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Na Trachtalai Abu on course for the Troytown

Na Trachtalai AbuNa Trachtalai Abu
© Photo Healy Racing

James Motherway is confident Na Trachtalai Abu can sneak into the field for Sunday's Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.

The eight-year-old finished second in last month's Munster National at Limerick, beaten three-quarters of a length by Spider Web, and placed on his four previous starts.

While he needs a handful a runners to come out of the Navan feature to be sure of a run, Motherway, who won the Irish National in 2010 with Bluesea Cracker, is sure his charge will make the line-up.

He said: "He is fine, he came out of the Munster National well. It looked like everything had gone to plan with him there.

"Dylan (Robinson) gave him a great ride, and unfortunately for us JP’s (McManus) horse (Spider Web) just sprouted wings from the back of the last and nipped us on the line. That’s racing though, you have to take it on the chin.

"He is good form and we have kept him on the go because of the weather. He is predominantly a good ground horse. He is in the Troytown at the weekend and that is his main target. I have him in another race at Thurles on Thursday, but that’s just a back up plan.

"I think we need six or seven to come out at Navan, but I’m confident that we’ll get a run. All going well, he’ll go there on Sunday and put up a good show.

"I’m just hoping the rain stays away. I haven’t seen a ground report yet, but I’d imagine it’s pretty decent up there.

"We haven’t finalised riding arrangements yet, but I’d be hopeful Dylan might be able to sit on him again. He is a natural lightweight, he can do those lightweights easy."

While Motherway is eager for conditions to stay on the better side for Na Trachtalai Abu, he would like to see some rain for his other runners.

He added: “We have 15 on the go at the moment and have a good few young horses to run. Hopefully we will get some of them out in the next couple of weeks.

"The weather has held us up. We haven’t been able to get a few of them away on grass like we normally would. Hopefully after this weekend we will get some rain.

"It was great that Goodnightngodbless got her head in front over the summer. She has been a consistent filly. It might be another while before she is out again, but she is a nice filly to have and hopefully there is more left in her."