1.45 Irish EBF Auction Series

Fillies Maiden 5f 180yd

Treasured Royal finished a fine fourth on debut, when well-backed at the Curragh last month. Keen in the early stages and drawn away from the strongest finishers, she is expected to build on that effort today.

The winner of that race subsequently ran well in the Round Tower Stakes, but we have less form to guide Castelluccia’s second over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. The penny only dropped late on for the daughter of Coulsty that day and she’ll need to sharpen up considerably to cope with this return to six furlongs.

The drop down in trip may also be a negative for Tharaka, based on her pedigree. Hooves Your Daddy, Silkie Sevei and Sup Of Red are others to have shown promise, while Lil Hot Shot, from the in-form David Marnane yard, looks the most appealing of the newcomers.

SELECTION: TREASURED ROYAL

Next best: Castelluccia

2.15 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race 5f 180yd

First Approach is the obvious selection as he drops down in class. While last week’s effort was disappointing, this is a notably easier assignment, and his previous second in a listed event puts him three lengths clear of Fresh Fade. His maiden win was a smart performance too, and first-time blinkers and tonguestrap should help his cause.

Fresh Fade hasn’t built on his early promise and a gelding operation hasn’t brought improvement - while he won last time out, it wasn’t the hottest maiden and his mark of 88 looks optimistic.

It’s hoped that gelding will calm Slaudeen, who has raced keenly in all his starts, and therefore did better than the placings suggest, finishing fourth to the talented Green Sense and respectable sixth in a hot Curragh maiden.

White Smoke’s chances will become clearer after Treasured Royal runs in the opener, having finished three lengths in front of that rival at the Curragh last time out.

SELECTION: FIRST APPROACH

Next best: Slaudeen

2.45 Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now

Handicap 5f

A case can be made for several of these, with preference for the less-exposed types, like Cecco, who travelled strongly for a long way at the Curragh last time out, only weakening close home in the six-furlong maiden, and should go close over the minimum trip.

Desert Power was two and a half lengths further back that day, but it earned him a drop in the weights, while today’s first-time tonguestrap could also yield improvement. He too should appreciate the return to five furlongs and two runner-up efforts in maidens here last season give him a strong chance.

Amicitia is also promising, having separated much more experienced rivals when second at the Curragh on handicap debut last weekend. The trip, however, is questionable, considering the stamina in her dam’s pedigree.

Winters Breath is of interest on handicap debut off 67, as she drops down from seven to five furlongs, being by Caravaggio and out of a speedy Kodiac mare.

Recent winner Pinmoney, dual course-and-distance winner Step Back In Time and the consistent Mary Shoelaces complete the long shortlist.

SELECTION: CECCO

Next best: Amicitia

3.20 Christmas Parties At Navan Racecourse On 6th & 14th

December Handicap 5f

Gazelle d’Or came from almost last to fourth in the valuable Scurry Handicap last time - a fine performance from 5lb out of the handicap. She therefore looks well-treated now on a mark of 82 and, having won a premier handicap over this trip on her previous start, looks the one to beat today.

Little Queenie has proven competitive after rising through the ranks, but looks marginally better over six furlongs. Today’s weights may help Nezeeh bridge the half length that separated them last time, but he too might prefer an extra furlong.

In contrast, this sharp dash should suit Sir Yoshi, who hopefully puts a disappointing last effort behind him after being freshened up.

I Bid You Ajou has been progressive this term, winning three of his last five starts, but faces stiffer opposition today.

Airspeed had some decent form for Karl Burke, finishing second to a horse now rated 102, and should have sharpened up from his stable debut.

SELECTION: GAZELLE D’OR

Next best: Sir Yoshi

3.55 Irish Stallion Farms EBF

Fillies Maiden (Div I) 1m 30yd

Therewillbeglory could be well-named today, having finished second on her two previous attempts. She caught the eye first time out and last month’s winner has since followed up, rating her form higher than recent second Snapretend.

Tea Rose was certainly bred for better things, being by Frankel, out of top-class sprinter Marsha. Her debut wasn’t the most inspiring, but she is expected to have benefited from over 12 months off the track. Rest Your Mind is another well-bred Wootton Bassett filly expected to take a step forward, but may be seen to better effect over further.

Katashuna has shown promise but may not be the most straightforward, considering her awkward tail carriage and the fact that she got upset in stalls two starts ago.

Lady McC didn’t give her rider an easy time when last seen over 10 furlongs in May. This drop in trip could help her settle, but the form of her debut second hasn’t worked out as well as expected, and it may be that she isn’t quite as smart as that performance suggested.

SELECTION: THEREWILLBEGLORY

Next best: Tea Rose

4.30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF

Fillies Maiden (Div II) 1m 30yd

Experience may be the deciding factor here and, of the more experienced types, Joyful Princess boasts the greatest consistency. Guarded hasn’t progressed as hoped, while Treasure Rose’s best run came over 10 furlongs.

Grecian Power caught the eye on debut when third at the Curragh, finishing strongly from further back than Therewillbeglory, and how the latter fares in the previous race will be informative.

That form links to Crazy Bout Elvis, who was seventh to the same rival on debut. While well-related, last month’s price of 22/1 suggests he doesn’t figure highly for his in-form yard.

Picture This and Shamalza are well-related newcomers from in-form yards.

SELECTION: JOYFUL PRINCESS

Next best: Grecian Power

5.00 Return Of The Jumps At

Navan Racecourse September 20th Handicap 1m 2f 10yd

Thegooseiscooked has been a model of consistency this season, finishing in the first three on all five of his turf starts. He still looks competitive off this mark, having finished third last time and should post a better effort over today’s trip.

Roderick, successful over a mile in July, had previously gone close over this trip and could be up to justifying his current mark. The same could be said for Vervain, whose last run can be overlooked, as she didn’t seem to enjoy the all-weather surface.

Sottsands returned to form last time out, but the 13-race maiden has so far failed to maintain consistency.

SELECTION: THEGOOSEISCOOKED

Next best: Roderick

5.30 Lynn Lodge Stud Maiden 1m 2f 10yd

Take Me failed to justify market support on debut in a mile at Leopardstown, but made good late headway in the straight, having been last turning in.

It didn’t look the strongest of maidens, nor did the Galway maiden, in which Smithfield and Moon Reign finished second and fourth respectively.

In Contrast, Subsonic’s debut couldn’t have worked out any better, finishing second to Minnie Hauk. She disappointed on her seasonal return, but was entitled to need the run, and her last effort in the Irish Oaks is no comparison to today.

Saratoga also boasts smart juvenile form, having finished a well-backed third to Goffs Million victor Apples And Bananas. He looked sluggish on return last month, but is entitled to come on from that, though he has a way to go to justify his Leger entry.

Game Point’s previous rivals weren’t quite as smart, but the five-time runner-up is an obvious contender here.

Market support will be informative for the newcomers, with a particularly close eye kept on Ballydoyle’s well-bred Justify colt Appeared, who cost $600,000, and €220,000 yearling Anightaway, a potentially smart addition to the Sean Davis stable.

SELECTION: SUBSONIC

Next best: Saratoga