IT’S SHOWTIME

SUCCESSFUL, off a favourable mark, over hurdles on this track last time - Showurappreciation might take plenty of beating in today's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase in Navan.

- BY PETER O'HEHIR

Trained by Jonathan Sweeney, this eightyear-old won a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle almost three years ago and, in December, produced a solid effort when finishing third to The Lovely Man over this course and distance, an encouraging handicap chase debut.

He built on that effort when landing the Sky Bet Amateur National at Punchestown in January, helped by an ultra-confident ride from the inimitable Derek O'Connor, to beat Ney readily.

That performance earned Showurappreciation a 10lb rise in his chase mark, So it wasn't surprising that connections opted to take advantage of his lower hurdle mark (112) in a handicap hurdle in Navan for his most recent start.