Asian Master and Thomas Costello winning at Thurles© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins runners have proved popular in the morning betting exchanges for today’s meeting at Navan with Asian Master and C’est Ta Chance attracting significant support.
Asian Master provided Thomas Costello with his first winner under Rules when taking a maiden hurdle at Thurles last month and the 22-year-old is again aboard in the opening Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle at 12.45pm.
The Belclare point-to-point winner has been backed from evens overnight into as short as 8/15 with Better Days Ahead friendless out to 100/30.
The Closutton yard are represented by C’est Ta Chance in the concluding bumper and the son of Elm Park, a point winner for Pat Doyle last year, is being backed as if defeat is out of the question.
Early quotes of 10/11 were quickly snapped up and he’s now as short as 4/9 favourite to beat five rivals.
The champion trainer has another short-priced favourite on the card in the shape of Minella Cocooner in the Jack Kiernans Celebrating 55 Years In Business Beginners Chase (3.05).
The 5/4 favourite probably has most to fear from Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief with Sandor Clegane a significant non-runner due to a stone bruise. Harvard Guy is sure to go off favourite as he bids for a course and distance hat-trick in the featured €45,000 Navan Handicap Hurdle at 1.55pm.
Trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty for JP McManus, the topweight is now a general 2/1 market leader (from 3/1), although Fortunedefortunata and Talk In The Park have also been backed.
