Hardline ran out an emphatic winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase at Navan.

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was useful as a novice hurdler last season, winning a Grade Two at Naas, and has taken to fences well this term.

Successful on his debut over the larger obstacles at Fairyhouse in October, he had to settle for second place in Craddockstown at Punchestown last month, but made no mistake on this occasion.

Sent off the 11-10 favourite and given a patient ride by Davy Russell, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner asserted going to the last and strode readily clear on the run-in to score by 10 lengths from Us And Them who was always prominent.

The winner’s stablemate Ben Dundee was pulled up.

Russell said after the Grade Three success: “He jumped well and we didn’t hang around. JJ (Slevin on Us And Them) was travelling a lot better than I anticipated, because Dr Mikey can go a good gallop and he was beaten early.

“He’s effective over that trip and quick at his jumps.”

Elliott, over at Aintree to supervise his runners, principally in the Becher Chase, had initiated a Proudstown Park brace in the preceding handicap hurdle with Askari