Evening all,

Inside today’s main piece I preview both the Japan Cup and Navan’s Troytown Handicap Chase.

Besides the big race at 2:20 there’s a decent supporting card of races at Navan on Sunday afternoon.

Gordon Elliott’s exciting novice hurdler American Mike takes on four rivals in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle (1:20). One of those rivals is the unbeaten Affordable Fury who won on hurdling debut at Galway 28-days ago and looks a smart prospect himself.

There’s also an interesting fifteen runner Beginners Chase (2:50). Among the fifteen are smart hurdlers Fil Dor, Saint Roi and Slip Of The Tongue who are having their first starts over the larger obstacles.

Before looking at the Troytown Chase here’s my preview of the Japan Cup.

Japan Cup

The home team have the two market leaders in Danon Beluga and Shahryar. The former has yet to win a Grade 1 but he’s one of the best 3-year-olds in Japan. Shahryar is proven over the course and distance and was third in last year’s race. He won the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and had a nice prep for this when 5^th of 15 here last month. Both have wider draws to overcome if they are to win though. Ryan Moore has been booked for local hope Vela Azul. The 5-year-old won a Grade 2 last time and finished well off a strong pace to win that day.

German challenger Tunnes is the shortest priced of the European challengers. The  3-year-old is unbeaten on all four starts and made all to win a Group 1 at Munster (heavy) 3-weeks ago. A half-brother to Torquator Tasso is an exciting colt but has yet to race on ground quicker than soft. If he handles the likely good to firm ground, he’ll be hard to beat.

Grand Glory was a 5 length 5^th of 18 in last year’s race. The mare came from off the pace to finish a 4 ¼ length 5^th of 20 to Alpinista in the Arc last time. Claims once again but would likely prefer easier ground. Simca Mille won the Group 2 Prix Niel and prior to that had finished a neck runner-up to Onesto in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris. He’s another who must prove he’s as effective on quick ground as he is on an easier surface.

Onesto's the value play

Onesto followed up his Grand Prix De Paris success with an excellent ½ length 2^nd of 7 to Luxembourg in the Irish Champions Stakes. Didn’t have the best of runs when a 9 length 10^th of 20 in the Arc last time. The testing ground wouldn’t have suited the 3-year-old at Longchamp and the return to quicker ground should be a plus for him. He’s got a nice draw in stall 2 and Christophe-Patrice Lemaire has been booked. Given he’s a Group 1 winner he looks a bit big in the betting to this pundit.

Navan

2:20 – Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Gordon Elliott won this 12 months ago and has saddled the winner five times since 2015. And he saddles 8 of the 19 declared runners Frontal Assault is on good mark and has already shown that a big field handicap chase suit when 2^nd of 28 in the Irish Grand National. He got off the mark at the sixth attempt when winning at Galway on seasonal reappearance last month.

Of his stablemates C&D winner Coko Beach makes some appeal and he seems likely to pop up again this season. He will be ridden by Parker Hendriks who is one of the hottest jockeys in American Steeplechasing.

Top-weight Farclas was runner-up in last year’s race and although he was beaten when falling in the Irish Grand National, on his only subsequent start, it’s not hard to think he can win a valuable staying handicap chase this season. Kieran Buckley takes off a handy 5lb from the top-weights back.

Plenty in with a chance

Since his win in last season’s Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown School Boy Hours hasn’t had much luck. He was pulled up, after making a mistake four out in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and was also pulled up after being hampered in the Grand National. Won first time up last season and is respected.

Velvet Elvis won a valuable novice’s handicap chase over C&D in March and bettered that performance on RPR’s when an 8 length 6^th of 27 in the Irish Grand National. Ran well for a long way at Fairyhouse and just found his stamina ebbing away between the final two fences. The 6-year-old likely needed the run when well held in the Munster National on his seasonal return. There could be more to come from him this season. The Big Dog looked as good as ever when getting up close home to win the Munster National. Up 8lb but can give another good account of himself here.

A couple of Willie Mullins entries Egality Mans & Fighter Allen are also interesting. The first namedlooked on a competitive mark when 4^th of 13 to stablemate Royal Rendezvous in a handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. Fighter Allen seemingly the choice of Paul Townwed had looked a useful chasing prospect when winning at Tramore in April. Well backed (4/1) but fell at the first in a hot handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. Ran like something was amiss when a bitterly disappointing favourite (11/10) and last of four in a Grade 2 at Down Royal on seasonal return earlier this month. If you’re happy to put a line through line that effort, he one to consider.

Sunday Selection:

I have a few fancies at Navan and Carlisle on Sunday. However, my idea of Sunday’s best bet is Onesto in the Japan Cup. I managed to get 12/1 about his chance with William Hill but even the 17/2 available with the same firm looks good to me.

Tokyo

6:40 – Onesto – 17/2 @ William Hill.

Good luck with your Sunday bets.

I will be back on Monday with my look back at what was a fantastic Saturday of action.

John