Get Into The Black With Chocolat At Navan

Likewise had very little luck for us earlier this week at Fairyhouse, badly hampered on the inside when still travelling well and losing all chance of hitting the frame. It is interesting that Adrian Murray turns her out again quickly at Navan tomorrow, and she wouldn’t be without a chance if those exertions haven’t left a mark. She was allowed to come home in her own time and didn’t have a hard race at Fairyhouse, so a big run would come as no surprise.

Johnny Murtagh's horses are running well.

However, though I was very tempted to put her up again (I will definitely be having a small e/w bet at 20s) I have decided to plump for another one in the 13f handicap at 15.00 instead. Chocolat Noir ran a cracker here over course and distance (gd) off a mark of 73 back in April on just her second handicap start, after running a lovely race at Leopardstown on her handicap debut off the same mark (10f soft).

Murtagh decided to have another crack at a maiden down in Roscommon last time (12f gd) and she found just one too good in the shape of Zamira. There was no disgrace in that reversal though, as the winner went on to score on her handicap debut at Tipperary next time out off 78. She was 2.5L too good for Chocolat Noir that day, so on a literal reading of that form she must have a good chance off her revised rating of 74.

The form of her 3rd placed finish here on her penultimate start has also been boosted since. She was only a length behind the winner Pirolo that day and she was conceding a whopping 19lb to the Bolger horse who won off a mark of 54. He scored again on his next turf start at Fairyhouse off 4lb higher, so the form looks solid in the context of Saturday’s race.

Johnny Murtagh has his string in fine fettle at the moment, and his form figures for his last 8 runners read 27732333. He has been knocking on the door in recent weeks, and it should be sooner rather than later that he gets back into the winner’s enclosure. Dusty Foley takes over in the saddle, and he will be eager to get his first winner on the board for Murtagh. Trip, ground and draw all look ideal for this 4yo daughter of Yeats, and at odds of 16/1 Chocolat Noir is well worth backing each way.

STEVOS SELECTION: 15.00 NAVAN-CHOCOLAT NOIR E/W @ 16/1