'His form is working out well' - Gordon Elliott holds the aces in Navan Grade 2

Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

Gordon Elliott has three of the seven runners, with Absolute Notions and Three Card Brag heading the market and Deeply Superficial also holding a serious chance.

Elliott has enjoyed recent success in the Grade 2 with No More Heroes (2014), Death Duty (2016) and Ginto (2021).

The unbeaten Absolute Notions, a €370,000 purchase, takes his first step into Graded company, having won a bumper and a maiden hurdle over 2m3½f at Punchestown.

"He hadn't done a lot before he ran in the Land Rover Bumper but he'd worked okay, so that’s why we ran him," Elliott said. "He wasn't our first string but he was very good. I loved the way he hit the line there and again over hurdles at Punchestown. He's a good horse and the slight step up in trip should suit him."

The biggest danger looks to be stablemate Three Card Brag, who goes beyond 2m for the first time. He holds a fine piece of form from a convincing maiden hurdle victory over Sandor Clegane at Galway, before finishing third in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Navan behind Hercule Du Seuil and Imagine.

Elliott said: "He ran a big race at Navan, staying on strongly up the run-in, and his form is working out well."

Deeply Superficial arrived at a cost of £385,000 and is a best-priced 10-1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

She won on her debut over 2m at Galway and the step up in trip should be in her favour. "She's getting the mares' allowance," said Elliott. "She's in good form and has looked good."

Another intriguing prospect is the JP McManus-owned Inthepocket from Henry de Bromhead's yard. He changed hands for £290,000 12 months ago following a Moig South point-to-point win and scored by six lengths on his hurdling debut at Wexford in October.

"We're happy with him and he's been in good form," said De Bromhead.

Daryl Jacob travels over to Ireland to take the ride on Carnfunnock, a two-time Ayr winner. The Stuart Crawford-trained five-year-old showed ability in bumpers, turning over the odds-on Better Days Ahead at Down Royal last month.

The field is completed by Philip Rothwell's Captains Nephew and the Shark Hanlon-trained Lakefield Flyer, both of whom are yet to win.

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