Tiger Roll and Magic Of Light meet again in the 2m 5f Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday (13:50).
Last year’s Grand National one-two are both using this race on their road back to Merseyside.
Without the unique Aintree fences to jump, Tiger Roll is 1lb better off at the weights with Magic Of Light.
On that basis, Gordon Elliott’s beloved 10-year-old has to be fancied to confirm the form.
Although he is conceding race fitness to his old rival, Tiger Roll surprised everyone – including bookmakers – when he won the Boyne Hurdle 12 months ago.
Sent off an unfancied 25/1, the Gigginstown House Stud owned gelding scored by four easy lengths after a mid-winter break.
Fitness wasn’t an issue then, and Tiger Roll went on to retain both his Cross Country Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National.
He is a remarkably versatile horse. Although rated a 158 hurdler, Tiger Roll is 171 over fences thanks to those sensational back-to-back wins in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
If running up to his chasing mark, then he should be capable of giving weight all-round to these nine rivals.
Tiger Roll is 4/1 with Paddy Power to land back-to-back renewals of the Boyne Hurdle and all roads lead back to Aintree via Cheltenham.
Jessica Harrington’s in-form mare Magic Of Light is an obvious danger, for all the trip is a little on the sharp side for her.
The nine-year-old was only third on reappearance in the similar grade Lismullen Hurdle here over 2m 4f.
Magic Of Light a familiar danger
However, Magic Of Light has looked as good as ever in winning a Listed chase for mares and the Grade 2 Warfield Hurdle against her own sex again at Ascot.
She made all of the running in both, yet they were at longer trips than this.
As Magic Of Light is 1lb worse off at the weights with Tiger Roll from the Grand National, but has runs under her belt, it could be well worth backing her for second place again.
She gets weight all-round and odds of 4/1 with Coral reflect that.
Penhill is the pick of three Willie Mullins horses entered in the Boyne Hurdle.
Again, this is a little sharp for the dual Cheltenham Festival winner, but he has finished third and second over 3m behind mares Apple’s Jade and Benie Des Dieux.
On the pick of his form, Penhill has each-way claims in this at odds of 9/1 with Boylesports for owner Tony Bloom.
JP McManus has two engaged, but Darasso also holds an entry in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday.
His other runner Kilfenora has landed graded handicaps on his last two starts, including at this venue, so is an interesting contender.
Trained by Edward Harty, the eight-year-old son of Yeats defied a 9lb rise for winning the Brown Lad at Naas with another Grade B success off top weight at this venue.
The handicapper has put Kilfenora up a further 9lb for that. If he’s able to live up to a career high mark of 152, that gives him claims of in the Boyne Hurdle.
Kilfenora is 11/4 with Unibet and another to consider with question marks over the trip for Magic Of Light and Penhill.
Thyestes third Minella Fair taken for Ten Up Novice Chase
A trappy renewal of the 3m Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase is the other big race on the card (16:00).
While a case can be made for most, Minella Fair ran a huge race in defeat when third in open company last time out.
Although the oldest in the line-up aged nine, Noel Meade’s charge has some eye-catching place form in the book.
Minella Fair chased home Magic Of Light on his debut under Rules in a bumper here back in November 2017.
After winning twice over hurdles, he shaped well enough on his chase bow when sixth to subsequent Irish Grand National hero Burrows Saint at Gowran Park.
Minella Fair showed the benefit of that experience to resume winning ways on reappearance despite his saddle slipping. He stayed on well and easily accounted for Cracking Smart at Limerick.
The son of Flemensfirth was then far from disgraced when third over an inadequate trip behind Real Steel and Secret Investor at Down Royal.
As the winner trounced Footpad in another Grade 2 at Thurles and runner-up chased home Native River in the Denman Chase at Newbury last time out, the form looks solid.
Minella Fair was next fourth to Battleoverdoyen – a winner at the highest level since – in the Florida Pearl at Punchestown.
Although pulled-up in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he got hampered four out.
He showed that running to be all wrong when third to Total Recall and reversing Florida Pearl form with Ex Patriot in the Grade A Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last month.
Minella Fair was only beaten seven lengths and the winner was a previous scorer of the Ladbrokes Trophy. On that basis, he is worth chancing at 100/30 with BetVictor for the Ten Up Novice Chase.
Francin fancied to break maiden tag on Boyne Hurdle day at fourth attempt
Francin is a strong fancy to get her first win over the obstacles in the second division of the 2m maiden hurdle (14:20).
Trained by Willie Mullins for Rich and Susannah Ricci, this French import has required tender handling.
The seven-year-old spent 696 days on the sidelines after being beaten a length into third on her Irish debut at Leopardstown.
After so long off the track, Francin was entitled to need the run when he made his return to action here in November.
He took a step forward from that last time out when a two-length third to Cobbler’s Way.
That race over 2m 4f at Leopardstown has thrown up a couple of subsequent scorers in runner-up Sempo and the fourth horse home, The Big Getaway.
The winner has also since put up a career-best effort when pitched into Grade 1 company and staying on to be second behind Latest Exhibition at the Dublin Racing Festival.
With the form looking strong, it’s now the turn of Francin to advertise it.
This Air Chief Marshal gelding should handle this trip and going based on his wins in French bumpers. Francin has obvious claims of getting his head in front here.
