Noble Endeavor looks tasty in Troytown at Navan
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Noble Endeavor ticks all the right boxes in Troytown Chase
The big betting race on Sunday is the 3m Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan (14.20) and Noble Endeavor looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the spoils.
Trained by in-form Irish handler Gordon Elliott, the gelding was a smart hurdler who finished a cracking head second of 21 to Killultagh Vic in the 2015 running of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 140.
After shaping with promise when placed in his first two starts over fences last season, Noble Endeavor opened his account over the larger obstacles with a comfortable 2 1/2 length success at Down Royal.
The seven-year-old then ran very well to finish a five length runner-up to Measureofmydreams in a Grade 2 at this venue and was six lengths down and still in contention when falling two from home in the 4m National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after being heavily backed.
Eye-catching prep run
Noble Endeavor was then clearly amiss when pulled-up on his final outing of the campaign in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival but put in a very eye-catching effort on return to action in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at this track earlier in the month.
After being held-up detached at the rear and seemingly never going to be a factor, he stayed on to be nearest at the finish and an 11 length fifth of seven to Snow Falcon.
Noble Endeavor only just failed to snatch fourth under very tender handling and it was clear that he was being prepped for this assignment.
The son of Flemensfirth now reverts to the larger obstacles off a mark of 141 and that looks very exploitable on the pick of his form given that he was rated as high as 147 over hurdles.
Plotted-up to land punt
Elliott also knows what is required to win the race having saddled Balbriggan and Riverside City to land the last two runnings and, although he saddles an incredible 11 of the 25 runners in this year’s renewal, Noble Endeavor looks the clear pick.
The County Meath-based handler loves nothing more to lay one out for a valuable pot and land a punt, and Noble Endeavor looks to have been plotted-up for this.
He has also been shrewd in running top weight Cause Of Causes, as it means that the selection is able to race off a nice weight of 11st 1lb.
Noble Endeavor is also versatile as regards ground and everything suggests he is the one to beat.
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