Rosaker hard to oppose

Navan preview : Rosaker is famously something of a "home bird" and the short journey from Noel Meade's stables to Navan tomorrow…

Navan preview: Rosaker is famously something of a "home bird" and the short journey from Noel Meade's stables to Navan tomorrow should set him up ideally for another valuable success.

The 10-year-old is one of just six who line up for the Grade Three McCabe Builders Boyne Hurdle and the scene looks set for a repeat of the Lismullen Hurdle here earlier in the season when Rosaker had all but one of tomorrow's opponents strung out behind him. After that victory, Meade explained that Rosaker is quite an anxious individual and that long journeys to the races are not ideal for him.

With that in mind, and with the form already in the book, Rosakerlooks hard to oppose and he can stop Emotional Moment, winner of the Boyne in 2003 and 2005, from completing a hat-trick.

There are a pair of Grade Two chases for novices tomorrow and the most intriguing of the two could be the Ladbrokes Ten Up Chase over three miles which sees Gazza's Girl with seemingly her ideal conditions.

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Jessica Harrington's mare smoothly returned from a Christmas fall to trot up at Thurles on her last start but she will have to be at her best now to beat a decent field.

Hear The Echo has been mixing it with some of the best novices at shorter distances but now gets the chance at the three miles that Mouse Morris has insisted all along he needs.

Snowing Morning is another to consider but he is unlikely to relish the testing conditions and the trip as much as Gazza's Girl.

There may be better novices around this season than Blueberry Boy but few if any can match Paul Stafford's horse in the jumping stakes and the north Dublin-trained horse will have his followers in the Flyingbolt Chase.

However, the fact remains he has to concede 6lb for already having won a Grade Two and that could sway things the way of the former course winner King Johns Castle.

Some well connected newcomers are scheduled to line up for the bumper but they will do well to match Dark Smilewho put in a fine debut behind Arbor Supreme at Leopardstown while Quartino'scomeback run behind Scotsirish looks good enough for the maiden hurdle.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column