1:32 Navan
A 21-runner handicap over 5.5f at Navan on yielding ground looks a competitive but wide-open affair at this level. The KTB Fit ratings identify a clear top five with Another Nice'day heading the numbers on 63, followed by Eschweiler on 59, Friendly Invoice on 56, Carrigans Grove on 54 and Step Back In Time on 52. Several runners bring placed course form or respectable records on the surface, yet the majority are limited performers with patchy recent efforts. The race will test both course and trip credentials while the genuinely-run pace shape should ensure a fair test.
How the race shapes up
With a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types the pace shape is genuinely run and should provide a fair test. Eschweiler is the obvious leader from his wide draw, with Another Nice'day, El Fontenaro, Coincidental Glory, Rodeeve, One Cool Bear, Sand Art, Whatswrongnow and Micasso all inclined to race prominently or handy. Held-up runners such as Friendly Invoice, Carrigans Grove, Raven's Call and several others will be looking to come from further back once the pace intensifies. The key question is whether the prominent group can dictate matters or if the race will be won by something coming from off the pace in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Another Nice'day KTB Selection63/100
Another Nice'day is the KTB Selection. This limited class performer has won once from three runs at Navan and is placed once from three starts on yielding ground. Recent form has been ordinary, featuring a string of midfield finishes after a placed effort earlier in the year. The trainer posts a 15% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 1.58 from 27 runs, while the jockey has a 50% strike rate at the track from just six rides with an A/E of 7.39. Stepping up in trip today from the widest draw of all adds its own questions, yet the selection's course-winning record and the trainer-jockey combination keep it at the head of the KTB Fit ratings on 63.
-
2Eschweiler59/100
Eschweiler is a modest performer who has failed to build on an encouraging handicap debut second at this track last summer. Dropping back to an untried 5f presents a fresh question and the wide draw in stall 16 adds difficulty. The trainer continues in solid form at Navan with a 29% strike rate and A/E of 1.81 from seven runs, but the jockey's modest 7% strike rate here from 141 rides tempers expectations. This front-runner tends to make the running or race on the pace and is rated second in the KTB Fit figures on 59.
-
3Friendly Invoice56/100
Friendly Invoice is a limited horse who won over this trip as a 2yo but has struggled since, finishing well beaten on both starts this year. He has only one previous run at Navan, when tenth, and one on yielding ground, both without placing, so those conditions remain unproven. The trainer has a solid 12% strike rate at Navan from 17 runs, though the trainer-jockey combination shows 0% from six runs with an A/E of 0. Held up in rear and producing its effort late, Friendly Invoice sits third in the KTB Fit ratings on 56.
-
4Carrigans Grove54/100
Carrigans Grove is a limited horse who has shown only modest form this year and is now 0-23 since his sole win. He has run well enough here before, finishing fourth on his only visit, and has placed twice from three starts on yielding ground, so conditions should suit. The trip is also within range for this held-up performer. The trainer has an 18% strike rate with the jockey from 184 runs and a 9% strike rate at Navan from a large sample, placing the horse fourth in the KTB Fit figures on 54.
-
5Step Back In Time52/100
Step Back In Time is a limited performer who has won four times from 16 starts at Navan and also has two wins from nine runs on yielding ground. He has won at today's trip and the trainer holds a solid 12% strike rate here from 69 runs with an A/E of 1.77. Recent form of 903008 suggests he is not in his best form at present for this mid-division runner. The combination of course and ground records keeps him in the conversation on a KTB Fit rating of 52.
-
6Gonirianbotharleat52/100
Gonirianbotharleat is a limited performer who has shown very little in three starts this year after a poor debut. Dropping back to an untried 5f poses a fresh question while the trainer has a solid 15% strike rate from 27 runs at Navan. This held-up runner remains unproven on yielding ground.
-
7Alnofoor51/100
Alnofoor is a limited horse who has won once from five runs at Navan and steps back up to a trip where he has scored once from eight starts. He showed useful form earlier this year with two wins from his first three outings but has finished down the field on his last two starts. The trainer has a modest 3% strike rate from 59 runs at this track while the jockey is aboard on yielding ground where the horse is 0 from 1. This mid-division runner sits on a KTB Fit of 51.
-
8El Fontenaro51/100
El Fontenaro is a limited horse who has shown bits of form this year but has failed to win in 22 starts. He has run twice at Navan without placing and now steps up in trip on yielding ground where he is completely unproven. This prominent runner is trained by Jarlath P Fahey who has a 7% strike rate from 129 runs at this track and is rated 51 on KTB Fit.
-
9Coincidental Glory49/100
Coincidental Glory is a modest performer who has been placed without winning on his last three starts including two seconds over this course. He steps up in trip today having shown placed form at it already and has handled yielding ground in the past. This prominent runner is ridden by a 5lb claimer and the trainer operates at a 5% strike rate here from a large sample.
-
10Raven's Call46/100
Raven's Call is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts to date and was well beaten on his only visit to this track. First-time headgear is now applied as he steps back up to 5f. This held-up runner is trained by Edward Lynam who has an 8% strike rate from 424 runs at Navan while W. J. Lee has a solid record at the venue.
