2026 Troytown Handicap Chase Tips - Best bets at Navan on Sunday
Croke Park is tipped for the 2026 Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan, standing out as a value selection due to his significant drop in handicap mark from 154 to 143 after a series of defeats. The former two-time Grade One winner has valuable course form, having previously won the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan and Grade One races over fences. Despite a challenging recent campaign, Croke Park has already raced this season and will carry a manageable weight of 10-13, making him a notable contender in a strong field.
- Odds and tips for the 2026 Troytown Handicap Chase
- This prestigious handicap takes place at Navan on Sunday 15th November
- Croke Park features in our selections
As British fans focus on Greatwood Hurdle day at Cheltenham, Irish eyes will look to Navan on Sunday as the County Meath racecourse stages its popular Troytown Handicap Chase day. Many top-class chasers have won the Troytown, and a strong field looks set to contest Sunday's renewal.
We've taken a look through the betting for the 2026 Troytown and picked out our top two betting tips.
2025 Troytown Handicap Chase Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| The Wallpark | 5/1 |
| The Enabler | 11/2 |
| Win Some Lose Some | 6/1 |
| Better Days Ahead | 8/1 |
| Sportinthepark | 10/1 |
| Bar | 12/1 |
2026 Troytown Handicap Chase Runners
Seven of the last 12 renewals of the Troytown have been won by Gordon Elliott. Jack Kennedy has opted to ride The Wallpark, who has been backed into favouritism, despite placing just once in six starts over fences last season. Danny Gilligan guided Coko Beach to victory three years ago, and he rides the returning The Enabler.
Mark Walsh dons the JP McManus colours to partner Win Some Lose Some for Padraig Roche. Sam Ewing and Noel Meade team up with Sportinthepark. Harry Sexton takes seven pounds off the back of Kinturk Kalanisi. Simon Torrens rides a third JP McManus flagbearer, James Motherway's Uhavemeinstiches.
Gordon Elliott has summoned talented British claimer Lucas Murphy over to ride Better Days Ahead. Fellow seven-pound claimer Kevin Healy will ride Gordon's top weight Firefox. In fact, Elliott will saddle half of the 18-strong field, with Kish Bank, Croke Park, Patter Merchant, Will Do and Search For Glory also representing the local trainer.
Former Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles features in the final Troytown field. Other runners include He's Gorgeous for Peter Fahey, Paddy Butler's nine-year-old Da Capo Glory, Vaureal for Ian Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell's stalwart Perceval Legallois.
2026 Troytown Handicap Chase Tips
Given his record and the sheer size of his squad, you have to back at least one of Gordon Elliott's runners. The Wallpark and The Enabler are battling it out for favouritism, but Elliott has won this race with two 12/1 and two 20/1 shots in recent seasons. Any horse that he enters has a chance.
CROKE PARK (22/1) won the Monksfield Novice Hurdle on this card three years ago and began life over fences with a couple of Grade One victories. Elliott's gelding edged out Heart Wood to land the 2024 Drinmore before getting the better of stablemate Better Days Ahead to land the three-mile Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Croke Park didn't run badly at all when second to Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival, but after that effort, his progression came to a halt. Elliott's charge struggled at Aintree that season and was well beaten on all five of his starts during a difficult campaign off a rating in the mid-150s.
Unlike Elliott's other runners in Sunday's big handicap, Croke Park has already been seen this season. Jack Kennedy was in the saddle as Croke Park finished a distant second to Gorgeous Tom in a Grade Three at Punchestown before labouring home 70 lengths adrift of Haiti Couleurs in the Ladbrokes Champions Chase.
Croke Park has to arrest a run of nine straight defeats, but those losses have helped his handicap mark drop from 154 to 143. Jordan Gainford's mount is fit, boasts valuable course form and will shoulder a weight of just 10-13. 22/1 is too big a price for this former two-time Grade One winner.
Verdict
Croke Park is our sole selection in this year's Troytown Handicap Chase.
Croke Park E/W
2026 Troytown Handicap Chase Tip 1
@22/1 - 5 Units
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