The legendary Tiger Roll features among an entry of 12 horses for the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle on a big day’s racing at Navan on Sunday.
The four-time Cheltenham festival winner and dual Aintree grand national hero is on the comeback trail after being pulled-up at Cheltenham’s meeting in November.
He is set to line out in the Boyne hurdle for the third successive year, winning at odds of 25/1 in 2019 and finishing fifth to his own stable companion Cracking Smart 12 months ago.
Trainer Gordon Elliott is bidding to win the race for the fifth year running. He has made three entries, with Tiger Roll entered along with Fury Road and Commander Of Fleet.
Willie Mullins, successful in the race in 2012 with Mourad and with On His Own the following year, has entered Scarpeta while Mouse Morris has his John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle winner Sams Profile and French Dynamite, runner-up in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November.
Noel Meade is also doubly represented with Beacon Edge and Sixshooter while Matthew Smith has Ronald Pump and Noel Kelly has entered Decor Irlandais. Joseph O’Brien’s Darasso and the Oliver McKiernan-trained Unexpected Depth make up the initial field.
Sharing top-billing on Sunday is the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Watch Racing Online For Free Ten Up Novice Chase, a race won by nine different trainers in the last 10 years.
Successful last year with Captain CJ, Dermot McLoughlin has entered Opposites Attract, while Gordon Elliott has both Coko Beach, the Goffs Thyestes Chase winner, and Escaria Ten.
Forza Milan could represent James Nash while Jessica Harrington has her course and distance winner Mr Hendricks. The Barry Connell-trained Espanito Bello and Noel Meade’s School Boy Hours also have their chance.
Remembering a mare that won at the highest level for both Elliott and Mullins, the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle has attracted an entry of 11 horses.
Henry de Bromhead’s Atlantic Fairy, the Stuart Crawford-trained La Chanteuse and Joseph O’Brien’s Global Equity are among those going forward for the inaugural running of the race.
