The Navan Race Preview for 15 November 2025 arrives with the familiar mood of early winter: mist hanging over the back straight, the ground edging towards soft, and a card shaped by uncertainty as much as promise. From 11:50am to the late-afternoon bumper, the meeting carries the rhythm of a mid-November test — the type that exposes flaws, rewards depth, and often dictates Ireland’s early-winter form.
Novices Searching for Shape – 11:50am
The day opens with the Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle (2m4f50y, €15,000), a race built more on potential than record. BRYSON set a steady standard, while Gordon Elliott unleashes a powerful trio in BUTTON ROCK, CLASSICAL CREEK, and COYOTE SPIRIT. ATTANAGH has the frame of a future stayer, but CLASSICAL CREEK’s more polished jumping may matter at Navan.
Handicap Depth Early in the Afternoon – 12:25pm
The Lisadell Equine Hospital 110 Series Final (2m4f50y, €25,000) offers the first serious tactical riddle. PAUL’S DREAM brings seasoned reliability, while KILLINURE LASS arrives as the late improver with more gears than her record shows. ARCH ENEMY and CLUB MANAGER profile as grinders suited to a race that rarely allows breathers. ITS NOT OVER YET stays honestly to the line, which often counts more at Navan than raw pace.
Handicap Hurdle Tension Builds – 1:00pm
The Hotel Park St. Johann In Tirol Handicap Hurdle (2m50y, €16,000) brings another layer of intrigue. RAGMANS CORNER keeps hinting at a big effort, BLACK BAMBOO suits the track’s stamina test, and SCALPNAGOON adds Elliott’s customary competitiveness. BALKO D’ANGE brings smooth tactical pace, while KILLANEY KING, lightly raced and quietly progressive, could be the one who finishes the season looking significantly.
Novice Hurdlers Face a True Examination – 1:35pm
The Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3, 2m50y, €35,000) often reveals a future graded performer. I’LL SORT THAT is an honest yardstick, while ACE BRANNIGAN brings more natural cruising speed. Elliott’s pair, MA JACKS HILL and THEFLYINGKING, offer contrasting profiles — one strong and measured, the other more aggressive at his obstacles. EYE OF A TIGER has hidden depth and often improves when pressure increases.
The Lismullen Hurdle Sets a Mid-Season Marker – 2:10pm
The Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle (2m4f50y, €50,000) anchors the middle of the card. THE YELLOW CLAY, reliable and strong, returns to a proven scene while MAXXUM benefits from a stronger gallop and deep ground. COLONEL MUSTARD brings class and unpredictability — he can change the shape of a race late if he gets a clean passage. GRANDERO BELLO adds a layer of intrigue, while JETARA, with Townend on board, brings a sharper turn of foot than most in the field.
The Fortria Chase — Where the Card Peaks – 2:45pm
The Fortria Chase (Grade 2, 2m, €50,000) rarely disappoints, and this year’s edition commands attention. MARINE NATIONALE returns to the two-mile division with his trademark calm brilliance. FOUND A FIFTY, tougher for last season’s battles, brings the weight of Elliott’s expectations. HERCULE DU SEUIL offers Willie Mullins a slick, intelligent counterpunch. SOLNESS keeps improving, while TOUCH ME NOT adds the wildcard element with unusual early speed.
Beginners Chase Points Toward the Future – 3:20pm
The Pat Sheils Memorial Beginners Chase (2m1f, €15,500) may not headline the day, but it frequently uncovers future staying chasers. ANOTHERWAY carries the foundations of a proper three-mile type, BALLYBOW has an engine worth monitoring, and BORN BRAVER rarely puts a foot wrong. HARVARD GUY stays honestly, while JIGORO looks the sort to improve with every fence.
A Raw Finale in the Bumper – 3:55pm
The Pro/Am Flat Race (2m50y, €15,000) closes the card with a look at the next wave of raw talent. DORIE MILLER and JET TO MONTE CARLO have polish, LE ROI DU LIVET brings French depth, LEMMY CAUTION carries the Elliott stamp, and LEONARD VALLIS represents a yard known for patient development.
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