The feature on Sunday is Navan’s Troytown Handicap Chase. One of the top staying handicaps of the season, our editors have analysed the race and its field, alongside an exclusive offer from Sky Bet, who are offering £20 In Free Bets to new customers, when you bet £5.
History
Run over three miles, the Troytown is one of the big staying handicaps run in Ireland. It is named after the 1920 Grand National winner, Troytown, one of the top performers over jumps in the early 20th Century.
It is appropriate that the race takes its name after such a horse, as it has provided an excellent starting point for Grand National candidates in recent years. Though disappointingly pulled up in 2016, Cause Of Causes debuted here before finishing runner-up to One For Arthur at Aintree, while Magic Of Light was third here in 2018 before finishing second behind Tiger Roll.
Moreover, there has been a significant upsurge in the quality of winners in the past five renewals. Both Tout Est Permis and Chris’s Dream won Grade 2s after kickstarting their seasons here, while Empire Of Dirt would be runner-up in the Irish Gold Cup.
For a competitive handicap such as this, it has also favoured those closer to the head of the market. Favourites have taken the last two renewals, while only one horse priced greater than 12/1 has prevailed in the last decade.
This Year’s Field
Former winner Tout Est Permis is back and heads the weights. He has slipped to a mark of 150, the maximum allowed in this contest, though that is still 12lbs above his winning mark from three years ago. He has also won just one race since.
Not that his owners will have to solely rely upon him. Gigginstown run six of the 17 strong field and with J.P. McManus responsible for a further two, half the field belong to the behemoths of Irish racing.
Among the Gigginstown contingent are Farclas and Run Wild Fred. Both were competitive in handicap chases throughout last season and each gave excellent accounts in Grand Nationals: the former was fifth at Aintree, while the latter was runner-up in the Irish equivalent. Yet a significant blot for them both is that neither managed to win one. Both clearly stay very well and each could easily make a big step forward this season as they are both only seven years old. Defi Bleu, Eleazar Des Neiges and Soldier At War are the others for the team in maroon.
For McManus, Top Moon and Uisce Beatha both have elements of recent form that would see them challenge. Top Moon had previously looked more adept at shorter trips, but was an excellent third in the Munster National last time. Uisce Beatha meanwhile has much more of a winning habit than any of the previously named. He has won three of his last eight starts, including last time out at Listowel, for which he has been raised only 3lbs.
Of last year’s principles, Discordantly is the only one to reappear. He was fourth off 4lbs higher a year ago and won readily on his first start last season. There will also be big staying plans for Mister Fogpatches this season, while the impression created by Lord Royal on his first ever run for Willie Mullins clearly still lives in the memory. He is still only a six-year-old and if there were to be a horse who could develop into a Grade 1 challenger this season, it might be him.
Big Race Verdict
There is a big race in FARCLAS, potentially even bigger than this, but he was still travelling well in the Kerry National in September when unseating. A mark of 148 might still underestimate him. Run Wild Fred has a very similar profile, while Discordantly could go well fresh again.
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