Sunday’s racing at Navan

Elliott playing the numbers game

Navan put forward an intriguing Sunday card, where the 3.40pm handicap hurdle will take all the solving by punters. It is certainly worth doing however and we offer a leg-up with our views on who shapes as the race winner.

Click here to bet on all Sunday’s horse racing action, including the seven-race card at Navan. You can also scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find a selection from us in each race, designed to help boost the chances of your multiples.

A bumper 15-runner field is expected to battle it out over the two-miles six-furlongs trip, and with the early going described as soft to heavy, this promises to be a fascinating spectacle, with the victor fully deserving of the prize money. Sambremont did the business for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh last year, but neither turn out in defence.

Dounikos worth another chance

Trainer Gordon Elliott looks best placed to take the loot on Sunday as he goes into the race with a strong hand, sending three out here. Of the trio of representatives, Dounikos has attracted support in the market and shapes as a lively selection.

The progressive six-year-old gelding has let punters down in the past, losing at Thurles on his last outing – despite going off as 8/11 favourite. He came home last of a four-runner field that day, and backers may be reluctant to trust him with any more of their hard-earned cash.

That remains the only slight blot on his copybook however, and we will take more from a run showing two wins and two runners-up finishes from his last five goes, including taking a maiden at Thurles in November of last year, over two-miles seven-furlongs. Dounikos will need a career best to get anything here, but if we put a line through his last run, he deserves our full attention.