Navan Preview
Some notes on runners in the main races on the card this Saturday April 25 at Navan.
1.55pm – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, 2yo, 5f180y. (Hit the link for race prices)
All bar no.2 Amigos Legacy and no.3 Arizona Raider are newcomers
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the last four renewals of this race. Last Year, Charles Darwin won. He then went on to win the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 2024, Camille Pissarro won. Later in the year he won a Group 1 race and, as a three year-old, won the French Derby.
1 – Abletai – By Starspangledbanner, his dam won here but her rating never rose above 80
4 – Barrow Boy – He is a half-brother to Snellen, who Gavin Cromwell also trained. He won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023 and also won a Group 3 race at Leopardstown. Snellen won on his racecourse debut. He was by Expert Eye; Barrow Boy is by Bayside Boy
5 – King Of Cloughan – Joseph O’Brien – He cost €110,000 as a yearling and is by St Mark’s Basilica out of a MacLean’s Music mare. MacLean’s Music is by good USA sire Distorted Humor
6 – Tribeca – Robson de Aguiar – He cost 575,00gns as a yearling, is by Blue Point and his granddam has produced 8 winners, including a dual-Group 3 winner
7 – West Of Eden – Trained by Aidan O’Brien, he cost €500,000 as a yearling, is by By No Nay Never and there are plenty of winners in his pedigree. Ryan Moore takes the ride
8 – Margot Mae – She cost 115,000gns as a yearling and is by Starspangledbanner out of an Invincible Spirit mare. She is a half-sister to an Australian Group 3 winner that was also beaten just a nose in a Group 1 contest
2.30pm – €50,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes, Listed Race, 5F 180Y, 3yo
This race sees the return to action of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Dawin, who won on this card last year.
The favourite has won this race for the last two years, but only three times in the last ten. Jessica Harrington, who runs Kindergarten, has won it three times in the last six years and four of the last nine, while Aidan O’Brien has won two of the last four.
1 – Charles Darwin – Aidan O’Brien – He won on this card last year and then won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. He hasn’t been seen since but it’s great to see him back in action. He’s rated 110
2 – Chicago Call – Johnny Murtagh – He’ll be sharper for a run 21 days ago. He showed solid form as a juvenile and arrives here rated 105 and will receive 5lbs from Charles Darwin
3 – Frescobaldi – Danny Murphy – He showed solid form in 5 runs as a 2yo when trained by Aidan O’Brien. Connections acquired him for 100,000gns in October and he rates as interesting coming into the season
4 – Starman Tom – Kieran Cotter – Two placed maiden runs for him so far so he has shown promise. He’s rated 96 and this race represents a step up in class. He cost just 5,000gns as a yearling, is by Starman, who had such a good year last year with his first crop to see the racecourse, and his granddam has produced no less than eleven winners, which include two Listed winners and a Group 3 winner
5 – Focaccia – Tommy Stack – She showed promise when third at the Curragh in a 6f fillies’ maiden on her debut (on March 28). This, though, represents a step up in class
6 – Kindergarten – Jessica Harrington – She won over c/d on her only run to date, in October. That was promising. She is by Lope De Vega and her grand-dam, Lesson In Humility, won at Group 3 level. She has an interesting profile.
7 – Silk Braid – Ger Lyons – She won on her only start last year, a 6f maiden at the Curragh on October 16th. She cost only €14,500 as a yearling but her grand-dam, whose dam won the French Oaks, has produced 5 winners
3.05pm – €52,500 BAR 1 Betting Vintage Crop Stakes, Listed Race, 1m6f, 4yo+
There have been five winning favourites of the Vintage Crop in the last nine, although there were 20/1 (Baron Samedi) and 33/1 (Master Of Reality) winners, both trained by Joseph O’Brien, in 2021 and 2019, respectively. Aidan O’Brien has won this race in each of the last four years and six of the last nine.
That said, this is an excellent renewal of the Vintage Crop, with the English St Leger winner, Scandinavia, and the Royal Ascot Queen’s Vase winner, Carmers, in the line-up. Some of the great stayers of racing have won this race in recent years, including Yeats, Kyprios and Fame And Glory.
1 – Carmers – Paddy Twomey – He won the 13f Yeats Stakes here last May and then won the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot before finishing second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and fifth in the English St Leger. He is rated 113 and rates as a promising young stayer. The St Leger was run on soft ground and he may prefer today’s better going.
2 – Scandinavia – Aidan O’Brien / Ryan Moore – He won a 10f maiden here last May (on the same card on which Carmers won) and kept on progressing, eventually winning the Group 1 Goodwood Cup and Group 1 English St Leger on his last two starts. Carmers finished 3.25 lengths behind him in the St Leger, which was run on soft going. Scandinavia is rated 117 and will race off the same weight as Carmers today. He’s an exciting prospect in the staying division.
