Navan best bet (1445): Da Capo Glory to come good on testing ground

14:45 Navan: William Hill Boyne Hurdle (2 miles 5 furlongs)

The most attractive bets at the early prices are one of the two seven-year-olds, Da Capo Glory, and one of the two previous course-and-distance winners, Blazing Khal.

The one who looks a good-value option is Da Capo Glory, who comes here race-fit (in contrast to Blazing Khal) following a gutsy success in a strong handicap at Cork (20 furlongs on soft-heavy) last month.

That was perhaps a career-best performance because he won that handicap off 135 despite not having raced for 156 days.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20 or more on any runner in the 14:45 at Navan and get a £5 free bet if Blazing Khal wins by over 6 lengths

That win extends his figures over 20 furlongs to 211 with the only horse to beat him being Grangeclare West, a recent Grade 1 winner over fences at Leopardstown.

It was asking a lot for Da Capo Glory to beat that top-class rival, but he did pull five lengths clear of the others, who were headed by Gordon Elliott’s Imagine, who is now a Grade 2 winner over fences.

That was clearly a very strong race, and it has been the only time Da Capo Glory has been beaten when racing further than two miles over hurdles.

Three of his four career wins have come on testing ground, and he has twice run very well in Grade 3 company, despite those runs coming over an unsuitably short two miles.

Now that connections have figured out his best trip, this seven-year-old has the ability to be very competitive in high-level events at or around this distance.

Top rider JJ Slevin has been booked for what appears to be a well-chosen target.

Suggested best bet: Da Capo Glory in the 14:45 at Navan

• Tips and analysis provided by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr

It's no surprise at all to see Blazing Khal heading the early market because he won this race by three lengths last year, and that was on his first run following a long absence (he runs fresh again this time).

He has won four of his five runs over hurdles, the exception being the Stayers’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, which was over three miles.

This is almost certainly his optimum trip, especially on ground like this, and his top three hurdling wins all came on undulating, left-handed tracks with an uphill finish.

A winner on his last two runs following lengthy breaks, he is sure to have been well-prepared for his bid to land back-to-back wins in this event, and he is certainly one to watch. 

Next best bet: Blazing Khal in the 14:45 at Navan