Hiddenvalley Lake is the one to beat - Tips for Navan on Sunday Navan’s seven-race card on Sunday isn’t to be missed and we’ve got a Listed contest and two Grade 2s to take in. Conditions are set to be very testing and the ground is officially described as heavy. The action kicks off with a maiden hurdle at 13:50 and concludes with a bumper at 16:50. Our Nap of the day runs in the Boyne Hurdle at 14:50 and the horse in question won this very race in similar conditions back in 2024, so he’s unlikely to get stuck in the mud. We’ve also selected a participant in the Ten Up Novice Chase as our next best and the Connor King-trained runner is definitely on an upward trajectory. Hiddenvalley Lake is the one to beat The potentially abysmal conditions at Navan means that there’s going to be a massive emphasis on stamina in the Boyne Hurdle, so picking the horse with a Grade 1 win over three miles appears to be the sensible play. That’s why Henry de Bromhead’s HIDDENVALLEY LAKE gets the nod. The son of Sholokhov was too good for the useful Strong Leader in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in the spring. He raced in mid-division and began to make progress approaching the third-last flight. Taking up the running before the second-last, he stayed on well to score by just shy of three lengths. This piece of form alone is enough to be confident but the nine-year-old is also a former winner of this race. That success came two years ago, where he got the better of another previous winner, Beacon Edge. It’s worth noting that the ground was heavy on that occasion too. Fitness could be an issue, as this is his first start since a very below-par run at Punchestown in May, and you would imagine he’s likely to improve significantly for the run. Trainer de Bromhead isn’t firing on all cylinders at the moment but this classy hurdler can get him up and running. Oscars Brother to claim a second Grade 2 success Later on the card, the Ten Up Novice Chase is being run over three miles and staying power is going to win the day. It’s going to be a gruelling race and with that in mind, Aintree Grand National entry OSCARS BROTHER could well be the one to side with. Connor King’s gelding won a Listed novice hurdle at Cork back in September 2024 and the runner-up has boosted that form several times since. He then ran in a valuable handicap hurdle over 3m1f at Navan and was caught just a stride or two before the line. Progressing nicely over fences so far, he finished second to Galway Plate winner Western Fold at Tipperary in May and got off the mark over an extended 2m6f at Galway in October. The step up to Grade 2 level didn’t phase the eight-year-old at Punchestown last time out. He jumped very well on the day and showed a good attitude to see the trip out well and score by three lengths. Oscars Brother carries a 5lb penalty as a result of that win but further progress is anticipated and, having won on heavy before, the ground won’t be an insurmountable obstacle.
