Autumn racing in Ireland gathers momentum at Navan Racecourse on 22 October 2025, where seven races unfold between 14:12 and 17:32 under the stewardship of Horse Racing Ireland. The card, rich in prize money and variety, offers both the thrill of emerging talent and the seasoned craft of handicappers. Across five and six-furlong sprints to stamina-testing stays, the afternoon promises competitive fields and unpredictable finishes — everything that makes Navan such a fascinating circuit.
Opening Drama: The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden (14:12 – €18,000 – 5f180yds)
The day opens with a €18,000 test for two-year-olds, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, run over five furlongs and 180 yards. It’s often a launchpad for progressive juveniles, and this renewal carries similar intrigue.
Michael’s Well, under C.D. Hayes for Eddie & Patrick Harty, represents an experienced combination. Niobium Power (S. Foley, W.P. Browne) could add early speed to the race, while Ocean’s Breath (C.T. Keane, G.M. Lyons) brings pedigree and polish.
Pints in Peace (B.M. Coen, Daniel McLoughlin) and Dubai Opulence (W.M. Lordan, Natalia Lupini) step up from smaller stables, each seeking a slice of black-type potential. The Harty stable’s entry might hold the edge, but this maiden rarely runs to script.
Competitive Sprints: The Christmas Parties at Navan Racecourse Handicap (14:47 – €10,000 – 5f180yds)
The festive-named second race, the Christmas Parties at Navan Racecourse Handicap, is a €10,000 five-furlong sprint that packs local favourites and seasoned sprinters.
Velvet Skies (B.M. Coen, Michael Mulvany) has been knocking on the door in similar company, while Only Spoofing (S. Coen, Kevin Thomas Coleman) has both experience and tactical pace. Sister Lily (J.J.G. Ryan, R.P. Burns) and Distillate (A. Caffrey, Adrian McGuinness) keep the field honest, with Art of Unity (N. Burns, Aidan Melia) expected to race prominently. This is one for punters who prefer heart-stopping finishes — a hallmark of Navan’s sharp early-season handicaps.
Juvenile Promise: The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (15:22 – €18,000 – 5f)
The next juvenile contest, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, carries another €18,000 purse and runs over five furlongs. Bad Boy Rizz (C.T. Keane, Ross O’Sullivan) and Ennoble (D. Browne McMonagle, Joseph Patrick O’Brien) stand out on paper, both from leading connections who know how to ready two-year-olds for Navan’s climbing finish.
Neebrook (W.J. Lee, Adrian Murray) and Tertre Rouge (R. Whearty, Gavin Cromwell) bring strong recent runs into the mix, while Cluain Peata (A.J. Slattery, Andrew Slattery) rounds out a field brimming with potential. With several top stables represented, this could prove a defining race for late-season juveniles.
Festival Build-Up: The Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets Maiden (15:57 – €12,000 – 5f)
The mid-card Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets Maiden (5f, €12,000) doubles as a prelude to the November festival, showcasing emerging sprinters.
Astute Power (B.M. Coen, Edward Lynam) is well-bred for speed, while Lunigiana (W.J. Lee, W. McCreery) continues her gradual improvement. Edmond Halley (D. Browne McMonagle, Kieran P. Cotter), Bint Elnadim Star (C.T. Keane, Stephen Thorne), and Glory To Be (W.M. Lordan, M.C. Grassick) all bring claims depending on how the ground rides. It’s a tightly knit race — one that could easily produce future handicap winners.
Mid-Afternoon Clash: The Final Fence Marquee Hospitality Handicap (16:30 – €13,000 – 5f)
The Final Fence Marquee Hospitality Handicap, worth €13,000, offers another sprint opportunity over 5 furlongs.
Amicitia (C. Geerdharry, J.P. Murtagh) seeks a return to form, while Arklow Lad (D.P. McDonogh, Kieran P. Cotter) boasts recent consistency. Tommy McJohn (L.F. Roche, Aidan Melia) and Dark Ace (A. Caffrey, Adrian McGuinness) are dangerous if the pace collapses, with White Clover (G.F. Carroll, Joseph G. Murphy) providing depth to a compact but quality field. Tactics will decide this one — those who judge the hill best may have the final say.
Late Afternoon Prospects: The Sign Up to GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden (17:02 – €12,000, 1m6f)
The Sign Up to GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden at 17:02, valued at €12,000, provides a late opportunity for unexposed three-year-olds and older horses.
Boxing Great (R.C. Colgan, Karl Thornton) brings solid experience, while Forever Frankie (J.A. Heffernan, Michael G. Cleary) continues his progression. Icare Desbois (C.T. Keane, David Harry Kelly) and Saji (B.M. Coen, Noel Meade) are intriguing improvers, and Dippedinmoonlight (G.F. Carroll, Emmet Mullins) could surprise on debut if fit. This race often serves as a learning curve — watch for future winners emerging quietly here.
The Stayers’ Finale: The Sign Up to GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap (17:32 – €10,000 – 1m6f)
The meeting concludes with the Sign Up to GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap, a €10,000 staying contest over 1 mile and 6 furlongs.
Boola Times (D.J. O’Connor, David Kenneth Budds) is proven at the trip, while Gordons Aura (C. Cusack, William Delahunty) appeals as a grinder who thrives on testing ground. Maxwell Smart (R. Whearty, T.G. McCourt) could dictate the pace, with Charlie Brow’n (W.M. Lordan, T.J. O’Mara) and God The Highness (S.T. McCullagh, Mrs. John Harrington) rounding off a field that encapsulates Navan’s signature endurance test. It’s a fitting closer — part stamina, part strategy, and always a spectacle on this rising ground.
Irish Racing’s Late-Season Pulse
This Navan Racecourse Preview captures more than form — it tells the story of an Irish track that tests courage and conditioning. From juvenile debuts to staying handicaps, the 22 October fixture stands as a celebration of variety and training depth within Horse Racing Ireland’s framework.
With competitive prize money totalling nearly €95,000 and a field list mixing emerging and familiar names, Navan’s autumn meeting remains a vital step for horses aiming toward higher grades as the flat season winds down. For more information stay updated with Racebuzz.
