A raw January chill will settle over County Meath on Saturday, January 17, but Navan Racecourse will be anything but quiet as it stages a demanding seven-race jumps programme from 12:10pm to 3:35pm. Midwinter racing at Navan has long carried a reputation for honesty and toughness, and this card will follow that tradition, headlined by the €45,000 Navan Handicap Hurdle, a race that will stand as the afternoon’s defining test of stamina, balance, and resilience.
Action will begin at 12:10pm with Race 1, The Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle, a 4yo+ contest over 2 miles featuring eight runners and nine hurdles. Carrying prize money of €16,000, the opener will immediately place an emphasis on fluency and early-season maturity, with novices required to settle quickly into rhythm on testing ground.
The tempo will rise at 12:45pm for Race 2, The NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle. Thirteen runners will line up over an extended 2m6f and 12 hurdles, competing for €12,000. With stamina coming into play so early in the day, this maiden hurdle will demand patience and jumping accuracy, particularly from less experienced contenders still learning their trade.
By 1:20pm, attention will turn fully to Race 3, the €45,000 Navan Handicap Hurdle. Open to 4yo+ runners, this 2m4f contest is expected to reward tactical awareness and controlled aggression, as jockeys balance pace against endurance on a track that rarely forgives mistakes in winter conditions.
Contenders: Balko d’Ange, Sa Fureur, Son Of Anarchy, Fad Eadrainn, Timeless Treaty, Hgranca De Thaix, Killaney King, Grimaud, The Nagger Reidy, Zanoosh, Catch The Beast, Cafe Con Leche, I A Connect
Race 4 at 1:50pm, The Ardmulchan Handicap Hurdle, will continue the staying theme. Eleven runners will tackle 2m4f40y for €11,500, a race that often suits battle-hardened types capable of sustaining pressure through the closing stages.
The card will then shift to the larger obstacles at 2:25pm with Race 5, the Beginners Steeplechase. Over a full three miles and 17 fences, nine runners will compete for €12,500. This race traditionally tests jumping technique above all else, especially for horses still adapting to fences at speed.
Stamina will again dominate at 3:00pm in Race 6, The Gormanlough Handicap Steeplechase. Fourteen runners will face the same three-mile trip and 17 fences, chasing €10,000. With depth in numbers, this contest is expected to place sustained pressure on both horse and rider.
The afternoon will conclude at 3:35pm with Race 7, The Racing Again February 8th (Pro/Am) Flat Race. Eight runners will contest the two-mile bumper for €10,000, offering a closing glimpse of emerging talent before the shadows lengthen over Navan.
Overall, Navan Racecards 17 January will promise a true winter examination. With varied distances, demanding obstacles, and a valuable feature hurdle anchoring the programme, the meeting will reflect everything midseason National Hunt racing stands for: toughness, patience, and the quiet drama of horses proving their mettle when conditions are at their most unforgiving.
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