Noel Meade and Willy Mullins Loaded for Navan Novice Hurdle

We are still very much at the pre-entry stage for the 2012 Navan Novice Hurdle, an important Grade 1 event that usually sets up an important contender for the Supreme Novices in March. A full 23 runners are in the mix at this point and many of them still boast hot records with plenty of momentum. Several group level winners are also on the card here and will likely carry quite short odds over the 2m4f distance.

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Of the 23 runners on the pre-entry list for the December 16 race, Willy Mullins and Noel Meade have a full 12 of them coming from their yards. There will obviously be a few withdrawals here and there but the higher-rated runners are expected to line up for this one.

Mullins captured the race last year with Boston Bob and Ruby Walsh teaming up. The race has only been around since 1999 but there have been some quality runners come out of this one like Oscars Well, Shinrock Paddy and Mullins-trained Mikael D'Haguenet. Noel Meade conditioned Harbour Pilot, who took the second iteration of the race in the year 2000.

Busty Brown comes out of Noel Meade's yard and enters this one fresh off a course and distance victory at Grade 2 level. He deployed a very stylish tracking trip before pushing clear in the latter stages of the race. He looks to be well-developed for a six-year-old and jumps with plenty of ability. His RPR of 144 doesn't lei and he'll be expected to be in the reckoning for this one.

Willy Mullins Champagne Fever has a fantastic year on the NHF circuit last year – scoring a victory in a high-priced fixture at Punchestown before breaking his maiden at the first time of asking this year. He finished just a beaten length and a half behind Jezki at Fairyhouse in a Grade 1 contest. He was sent off as the 11/8 favourite on the day and will look to deliver for punters again today. Note that he was sent off at 1/8 in his maiden score – against 22 runners.

An interesting entry is Noel Meade's Apache Stronghold – who is still untested over hurdles. He scored in a a National Hunt flat race at Down Royal back in early November. He scores by three lengths with Nina Carberry up. He'll be long odds for sure, but they wouldn't drop him in a Grade 1 level without knowing a thing or two about his ability to win the race.

Willy Mullins has a fascinating French import lined up for this one in Pont Alexandre. The gelding by Dai Jin enters from a maiden score at Cholet.