Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 8th February 2026

Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Navan

Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle 1.50
Coyote Spirit
Well, this does look a good opportunity for Coyote Spirit to lose the maiden tag on his sixth start over the hurdles. He’s already run to some sort of standard here at Navan, finishing behind Road Exile, Copacabana and I started A Joke in December, and I do think that this drop back to two miles will help in this heavy going. To be sure this isn’t the strongest race on paper, but Charles Byrnes Muhaajim and stablemate Whinney Hill, who doesn’t look the easiest both appeal, but it’s Coyote Spirit getting my vote.

Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2.20
Zanoosh (nap)
Zanoosh is good value for this Mares Listed Hurdle, and in search of the hat-trick she is hard for me to look past. Her run here over course and distance on soft ground the last day suggests to me she’ll be fine on this ground now in a graded race, and I did think she won with a bit left in hand, so can justify her top rating to win this. Willie Mullins sends out Poetisa, who should come on for her run at Punchestown, so can get closer to I’ll Raise A Glass, and I suppose these three would be the top of my list. Next stop the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham if Zanoosh wins this, which I think she will.

William Hill Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.50
Staffordshire Knot (nb)
Gordon Elliott’s Shantou gelding didn’t line up at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend, but I’ll guess he’s fully tuned for this Grade 2 on Sunday. Second to Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee in the Galmoy Hurdle the last day, conditions are ideal and a win here would make it three from five this season, so I’m saying that Staffordshire Knot is the one to beat. But, both Hiddenvalleylake and Better Days Ahead are decent opponents, while last year’s winner, Maxxum beat my selection Thedevilscoachman last year, and could again try to take the race from the front. I’ll say that Maxxum will put plenty of pace on the front end, but Jack Kennedy can sit in behind on Staffordshire Knot and make his move going up the stiff finish.

William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase (Grade 2) 3.50
Oscars Brother
Yes, to be sure this is a tricky little contest to pull apart, but I’ll say it’s all about who can deal with the heavy going here at Navan, and still come out on top. So, I do think that the three principals are Wille Mullins’s Gold Dancer, Mouse Morris’s Bossofthebrownies and Connor King’s Oscars Brother, but it is Oscars Brother that has the armoury to win this given the ground. He was an impressive enough winner of the Florida Pearl Chase at Punchestown the last day, and with the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and the Grand National at Aintree both in the diary, I’ll be thinking this is his prep run for one of those big dates. Bossofthebrownies won’t be minding these conditions, but maybe doesn’t always want to finish the fight in my book, while I’m sure that Gold Dancer would probably prefer a better surface. It’s going to turn into a real test up Navan’s uphill finish, so with stamina the quality to win the day, I’ll be on Oscars Brother.

William Hill Bet 10 Get 5 On Irish Racing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 4.50
Luidgi Du Luy
As always, a bit of an open Flat Race to close the card at Navan. But, the one I really like the profile of is Emmet Mullins’ Luidgi Du Luy. Brought over from France when a fast finishing third in a Hurdle at Auteuil, I’m thinking that this heavy ground wouldn’t be an issue and with an excellent Amateur on board, every chance he can figure. Obvious others are Gordon Elliott’s Soul Asylum and Gavin Cromwell’s Begorra Man, but I’ll take my chance with Luidgi Du Luy.