5 – Emit – Joseph O’Brien – He was beaten just a neck in a 15f Group 2 in France on very soft going in October and had a pipe-opener recently when fourth in a 14f race at the Curragh (on April 3rd), which was his first run since a gelding operation. He finished 4.5 lengths behind Layfayette that day at the Curragh but will be seven pounds better off today. He is rated 111 and Layfayette is rated 102. Dallas Star finished half-a-length in front of Emit that day but is now seven pounds worse off at the weights. He finished 3.25 lengths behind Layfayette that day and they will meet on the same terms today.
4 – Dallas Star – Robson de Aguiar – He finished third in the race that Layfayette won at the Curragh on April 3rd. He won a 10f Group 3 race on heavy going at Leopardstown in 2024.
3 – Leinster – Joseph O’Brien – He beat Dallas Star by 4.25 lengths on good going in a 14f Group 3 race at the Curragh last August and they meet on the same terms today. He is lightly raced and talented but, rated 105, needs to build again in order to land this prize.
7 – Sunchart – He’s a likeable gelding and talented, too, being rated 105, but he has won just five of his 43 races and has yet to win above Listed level on the flat. Okay, this is a Listed race, but there are Group performers in against him today.
3.40pm – €70,000 Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes, for 3yo fillies, 1m2f40y
This race often points us in the direction of Classic contenders. For example, Ezeliya, who won in 2024, went on to win the Epsom Oaks, and last year’s winner, Wemightakedlongway, finished second in the Irish Oaks..
1 – Bloom – Aidan O’Brien / Ronan Whelan – She won a fillies’ maiden at Cork on her last start (September 30th) and rates as promising. She is by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare that won two Listed races and her grand-dam produced the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O’Connor. She is one of three Aidan O’Brien runners in the contest. She holds entries in the Epsom and Irish Oaks.
The other two O’Brien runners are…
5 – Ice Dancer – Ryan Moore – She is by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare and, having won her maiden at Gowran Park, she then finished third in a Group 3 race at the Curragh, albeit it beaten 7.5 lengths. She holds entries for the Epsom and Irish Oaks.
6. Minerva – Wayne Lordan – She finished third in a Group 3 race at the Curragh in September shortly before winning a maiden at Leopardstown on what was her seventh race. She is by Frankel out of Prize Exhibit, who is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Mohaather, who won at Grade 2 and 3 levels in the USA and has already produced a Group 3 winner (History) from her first four foals. She holds entries for the Epsom and Irish Oaks
The rest of the field…
2 – Camino Vino – Gavin Cromwell – She is owned by Wendy O’Leary, who is married to Gigginstown House Stud racing manager, Eddie O’Leary, and she won cosily at Dundalk on her debut on December 17th. She is by Invincible Rock out of a Society Rock mare that on a maiden and a couple of handicaps, although her dam has produced five winners that include a Group 3 winner in Germany. Today represents a big step up in class.
3 – Chasing Paradise – Johnny Murtagh – She showed promise on her debut last year and then came good on her reappearance, which came in a 10f fillies’ maiden at the Curragh on April 3rd on soft to heavy going. She is by Churchill out of a Danehill mare that has produced nine winners, one of which won a Listed race. She holds entries for the Epsom and Irish Oaks.
4 – Emmeleia – Donnacha O’Brien – Two runs at Dundalk for her so far. In September, she finished second in a 7f fillies’ maiden and on April 1st she won a 10f150y fillies’ maiden. The runner-up that day, Eretria, has since won well in a Leopardstown fillies’ maiden. She is clearly progressive although today’s race represents a big step up in class. She has an interesting profile, being a half-sister to a Lingfield Derby Trial winner and with her grand-dam having won three Group 3 races at 7f or 7.5f. She is by Camelot and holds Epsom and Irish Oaks entries.
7 – Thundering On – Joseph O’Brien – She remains a maiden after three starts but was beaten just a short head in a mile maiden for fillies at Leopardstown on April 12th, and she finished 4.75 lengths ahead of Ice Dancer when second to Sugar Island in a Group 3 race at the Curragh in October (a race referred to above). She is by Frankel out of a Night Of Thunder mare, Thundering Nights, that won the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 10f at the Curragh in 2021. She holds entries for the Epsom and Irish Oaks and is another runner that has a very interesting profile.
