Bryony Frost makes Navan debut as Irish Grand National winner bids to maintain unbeaten record for trainer Tom Gibney

With a huge prize-pool of almost triple what is on offer for the Grade 2 novice hurdle earlier on the card, it is hardly surprising to see a hugely competitive field fight it out for a winner's cheque of €59,000, headed by Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles. 

The grey is unbeaten for Tom Gibney and 16-1 second favourite for the 2025 Grand National. He will try to exploit a 10lb lower hurdles mark of 141 on his first start since that famous success in the Easter Monday marathon at Fairyhouse. Bryony Frost takes the mount on what will be her first ride at Navan. 

Gordon Elliott runs seven and perhaps the most interesting is My Trump Card, who won his bumper and maiden hurdle at Navan, and an opening handicap mark of 128 looks lenient, especially with Carl Millar taking off 7lb. 

We'llhavewan was a decisive winner of this race last year for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, who team up with the novice Paggane this time. He's relatively unexposed and looks an out-and-out stayer. 

Good Time Jonny hasn't won since landing the Pertemps Final in 2023. The knock-on effect of that is a mark 6lb lower than he won off at Cheltenham and Josh Williamson has been booked to take off 7lb. He's extremely dangerous in a race like this in which the long home straight will suit. 

What they say 

Tom Gibney, trainer of Intense Raffles
We've had this hurdle race in mind for him for quite a while. Three miles and one around Navan with some cut in the ground is just about perfect for him, so I'd be hoping he can give a good account of himself. He's been back in training a good few weeks at this stage and he looks great.

Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles with his trainer Tom GibneyCredit: Patrick McCann

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Lucky Lyreen, Minella Sixo, My Trump Card, Prends Garde A Toi, Fortunedefortunata, Beaufort Scale and Slanagaibhgoleir
It's a brilliant pot so we're running plenty. Prends Garde A Toi is a nice young horse who will be a nice three-mile chaser in time. I think this race will suit him and hopefully he's not too badly handicapped. My Trump Card was supposed to run in the Albert Bartlett last year, but he got a late setback and missed the race. I'd like to think he has a nice future ahead of him. Lucky Lyreen has ability and is capable of playing a part in a race like this, while Fortunedefortunata is a course winner who has got some decent form in hot handicaps. Beaufort Scale and Slanagaibhgoleir have nice low weights with claimers riding. Minella Sixo is unexposed.

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Digby
He's been chasing, but he has some decent hurdles form from a while ago and hopefully can run well.

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