish Grand National sixth Velvet Elvis and lowly weighted mare Regina Dracones.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend are represented by the potentially well-handicapped Fighter Allen, who needs to bounce back from a poor performance at Down Royal this month.

Munster National winner The Big Dog must keep improving to defy an 8lb rise for winning by a head last time, Flash De Touzaine looks a novice on the up after his impressive Galway win, while Lifetime Ambition is out to become the first topweight to win the race since Nuaffe in 1994.

Elliott: 'I'd like to think he'll be hard to beat'

Gordon Elliott loves targeting his local track's flagship race and saddles no fewer than eight runners as he tries to make it six Troytown wins in nine runnings.

Frontal Assault's mark of 142 was left unchanged after beating subsequent Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase winner Darrens Hope at Galway last month, and Elliott believes there is still some mileage in that rating.

"I'd like to think Frontal Assault will be hard to beat," he said. "He looks thrown in. His form got a boost last time and he seems to be in good shape."

Frontal Assault: pulled up when one of the leading fancies for last season's Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase at CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On his other seven contenders, Elliott added: "Farclas was second in the race last year and looks to be in good form. It'll be his first start of the season. The softer the ground, the better chance that Coko Beach has.

"Hurricane Georgie ran a very good race last time behind Noble Yeats at Wexford. Hopefully, she can put in another nice performance.

"Death Duty was running a decent race in the Munster National when he came down and he'll come on for the run. I think having Davy Russell on board will be a big help for him.

"Defi Bleu ran well when second in the Cork Grand National. He has ability but I'd struggle to trust him to back it up. Punitive has run two nice races since joining us and I don't think he's without a chance off a low weight [10st 5lb].

"Glenloe has been very frustrating. He could win one of these nice handicaps some day and it would be nice if that came this Sunday."

US champion jockey Hendriks out to make immediate impact

Sunday's feature also serves as a first ride in Ireland for this year's American champion jump jockey Parker Hendriks, who has been booked to claim 5lb off 2021 Thyestes Chase winner Coko Beach.

The son of six-time US champion trainer Sanna Neilson and champion jockey turned multiple Grade 1-winning trainer Ricky Hendriks, he became the first American to win the jockeys' championship in more than a decade when clinching this year's title.

He is also the youngest US champion jump jockey this century, having achieved the feat aged 18.

Coko Beach: rated 7lb higher than when decisively landing the 2021 Goffs Thyestes ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm here with Gordon for a week and plan to stay here before heading home just before Christmas," said Hendriks, who turned 19 last week.

"It was an incredible year. I fell into a great position as stable jockey to Keri Brion and all the horses were clicking all year."

Hendriks added: "I'm really looking forward to riding Coko Beach. I sat on him two days ago when schooling him. He's a big, scopey horse who looks great, so it'll be nice to ride him in a race like this.

What they say

Peter Fahey, trainer of The Big Dog
He came out of his win in the Munster National in good shape. I think he's come on for that run, so we're looking forward to running him.

The Big Dog (right): capitalised on a late mistake from Ain't That A Shame (left) to land the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National

Paul Townend, rider of Fighter Allen
He was ultimately very disappointing at Down Royal but it should have brought him on. He was too fresh and too keen and got very tired. With that run under his belt, I hope it will leave him right for this. If he does everything right, we should be able to hit the frame.

Tom Gibney, trainer of Velvet Elvis and Regina Dracones
We had been hoping to go to Newbury with Velvet Elvis [for the Coral Gold Cup] but the ground went against him. He just needed the run last time at Limerick. Regina Dracones is a few pounds better off at the weights with Velvet Elvis than when she was second to him at Navan in March. She's fairly straight in terms of fitness. I've been hoping for rain because the softer it is, the better it will be for my two.

Noel Meade, trainer of School Boy Hours
He had a bad end to last season, his last three runs were a bit of a disaster. He's in good form now and we're happy with him. I think the ground and track should suit him.

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