-
11Rodeeve45/100
Rodeeve is a limited performer who has shown occasional spark but is largely out of form. Has placed once from a single run at Navan and is 1 from 3 at today's trip, while he has also been competitive on yielding ground. This prominent runner's trainer is 0-10 at the track.
-
12One Cool Bear45/100
One Cool Bear is a limited performer who has shown little at Navan in three runs here. Steps up in trip today having been placed once at this distance without winning, though he has failed to place on yielding ground in two previous attempts. This prominent runner's trainer has a modest 5% strike rate at the track.
-
13Aboveheronlysky43/100
Aboveheronlysky is a limited performer who has shown very little in five starts since returning from a long break. She has placed once at this trip and was third of 14 over course and distance on her penultimate run, but that remains her only worthwhile effort. This held-up runner's trainer has a poor record at Navan.
-
14Amazing Force42/100
Amazing Force is a limited performer who has been well beaten in all four starts including two runs at this track. The yard's modest 3% strike rate at Navan adds little encouragement. This held-up runner has a trip that remains unproven.
-
15Ukiyo42/100
Ukiyo is a limited performer who has shown bits of ability without winning in a while. Has placed once from three runs at Navan and holds a solid record on yielding ground with one win and a placing from three starts. This mid-division runner steps up in trip today while the trainer remains winless from 21 runs at this track.
-
16Sand Art41/100
Sand Art is a limited performer who has shown little lately but did win over this trip on yielding ground earlier in the season. First run at Navan so that side is unknown. This prominent runner's trainer records a steady 8% strike rate here from 74 runs.
-
17Whatswrongnow39/100
Whatswrongnow is a limited horse who has shown the odd bit of form but remains winless after 38 starts. Placed twice from five runs at Navan and has also placed on yielding ground, though he is dropping back sharply in trip from a wide draw today. This prominent runner's trainer is 0-5 at the track while the jockey maintains a solid 10% strike rate here from a large sample.
-
18Micasso38/100
Micasso is a limited performer who has shown little spark this year and arrives in poor form. Has placed over C&D and on this ground but the yard's record here is weak and the drop back from a mile asks a fresh question. This prominent runner sees Ben Coen improve matters slightly with a solid 9% strike rate at Navan.
-
19Gold Inn36/100
Gold Inn is a limited performer who has shown very little in seven starts to date. The yard's modest record at Navan adds little encouragement. This mid-division runner is stepping up in trip while the small sample makes the ground an unknown.
-
20Plushy34/100
Plushy is a limited performer who has struggled this season and finished a remote 19th on his only visit to Navan. Steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on two of four attempts, though he remains unproven on yielding ground. This held-up runner's trainer has failed to land a winner from seven runs at the track.
-
21Emily's Boy34/100
Emily's Boy is a limited performer who has struggled in all six career starts and finished well beaten on both previous visits to Navan. The yard's 0% strike rate from 13 runs at the track adds to the negatives while the wide draw in stall 17 is no help. This held-up runner has a trip that looks fine on paper yet he has achieved little over it so far.
KTB verdict
Another Nice'day is the clear KTB Selection. This course winner brings the best fit on the numbers, a placed effort on yielding ground and the benefit of a trainer-jockey partnership that has performed strongly at Navan. While the widest draw and step up in trip introduce unknowns, the selection's ability to race prominently should see him involved in a genuinely-run race. The main dangers are Eschweiler, who can make the running, and the course-placed Carrigans Grove and Coincidental Glory, along with Step Back In Time who boasts a strong Navan record. The race looks likely to be decided in the final furlong once the prominent runners have been asked to quicken.
KTB Selection Another Nice'day
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 21 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Another Nice'day | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Eschweiler | 40/1 | BetTom |
| Friendly Invoice | 50/1 | Bet365 |
| Carrigans Grove | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Step Back In Time | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Gonirianbotharleat | 66/1 | BoyleSports |
| Alnofoor | 8/1 | BetTom |
| El Fontenaro | 6/1 | BoyleSports |
| Coincidental Glory | 4/1 | BetTom |
| Raven's Call | 33/1 | BetTom |
| Rodeeve | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| One Cool Bear | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Aboveheronlysky | 40/1 | Bet365 |
| Amazing Force | 66/1 | BetTom |
| Ukiyo | 12/1 | BoyleSports |
| Sand Art | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Whatswrongnow | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Micasso | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Gold Inn | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Plushy | 50/1 | BetTom |
| Emily's Boy | 20/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 1:32 Navan. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Navan racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Navan results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Navan racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Navan among the principals?
Step Back In Time has won four times from 16 starts at Navan.
How does the pace shape influence the prominent runners in this race?
A front-runner is likely to be pressed by several handy types in a genuinely-run, fair test, which should suit the prominent runners including Eschweiler, Another Nice'day, El Fontenaro and Coincidental Glory.
Which runner brings the best recent placed form at this course?
Coincidental Glory has been placed without winning on his last three starts including two seconds over this course.
Who has the highest trainer strike rate at Navan in the entire field?
Barry J Fitzgerald has a 29% strike rate at Navan from seven runs with Eschweiler.
Which horse is stepping up in trip having previously won over this distance?
Sand Art won over this trip on yielding ground earlier in the season.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies