Dragon Could Fire Now Upped In Trip At Navan

To say I was gutted after Honest Vic was beaten earlier is an understatement. The visor worked a treat, and as he jumped the last I was sure he was going to win. In my mind, there is no doubt he was interfered with on the run in and given that he was only beaten a head, I was shocked the places weren’t reversed. Still, we got our each way money at odds of 33/1 and I am reinvesting some of those winnings (wisely!) on a 50/1 poke at Navan on Sunday.

Shane Crawley and Donagh Meyler with Sassy Diva at Leopardstown.

Shane Crawley is a young trainer fast building a reputation for himself. He had a big handicap winner at the Dublin Racing Festival with Sassy Diva, and there is little doubt he is well able to train. He has had seven different horses run in Ireland this season, and four of them have won. Every single one of them has earned some prize money too, including my selection Dragon Houdini.

This daughter of Yeats, a top class sire, has shown bits and pieces of promise in her first four starts over hurdles. She has shaped as though 16f was too sharp for her in all her maiden hurdle runs, including when 4th in a maiden here at Navan (16f gd). Her handicap debut wasn’t a great effort at Fairyhouse last time, but that was again over 2 miles and today’s new 20f distance could really suit.

It isn’t just her run style that has suggested she wants further, her pedigree is all about staying power too. Her sire is an obvious stamina influence, while her half siblings Steps and Stairs and The Birdie Crowe have won seven races between them at up to 3 miles. Her dam is a half sister to 20f/24f winner Badgerlaw, so it all points towards Dragon Houdini needing a step up in distance to show her best.

Donagh Meyler has been on board for all of her runs so far and he rode Sassy Diva to victory for Crawley at Leopardstown. Dragon Houdini has already shown a glimmer of ability at Navan, while the forecast good ground shouldn’t inconvenience her either. This looks a pretty weak race, and off a mark of just 94 Dragon Houdini is worth a small each way interest at odds of 50/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 4.30 NAVAN – DRAGON HOUDINI E/W @ 50/1