Apache looking for another scalp!
Castletown trainer Noel Meade will be hoping for another visit to the winners' enclosure at Navan on Sunday after landing the last race at the track last Sunday.
Apache Stronghold won last month’s Grade 2 Monksfield Novice Hurdle and will return to that venue on Sunday to contest the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle.
Apache Stronghold appeared to win with a fair bit in hand the last day and his trainer Noel Meade said, “all going well, he’ll run on Sunday and we are looking forward to it.”
Referring back to the Monksfield Novice Hurdle Meade stated: “It looked a good race beforehand but he made it look very easy. I thought on the day that he jumped well, but when I watched the race again, I thought he missed about four hurdles, which was a bit frustrating, as he can jump very well.”
“If he can put in a complete round of jumping, I’d say he is obviously very good. I don’t know what Willie is going to produce and he has so many to choose from, but if we get our horse there well, we’ll be happy.”
Willie Mullins is responsible for three of the seven horses left in Sunday’s contest, all of which are unbeaten and they includeBriar Hill, a runaway winner of his maiden hurdle at Wexford last month.
Mullins has also left in recent maiden hurdle winner Valseur Lido and Moyle Park. The latter made a winning debut over timber at Navan last month.
Darren Lawlor, manager of Navan Racecourse said: “We are really looking forward to another exciting renewal of the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle this Sunday. The weather looks to set to be good this week and we are promoting a special pre-booked family ticket for just €20 for two adults and kids, which includes a visit to Santa in our indoor children’s play area where all children will receive a gift from the Big Man”.
Conall Collier