NAVAN PREVIEW:WITH JUST 19 race days to go in the 2010 Irish flat season, Joseph O'Brien is running out of time to make up the gap on both Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis in the apprentice jockey championship but the teenager could boost his chances considerably with seven rides at Navan today.
Aidan O’Brien’s son is currently on the 27-seven winner mark, six behind Carroll (33), with Curtis on 32.
He also faces a Turf Club hearing later in the month.
But this afternoon’s book looks ultra-promising, with his father supplying Table Mountain, who can reverse Curragh form with Eighteen Summers in the concluding maiden, while Prayer Book has a lot going for it in the five-furlong maiden.
O’Brien could also go close in the opening apprentice handicap aboard the veteran Mt Weather who should appreciate the drop back to five furlongs.
Pat Smullen is nine clear of Fran Berry as he chases a sixth senior jockeys title and should have something of a banker in the two-mile maiden aboard the Punchestown Champion Bumper-winner Hidden Universe.
Star National Hunt names of the past such as Hardy Eustace and Back In Front have won this race and Hidden Universe looks to be one of the most exciting novice hurdle prospects for the winter ahead.
