First entries released for the Bar 1 Betting Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan point towards a powerful renewal of the Grade 3 event worth a total value of €100,000.

For many jumps fans, the Bar 1 Betting Navan Racing Festival on November 14th and 15th is when the National Hunt season really kicks into gear.

The Bar 1 Betting Troytown on Sunday fortnight is central to the occasion when a big field will face the starter over three miles for the prestigious handicap and the feature of Navan’s jumps season.

Gordon Elliott has saddled five of the last ten winners of the feature race.

This time around he is responsible for 11 of the 30 entries received from 15 stables throughout the country. Grade 1 standard Firefox is highest rated on a mark of 156.

Next in the handicap, and from the same yard, is Better Days Ahead whose best form is at Navan with a Grade 2 win at the venue.

Elliott may also look towards the progressive young chaser Chanceawetmorning, rated 137 and recently successful in his first attempt in graded company.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has two entries and Fou De Toi has taken to chasing very well, landing both her starts to date over fences by eight and 14 lengths. She shapes as one to take seriously should she line up.

Answer To Kayf won this contest last year on his seasonal reappearance, but the race that was key to finding the winner in the previous three editions was the JT McNamara Munster National at Limerick.

A Wave Of The Sea finished fourth in that race earlier this month and is among the initial entries.

Two horses that were late withdrawals from the Limerick race should also be noted.

The first is the consistent Bossofthebrownies, trained by Mouse Morris. Connections will be hoping for soft ground that has seen him place in all bar two of his 11 career starts.

The other is the J.P. McManus-owned mare, Uhavemeinstitches, stabled with James Motherway and a Grade 3 winner on slow ground last year.