BECTIVE STUD IS JUST THE JOB FOR BOB

AFTER a helter skelter couple of weeks of Grade One action in Ireland the pace slows down a little this weekend at Navan today and Cork tomorrow.

- BY BRIAN FLANAGAN

There is a very competitive €100,000 Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle at Navan today, and after selling a filly for €5 million at the sales this week, trainer Jessica Harrington can bank more in her Christmas kitty with ASHDALE BOB (inset, 1.42).

The 10-year-old was a winner of the Grade Two on this card in 2020 and returns to a venue he likes with a good each-way chance of rolling back the years for Harrington and jockey Sean Flanagan.

Last seen running in the Galway Plate over fences, his last win came in a Grade Three at Galway last year, but he's a horse with plenty of experience in better races than this in both codes.

He was once rated as high as 153 after finishing runner-up in a Grade One at Leopardstown and the handicapper has given him a real chance here off 13ibs lower.