Kevin Blake

12:50 2016 NAVAN MEMBERSHIP MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Clear preference is given to the Robert Tyner-trained Gurteen. The six-year-old overcame being badly hampered at the fourth-last fence to win a point-to-point at Dromahane and has since stamped himself as a very nice prospect by finishing a never-nearer second to Min in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown and winning a bumper at Leopardstown.

Conditions will suit and he will be tough to beat. The pick of the newcomers to hurdling is the Gordon Elliott-trained De Plotting Shed, with the six-year-old having won a bumper at Fairyhouse in good style and acquitted himself well in a listed bumper at Ascot last time.

Selection: GURTEEN

Next Best: De Plotting Shed

1:20 FOLLOW NAVAN ON FACEBOOK RATED HURDLE 2M

A tightly-knit contest, but the hope would be that the Willie Mullins-trained Noble Inn can use this contest to prove he is still ahead of his mark. The six-year-old has been in fine form since returning from over a year off and while he ran below himself in the ultra-competitive Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot last time, he can be expected to bounce back to form in this less competitive company. His most interesting rival is perhaps the Gordon Elliott-trained Bright New Dawn who is rated 148 over fences.

Selection: NOBLE INN

Next Best: Bright New Dawn

1:55 TRIM RATED NOVICE HURDLE 2M 4F

An intriguing contest and marginal preference is given to the Gordon Elliott-trained Victory Mill. The six-year-old won a point-to-point at Lingstown in March 2014 and made a winning start on the track in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse, for all that his task was significantly eased by the final-flight fall of Au Quart De Tour.

He can be expected to improve from that and rates as a useful prospect. His most interesting rival is perhaps the Liz Doyle-trained Last Goodbye, with the five-year-old having won a bumper at Roscommon and a maiden hurdle at Wexford in good style.

Selection: VICTORY MILL

Next Best: Last Goodbye

2:30 WWW.NAVANRACECOURSE.IE MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 7F

A good opportunity for the Gordon Elliott-trained Woodford Island to get off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt. The five-year-old has established a consistent level of form over hurdles and has no fears in terms of the trip or ground. He won’t get many better opportunities than this to break his duck.

The main danger to him could well be the Claire O’Connell-trained Born Noble, with the nine-year-old having won a point-to-point and ran with credit on her hurdling debut back in February.

Selection: WOODFORD ISLAND

Next Best: Born Noble

3:05 MEATH HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 2M 4F

An interesting contest and the Noel Kelly-trained Angus Milan is given the nod. The seven-year-old got off the mark in good style in a similar contest at Down Royal last time and with this longer trip being unlikely to hinder him, he can be expected to go very well off his 7lb higher mark. Of the rest, the Sandra Hughes-trained Smoking Big Cigars was the subject of a notable gamble on his seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse last time and while he didn’t run up to expectations there, he is worth another chance.

Selection: ANGUS MILAN

Next Best: Smoking Big Cigars

3:40 FLOWER HILL BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 4F

The Vincent Halley-trained Arctic Skipper looks to hold leading claims. The seven-year-old has run very well in his two starts over fences to date, most notably when second to Killultagh Vic at Fairyhouse in December, and this is a much easier task for him. The pick of his rivals is the Ted Walsh-trained Champagne James, but the eight-year-old has had nine starts over fences and has looked somewhat tripless.

Selection: ARCTIC SKIPPER

Next Best: Champagne James

4:15 SIMONSTOWN HANDICAP CHASE (0-109) 3M

The Edward Cawley-trained Flemenstorm has really started to progress in recent starts and could well be improving fast enough to complete his hat-trick. His latest win came in a handicap chase at Punchestown and with this longer trip holding no fears for him, a 10lb rise might not be enough to stop him following up here. Of the remainder, the Tony Martin-trained White Arm has shown promise as well as his share of quirks of late, but should be respected.

Selection: FLEMENSTORM

Next Best: White Arm