Navan 15:05: Boylesports offer 5/1 racing odds on First Approach – 18th January 2020

Mullins' outsider Harrie worth a look

Horse Racing Betting

The 15:05 at Navan on Saturday is a Beginners Chase which offers some pretty strong prices for anyone looking to take on the favourite in the fixture. The favourite is Minella Indo who has been trading strongly at odds-on.

This is a 3m chase with 12 runners going off and it is for 5-year-olds plus. Will this be a walk in the Navan park that the bookmakers are clearly expecting this to be for Henry De Bromhead’s favourite?

Navan 15:05 Race Odds

Minella Indo 4/7
First Approach 5/1
Captain CJ 7/1
Ifyoucatchmenow 12/1
Cap York 16/1
Prince Of Scars 16/
Harrie 16/1
Salty Boy 20/1
Ministerforsport 20/1
The White Volcano 33/1
Jimmil 66/1
Boston Hill 100/1
* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm)


Horse Racing Betting at Bet365

A one-horse race for Minella Indo?

Seven-year-old Minella Indo has won over the distance before and has won a couple of hurdles at 3 before in his career. He was pushed into second place at 3/1 at Gowran Park in November on what was his chase debut.

That was an 8 length defeat against Lauarina. But overall a very strong debut from Henry De Bromhead’s charge. Two victories preceded that Gowran effort and Minella Indo is the clear one to beat in this field as the 4/7 odds-on favourite* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm)

Harrie E/W
16/1

Betfred

The immediate threats to the favourite

First Approach is up as a 5/1 option for the race* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm). He has won at the 3m distance before. He was up against Minella Indo in his last outing which was a Grade 1 hurdle in May last year, coming home fourth behind the winner at Punchestown.

The notable thing in that challenge was that there just wasn’t any extra gear from First Approach. But coming home fourth he did beat a lot of runners at shorter odds than he was, going at a 33/1 SP.

Captain Cj, a nine-year-old, has largely tested himself against classy fields and at no point has he really looked out of place. If you are prepared to overlook his fall after getting over the final jump at Punchestown in December in what was his last outing, then his form does stack up. Captain Cij placed in three straight races before that fall, showing consistent form after a Class 4 win at 2m 7f at Hexham in March.

Improvers to watch

Harrie came out for his chase debut at Fairyhouse over 2m 5f last month. He wasn’t disgraced with a finish of 5th of 10 in that debut. He was running with some patchy form before that with a fall and having pulled up at the same course. Trained by Willie Mullins, Harrie does look as if he has more in him.

As does If You Catch Me Now. She was a beaten favourite last time out when he lined up in a chase at Limerick. That was just in December last year and took fourth of six. She doesn’t look short of potential though and is just looking to push on after claiming a win at Fairyhouse at 2m 4f in January last year. She was in good form at this stage of the season twelve months ago.

At 12/1 and 16/1 respectively, Ifyoucatchmenow and Harrie both have strong claims for at least a place finish in this contest* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm).

Other Runners

The White Volcano couldn’t deliver as a 9/4 favourite at Down Royal in a chase in December but did place third. The 8-year-old has won two hurdles races up to 3m in his career.

Jimmil will be out of the first time after a change of stable. He has taken two-second place finishes in his last three runs, the latest of which was a point-to-point as 7/2 favourite. There’s not a great deal of inspiring form elsewhere in the field.

Predictions

Back at the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, First Approach was smashed by 30 lengths against the favourite for this race, Minella Indo. In his latest contrast with him, First Approach had closed the gap to a five-length loss. So the question is, can he improve further this time against him?

Captain Cj looks in steady form and has handled himself in some pretty decent company and can easily pick himself up after a fall on New Year’s Eve and as a 7/1 pick, ticks some boxes* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm).

In backing as an each-way option, it would have to be Harrie at 16/1 odds for Willie Mullins* (betting odds taken from Boylesports on January 17th, 2020 at 2:21 pm).. He had a pretty decent chase debut recently and in this kind of field looks as if he can push for a place

Boylesports Ascot & Navan Free Bet if 2nd to SP Favourite

Get a free bet from Boylesports if your selection finishes 2nd to the SP favourite in any race at Ascot or Navan on Saturday 18th January 2020. 18+. Max refund £/€20. The outright Betting market only. Singles only. Online Customers must opt-in to receive this offer. T&Cs apply. See bookmaker for full details. 18+ Please Gamble Responsibly.

Opt-in, and place a bet on any horse at Ascot & Navan, Saturday 18th January 2020.
If your horse finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite, we will refund your stake as a free bet

Key Terms & Conditions

Stake refunded as free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite at Ascot & Navan, Saturday 18th January 2020.
Online Customers must opt-in to receive this offer.
Max refund £/€20 per customer as a free bet.
Applies to Outright Betting only.
Applies to win singles & win part of e/w singles only.
Does not apply to ante-post bets.
Does not apply to Combined Odds.
Only first bet on each race qualifies for promotion.
If there are Joint/Co SP Favourites in the Race, both shall be deemed as an SP Favourite.
2nd place refund applies only to races with 5 or more runners.
Free bets and void bets do not qualify for this promotion.
Free bets will be applied within 24 hours and will expire after seven days.
Applies to UK and Ireland customers through all channels.