Gordon's drive for five at Navan
Summerhill man Gordon Elliott will be bidding to win the Troytown Chase for a remarkable fifth consecutive time at Navan on Sunday after he made it four-in-a-row 12 months ago with the Chris Jones Mala Beach.
At this stage Ellioot has 14 possible runners with Cork Grand National winner Out Sam and runner-up Rogue Angel likely to head his team that also includes Irish Grand National winner General Principle, Woods Well, Squouateur and current top-weight Dounikos.
Castletown man Noel Meade won this race 21 years ago with Heist and he could be represented on Sunday by Tout Est Permis, a winner at Galway last month, and the Naas runner-up Burgas.
Stamullen handler Francis Casety has Eight Till Late, a recent winner at Down Royal, in the list.
TROYTOWN PIX PARADE
The Tom Mullins-trained Spider Web and James Motherway’s Na Trachtalai Abu served up a thriller when first and second respectively in the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National at Limerick last month and they could well clash again.
Last Goodbye, the clear-cut winner of the Chanelle Pharma Handicap Chase at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February, is another intriguing contender for trainer Liz Doyle.
Willie Mullins has left three in the €100,000 event - Pairofbrowneyes Minella Beau and Undressed, which would be having a first start for the champion trainer.
There is a strong supporting card at Navan on Sunday where the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle has attracted an entry of 15 with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Rhinestone and Elliott’s Dinons, an easy winner at Cheltenham last month leading the way.
TROYTOWN PIX PARADE
The Listed Coolmore N.H. Sires Irish EBF Mares Flat Race has an initial entry of 17 headed by the Philip Dempsey-trained Caravation with Yukon Lil for Willie Mullins and the Jessica Harrington-trained Emily Moon.
The Grade B Proudstown Handicap Hurdle of €50,000 boasts an entry of 26, headed by Meade's impressive Naas winner, De Name Escapes Me.
“The team at Navan Racecourse is really looking forward to what is our flagship meeting and it’s great to see that the top trainers are once again coming out in force for the feature Ladbrokes Troytown Chase," said Navan manager Peter Killeen.
"The rest of the card is really strong and with the forecast at this stage for a fine day on Sunday we are expecting a great crowd to come and witness one of the top days in the National Hunt racing calendar.
"It is terrific that Ladbrokes continue to support Navan for the feature and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their sponsorship of such a prestigious and historic race,” he added.
OVER THE LAST
