- Navan review
- Elliott delighted with National star Tiger Roll
By Andrew Atkinson
Paul Nolan trained Joyeux Machin (13-8) tipped by fromthehorsesmouth.info landed the Slane Pro-Am Flat Race over 2 miles at Navan on Saturday under Barry O’Neill.
Rank 100-1 outsider Franciscan Rock (1.05) tipped each-way by fromthehorsesmouth.info finished just out of a place, when fourth in the 2m 4f Maiden Hurdle, won by 11-8f Ash Tree Meadow, trained by Gordon Elliott.
Aintree Grand National star, Elliott-trained Tiger Roll finished down the field in the 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle, won by The Very Man.
Elliott said the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is the target for the two-time Grand National winner, 12-year-old Tiger Roll.
“I’m delighted, that will really help get him fit. I liked what I saw from him leaving the back straight,” said Elliott. “Cheltenham is and has always been the plan. The Boyne Hurdle is a week closer to Cheltenham than usual, so it’s not ideal.
“I’m not sure whether we will go there, or not. We’ll see how he comes out of this and make a plan closer to the time,” said Elliott.
“I knew he would get tired and, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t think the ground was going to be as bad as it was.
“It was quite tacky. Overall I was delighted with him and that is another step on the road back to Cheltenham.”
Jockey Rob James, claiming 7lb, said: “He felt great. He made a nice bit of ground after leaving the back straight.
“He just hated the ground the whole way around. He enjoyed it more, when I pulled him wide. “The ability is still there, there is definitely something there.”
Image: Navan Racecourse Twitter
