Remembering five of the best Navan Novice Hurdle winners

As Andy Dufresne and company attempt to add their names to a high-class roll of honour in the Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday, Mark Boylan reflects on five of the best former winners of the informative race . . .

Solerina (2002)

The remarkable 22-time winner confirmed herself a rapidly improving mare with victory under Paul Carberry in what was then known as the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.

The Bowe family's charge left future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King trailing by eight lengths, with third-placed Pizarro, who had won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham that year, going on to win two further Grade 1s over fences.

The popular mare's comprehensive victory as a five-year-old was the first of six wins she recorded at Navan.

Mikael D'Haguenet won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle having recorded two victories at Navan earlier that seasonCredit: Caroline Norris

Mikael D'Haguenet (2008)

Willie Mullins' brilliant French-bred put on a show 11 years ago to end Pandorama's unbeaten record and announce himself as a force to be reckoned with.

The Susannah Ricci-owned four-year-old, who had made a winning Irish debut at the track a month earlier, put seven lengths between himself and Noel Meade's four-time Grade 1 winner, oozing quality throughout the contest.

The 12-time winner is the last horse to win the Navan prize before going on to land the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Boston Bob produced a brilliant display when getting the better of Grade 1 winner Mount Benbulben at Navan in 2011Credit: Caroline Norris

Boston Bob (2011)

Andrea and Graham Wylie's charge marked himself out as a stayer on the up with a taking success over subsequent top-level winner Mount Benbulben.

The former Howard Johnson-trained six-year-old was having just his second start for Willie Mullins when powering up Navan's stiff finish, reeling in the runner-up before the second-last having briefly looked in a spot of bother.

The four-time Grade 1 winner came up just short as 6-5 favourite behind the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze in that season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle but achieved a mark of 164 over fences.

Bellshill built on some excellent bumper form when winning the Navan Novice Hurdle in 2015Credit: Patrick McCann

Bellshill (2015)

Another Wylie-owned performer gave Willie Mullins further reason to celebrate in the Navan Novice Hurdle, bolting up by 12 lengths to build on the promise of his Grade 1 bumper success at Punchestown.

The mount of Ruby Walsh landed a bloodless victory over Tycoon Prince to become ante-post favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, but instead he finished down the field in a red-hot Supreme Novices' Hurdle won by Altior.

There was even better to come from the then five-year-old, who went on to win the Punchestown and Irish Gold Cups in his current career as a chaser.

Death Duty scored on his first four starts over hurdles, two of which came at NavanCredit: Patrick McCann

Death Duty (2016)

The dual-Grade 1 winner put away a high-class field when providing Gordon Elliott with a second victory in the quality novice contest at his local track.

The Gigginstown-owned performer may not have reached his complete potential through injury as of yet, but his convincing victory over top-level winner Monalee and the ill-fated Invitation Only was a sign of his considerable ability.

The then five-year-old failed to fire in that season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but the 2016 renewal of the Navan Novice Hurdle did throw up a winner at that season's Cheltenham Festival in Labaik, who memorably refused to race on occasions.

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