The current bad weather has necessitated a programme re-jig and the outcome is a Navan Monday card with an 11.30 morning start featuring the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase.
Along with the Grade Three mares chase, the €47,500 Hilly Way has been moved from Cork after the Mallow track was cancelled due to flooding for a second successive Sunday.
That was the most dramatic outcome to a weather-hit weekend which saw Saturday’s Tramore fixture abandoned after five races because of waterlogging.
Navan itself passed a Sunday morning inspection but no problems are anticipated with the Co. Meath course running back-to-back fixtures.
“The weather has dried up and we have a good looking card for Monday so we will be fine,” said the Navan manager, Peter Killeen.
All five original Hilly Way declarations stand their ground for Navan and although heavy going conditions will hardly be ideal for Felix Yonger he can still record back-to-back wins in the two-mile highlight.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins praised Horse Racing Ireland's move to reschedule the three pattern races originally scheduled for Cork with the Grade Three novice hurdle moved to Clonmel on Wednesday.
“I’m delighted these races are on. The sort of horses running in them have only a certain number of races they can contest so it’s important they’re run,” Mullins said.
A stamina test should be right up Black Hercules's street when he makes his eagerly-awaited debut over fences in the Beginners Chase at Navan.
The Wylie owned star failed to deliver on some major expectations in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March but he has always been highly regarded at home and should be hard to beat.
Misdflight is almost a stone higher in ratings but gets an extra quarter mile in the handicap hurdle compared to his impressive Fairyhouse victory last month and can grind out another success for Denis Hogan.
Ball d'Arc impressively won a bumper at Thurles last month and can step up again in the opening maiden hurdle while Kicking King's half-sister Whistle Dixie should appreciate a longer trip in the mares maiden.
