A CENTURY after the land at Proudstown, just outside Navan, was purchased for a new racecourse in Co Meath, the team at the left-handed track with the famous testing uphill finish are readying the venue for a huge month of top-class racing, starting with the famous Tote-sponsored Fortria Chase meeting on Sunday, November 10th.
After that Navan general manager Peter Killeen’s team is straight into putting the finishing touches to the historic €100,000 Troytown Chase day which follows on Sunday, November 24th.
Both days will see the very best horses competing for an impressive total of €430,500 in prizemoney.
The Tote Fortria Chase has produced amazing memories and famous winners through the years. The first running of the race was in 1980 and was won by Drumgora, who doubled up 12 months later.
The gelding was trained by Arthur Moore and Drumgora won the 1981 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Other early winners of the race included Buck House (1985) who also won the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following March, while Royal Bond (1986) was another high-class winner trained by Moore.
Memorable winners
The two-mile Grade 2 Fortria chase has produced other memorable winners such as Sound Man (1995) trained by Edward O’Grady, Native Upmanship (2000) who was trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, two-time winner Moscow Flyer (2003 and 2004) with Barry Geraghty in the saddle for trainer Jessica Harrington, three-in-a-row winner Big Zeb (2009-2011) for trainer Colm Murphy, and then the people’s favourite Flemenstar who won it in 2012 and 2013 for the late Peter Casey and then for Tony Martin.
Racing fans will be looking forward with great interest to see who emulates last year’s winner, the JP McManus-owned and Enda Bolger-trained Ballyoisin. The gelding romped home to win last year by a mightily impressive 23 lengths with Barry Geraghty in the saddle. Geraghty has a remarkable record in the Fortria Chase and has won the race seven times in the last 20 years.
Big prizes
Sunday, November 10th sees €189,000 prizemoney on offer and the programme also features the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle which has produced notable winners like Dorans Pride, Commanche Court, Limestone Lad and the popular mare Solerina. Fingers are crossed that the great seven-year-old mare Apple’s Jade, with over €850,000 in winnings to her name, could be featuring again this year. This would be her seasonal reappearance and she would be seeking a three-in-a-row Lismullen Hurdle success for Gordon Elliott and her owner, Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary.
Navan Racecourse general manager Peter Killeen said: “All the team at Navan is really excited to be heading into our busy National Hunt season, kick-starting with our Tote Fortria Chase day. We are delighted that the Tote continues to support what is one of our prestigious races at a wonderful time of the year when all the top-quality jumping horses are starting to reappear.
“With our graded races, the For Auction Novice Hurdle and Lismullen Hurdle, also on the card I’ve no doubt the top trainers will be here in force and we have a very exciting days racing to look forward to.”
General manager of Tote Ireland Ross Kierans added: “I am delighted to note that this is our fifth year as sponsor of the Tote Fortria Chase at Navan.
“It is our first sponsored race of the new National Hunt season and it means that for the Tote the jumpers are well and truly back on track. I’d like to thank Peter and all the team at Navan and wish them the best for the forthcoming racing season.”