Idas Boy (Bryan Cooper) winning at Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Noel Meade could be double handed in the Bar One Racing Troytown Chase at Navan this Sunday with Thedevilscoachman and Idas Boy both described as ‘probable runners’.
Thedevilscoachman has proved a great money-spinner for connections winning eight times including the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at this venue and was also successful twice in Grade 3 novice chases at Naas and Limerick last season.
Idas Boy is very lightly raced for a nine-year-old but the point-to-point winner did open his fencing account under Rules in a 2m4f Cork beginners chase last autumn before being sidelined for 12 months.
Meade, who won this €100,000 event with Tout Est Permis in 2018, said “Idas Boy had a few things hold him up but he’s a nice horse. He wouldn’t want the ground too heavy and has always looked like he’d be a chaser.
“They will probably both run, although we will have to see what the owners want to do. They are both in good shape.
“Idas Boy is also in at Wexford on Friday so we’ll see what’s in that and it could be an option.”
The Gordon Elliott yard could hardly be in better form following 11 winners at the recent two-meeting in Down Royal and will mount a big challenge in a bid to land this prize for a sixth time in the past decade.
The Cullentra operation has no less than 18 possibles among the 39 entries and is certain to be strongly represented.
“I could run 10 or 15 in the Troytown, I will run as many as I can,” said Elliott.
“It has been the plan all along for Hollow Games, I just hope it is a dry week and doesn't get too soft for him. Run Wild Fred could be dangerous as well.”
He added, “It is a massive weekend's racing in Navan and it is a very lucky track for me.”
