Navan report: The Big Dog runs out Troytown hero

The Big Dog pounced on a mistake at the last by Lifetime Ambition to follow up his Munster National success in the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan – and leave Peter Fahey dreaming of Aintree with his ever-improving nine-year-old.

Jessica Harrington’s runner-up had produced an exhibition of galloping and jumping in the hands of 7lb claimer Conor Smithers for the majority of the contest, leading the field along and still holding a length lead over his sole pursuer at the final obstacle.

However, with the petrol gauge flashing red, an untidy jump allowed Fahey’s 11-1 shot, who had been tracking the leader throughout, to storm clear on the run to the line in the hands of Keith Donoghue and defy the 8lb rise he received for winning at Limerick last month.

“I was telling the lads (Damien and Colin Kelly, owners) going to Limerick that he would improve a good bit from it but when he won, I was thinking how am I going to improve him from this,” said the winning trainer.

“He stepped up today and is a very lucky horse for me and the lads. It was a good performance today carrying the weight.

“The way he’s performing he could end up being a Grand National horse.”

Donoghue added: “I knew this lad stayed and I was glad to see a good pace in the race. He didn’t jump as well as he can today and the picture at the last won’t be great, but we got over it and I knew the finish here would suit.

“He’s a real stayer and was always going to keep finding for me. When he got to the front his ears were pricked, he’d loads left. It’s brilliant.”

The Davy Russell-ridden Death Duty finished best of the Gordon Elliott battalion in third, with stablemate Coko Beach in the hands of American champion jockey Parker Hendricks taking fourth.

Gordon Elliott’s Fil Dor dazzled on his chasing debut as the big clash between the 10-11 favourite and Saint Roi lived up to expectations.

Both jumped with precision as they turned the Boardsmill Stud Irish EBF Beginners Chase into a match by the time the field had passed the winning post for the first time and were heading out into the country.

Eventual third Gallant John Joe was the only one in the same parish by the time the Triumph Hurdle runner-up and Willie Mullins’ Champion Hurdle fourth entered the home straight matching strides.

There was still nothing between the pair two out, as Jack Kennedy aboard the winner and Mark Walsh on Saint Roi began to get animated in the saddle – and it was Fil Dor who was shading matters at the last before stretching out for a four-length success.

“Jack said it rode a proper race. He was foot perfect apart from one down the back that he landed on top of,” said Elliott.

“It’s great for Andy and Gemma (Brown, owners) who are here today. They don’t get over too often so it’s nice for them.

“You couldn’t but be happy with him and I’d imagine he’ll go to Leopardstown at Christmas.”

Kennedy said: “I was always very happy and down to the last he really pricked his ears. He can be a little bit lazy but he measured it up, popped over it and galloped away to the line.

“I pressed Saint Roi a bit after the fourth-last and tried to get him under pressure early. This lad stays very well so I was always happy that I had him covered.”

Paddy Power went 10-1 from 14s for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, while he is 16s from 33-1 with the same firm for the Turners Novices’ Chase over an extra half a mile.

There was further success on the card for the Cullentra House handler and Kennedy when Jungle Prose won the Bar One Racing Price Boosts Everyday Handicap Hurdle.

Elliott added: “It’s great that he’s won again. He’s owned by a bunch of local lads, all good friends, who will really enjoy this.

“He’s gone up 40lb and is going to go up a few pounds again.

“We’ll look at the valuable handicap here in a few weeks and maybe the Pertemps qualifier.”

Grangeclare West looks another hot prospect for Willie Mullins and owners Cheveley Park following an impressive display on hurdling debut at Navan.

Not seen for 547 days since recording a facile nine-length success in a Punchestown bumper, the £430,000 purchase from the pointing field was equally as destructive when jumping obstacles under rules for the first time.

Paul Townend was motionless as he stalked market rivals Kudasheva and Firm Footings down to the final flight and the rider simply had to push the button on the six-year-old as he stretched away to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle by 13 lengths.

The Closutton handler is now tempted to test the son of Presenting in Grade One company, with the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle on January 8 identified as a potential target for the 2-1 favourite.

“He impressed me considering he was so keen early on and jumped a bit big during the race,” said Mullins.

“Then he settled, and Paul got him together and got him balanced. Once he got down to gallop, he impressed me.

“I’m not sure he’s entered in the Grade One at Christmas and if he’s not then the obvious race would be the Lawlor’s in Naas.

“He surprised me in the manner he did it. As I said to the owner before racing, we could run well here and finish fourth or fifth. It looked a good race.”

Dawn Rising scooped Grade Three honours when scoring at 10-1 in a dramatic renewal of the John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle.

Winning rider Mark Walsh was content to restrain the former Bahrain Trophy runner-up for the majority of the contest as 2-7 favourite American Mike and his chief market rival Affordale Fury disputed things up front.

In fact, that duo looked to have the race to sort out between them as the quartet taking part turned for home and it was Noel Meade’s charge in the hands of Bryan Cooper who was beginning to take control before crashing out at the final flight.

That appeared to hand American Mike a fortunate victory, but Walsh and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Dawn Rising had been staying on strongly from off the pace and wore down the Champion Bumper runner-up in the closing stages.

The winner was handed a quote of 12-1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power.

“I didn’t think three from home that we would be winning, but he was gradually closing them down,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus.

“It looked like they went quick up front and just paid the penalty for it. I’d say he would have won anyway (if the leader had not fallen at the last) as they got very tired up in front.

“He just kept galloping away and doesn’t mind the ground. It’s nice to win anyway.

“We’ll see where we go from here and maybe find something around Christmas.”

On American Mike, Gordon Elliott later told Racing TV: "He’s not right.

He's blowing very hard and very dead in himself in there, he didn’t run his race. We’ll get him home and get him checked out.

"This is a great game and levels you fairly quick. We’ll keep our head up and keep going."

O’Brien was also on the scoresheet when Comfort Zone produced a performance befitting of his name to open his hurdles account in the Bar One Racing 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

The 100-30 second-favourite barely broke sweat in the hands of JJ Slevin as he recorded a taking six-length success and was introduced into the Triumph Hurdle market at 20-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair.

“He stays a mile and a half well on the Flat. His last run at Leopardstown when he was third to Zoffman was a good run,” said assistant trainer Brendan Powell.

“The idea today was to get him jumping and let him finish. He jumped great and travelled beautiful. JJ said three out he knew he was going to be thereabouts. He jumped the last well and kept galloping.

“He’s done plenty of schooling at home and jumped very well. Hopefully he’ll be another good juvenile.”