4.15pm – €25,000, Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden (Smullen Series) (3yo), 10f40y
1 – African Affair – He finished 15th of 16 on his debut at Naas in September – He’s been gelded since that run and steps up to 10f, from 7f, today
2 – Amethyst Stone – Ger Lyons – James Ryan – He cost €12,000 as a yearling – A half-brother to three winners – the great grand-dam was an excellent mare that produced 10 winners, including a Group winner and Listed winner, the Group winner then going on to produce Group 1 winners in Hydrangea, The United States and Hermosa
3 – Battle Of Maldon – Gordon Elliott – He’s shown promise in his two runs and has been gelded since his last run, which came on March 30 – Gordon had a winner at Dundalk on Thursday – A €37,000 yearling – Steps up in trip today, which should be no problem
4 – Cascade Canyon – He cost 34,000gns as a yearling and showed some promise here on his debut on March 30 (10f, heavy) – He’s a half-brother to three winners and his dam was Listed-placed
5 – Fay Og – Natalia Lupini – He finished last of 15 on his debut (March 30, here) – Battle Molden finished fourth in the race – Natalia looks to have a better chance with no.16 Croi Gra
6 – Genchev – Ger Lyons – Colin Keane – He has shown promise in three turf runs and has been gelded since his last run – He cost 85,000gns as a yearling – His dam won a Listed race in France – His grand-dam has produced six winners, including a Cheshire Oaks winner plus another Listed winner. Today’s trip will be no problem for him
7 – Glen Echo – Gavin Cromwell-trained newcomer that is a half-brother to Snellen, who won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and a Group race at Leopardstown – Another half-brother runs in the 1.55pm race (Barrow Boy)
8 – Good Man Jack – A newcomer. He’s a half-brother to 3 winners, including a 90-rated performer
9 – Huff’n’Puff – Henry de Bromhead – He has shown promise on each start and finished 3.75L in front of Battle Of Maldon here on March 30 – That was over 8f on heavy going; today is 10f, a trip his dam won over
10 – Kingcharles – He cost 35,000gns as a yearling – A newcomer by Golden Horde (G1 6f winner). It looks like they are trying to inject speed into the pedigree. Given that he is starting off over 10f, it may not have worked.
11 – Latin America – Johnny Murtagh – He finished second over 10f at the Curragh on March 28 on his debut (soft/heavy) – That was a promising start – He cost 280,000gns as a yearling and is by Gleneagles out of an Oasis Dream mare, a pedigree that suggests that shorter trips than today might suit, but he belied that with his Curragh run – His grand-dam won a Group 3 race over 7f on heavy
12 – Mergus Serrator – Gavin Cromwell – He showed promise when sixth on his Leopardstown debut last October (8f, yielding) – He cost 58,000gns last July – His grand-dam has produced four winners, including a Listed winner – He is by Masar out of a War Front mare that won over 12f so today’s trip should be no problem for him
13 – Now Maybe – Jessica Harrington – He was beaten a nose in a 7f maiden at Dundalk in Nov – He cost €150,000 as a yearling – His grand-dam (a US Grade 2 winner) has produced seven winners, including a Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas winner – He steps up in trip today, which should be fine
14 – Santa Bravado – Andy Oliver – He has shown promise in a couple of runs over 8f, one at the Curragh and one at Dundalk – He cost 28,000gns as a yearling – He’s a half-brother to two winners and also a full-brother to two (one of them a Group 3 winner over 5f in France) – His grand-dam has produced four winners, including a Group 2 and 3 winner – Is it a more speed-orientated bloodline?
15 – Youcansaythatagain – A newcomer and, like Santa Bravado, is trained by Andy Oliver. He cost 32,000gns as a yearling and is a half-brother to four winners that include a Group 2 and 3 winner and a dual-Listed winner. It’s a nice pedigree. His dam won a Listed race over 5f so it’s interesting to see him start off over 10f
16 – Croi Gra – She finished third of seven runners, beaten 7.5 lengths, on her debut, which came at Gowran Park on April 8th over 8f on soft going. She’s a half-sister to three winners and there are plenty of decent performers in the bloodline. At first glance from the pedigree I felt that 10f is further than she might want ideally, but her stable is very shrewd so I would never go against their judgement
17 – Dreamkeeper – Noel Meade – A debutante by Gleneagles that was unsold at 21,000 guineas as a yearling – Hard to fancy on debut
18 – Teologia – Joseph O’Brien – She showed a bit of promise after a slow start promise when fifth at Galway on her debut last Oct (beaten 11.5 lengths). Each of her seven half-siblings that raced are winners, one of them a Group 3 winner, one a Listed winner, so there’s a lot to like about a filly that should stay 10f and further. She holds an Irish Oaks entry
19 – Tintinabulla – Sheila Lavery – Hooded for debut – She is a half-sister to 10f and 11f winners and her dam won a 10f Listed Race at Lingfield on the AW so there is something to like about her pedigree
