RACING/NAVAN PREVIEW:LEGGY LAD could give Co Armagh permit holder Stephen McConville and his family a day to remember when he goes for the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan tomorrow.

McConville’s son Michael has ridden the seven-year-old to victory in his last two starts, and the 22-year-old amateur will again be in the saddle as he bids to complete a hat-trick. “The horse is good, but we’re stepping him up again after his couple of wins.

He’s ready to run again so we might as well take our chance,” said McConville. “He should be well enough in at the weights. Hopefully over that trip it shouldn’t be a problem to him, so we’ll see how we get on. Michael seems to be riding him well, he’s done really well on him.

“It’s a big thing this time with him doing the weight but he seems to have that sorted. He’s looking forward to it and it’s good to have a horse able to go at a race like that and for him to ride in it. We’re hopeful of a nice run and a bit of luck on the day.”

McConville is taking on the cream of the racing fraternity including top owner JP McManus, who has four runners. The pick of which appears to be Groody Hill, who has been in great form, winning twice in less than a week at the end of last month. “Groody Hill has won his last two and is stepping up a lot in class,” said McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry. “He’s also stepping up in trip and it will be interesting to see how he copes, but he’s in good form and we’ll find out a bit more about him.”

Dessie Hughes is worried the ground might be too soft for Stonemaster. “He’s off a good weight, but the ground is probably not suitable for him,” he said.