Preference for Ginto in clash with Bloodaxe

12.33 Navan Navan Novice Hurdle 2m4f Grade 2 4yo+ RTV Card and Spotlight, page 86

THIS was a Grade 1 from 2004 to 2013, but a two-runner affair won by Briar Hill saw it lose top-level status and it has been a Grade 2 ever since.

Since then, Gordon Elliott (right) has won it twice with No More Heroes (2014) and Death Duty (2016) and he is responsible for two of the five runners this time, including the exciting Ginto, who is a 25-1 shot for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old is two from two at Navan and made a winning start over hurdles at the track last month when justifying odds-on favouritism. The further he went the better he looked there, so stamina would appear to be his forte.

Eric Bloodaxe is his big danger according to the market. His claim to fame is beating Ferny Hollow in a Fairyhouse bumper, and there was plenty to like about the way he won a maiden hurdle at Naas last month. He posted an RPR of 130 there, which is 2lb superior to what Ginto achieved at Navan, and if this turns into a speed test he is the one best equipped to deal with it.

A sprint is surely unlikely, though, as Ginto’s stablemate Mr Fred Rogers is also a strong stayer. He defied a high of 28-1 in running when keeping on strongly from the back to win a Punchestown maiden hurdle over 2m5½f.

The Little Yank is having his 14th start of 2021. He has won two of those, but with a mark of 125 he looks to have plenty on his plate, as does the 120-rated Edison Kent from the Jessica Harrington stable which won the race 12 months ago with Ashdale Bob.

This could develop into a match between Ginto and Eric Bloodaxe and slight preference is for the Elliott representative, who we may not have seen the best of yet.

What they say Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Eric Bloodaxe

He’s been in good nick since he won his maiden hurdle. He’s stepping up in class, but we’re hoping he can perform well. The stiff track will suit.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Ginto and Mr Fred Rogers

Ginto is a lovely young horse who is progressing all the time. We’ve always liked him and he did what was asked in his maiden hurdle last time. This has been the plan since and he goes there with a decent shout. Mr Fred Rogers hasn’t done much wrong and I liked the way he fought back to win his maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

John Ryan, trainer of The Little Yank

He’d have been in the first three at Fairyhouse last

Sunday had he managed to get competitive, but the knock-on effect of that was that he didn’t have a hard race. He’s been in great form since and I think he’ll run really well. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were to nick it.