Casual Approach prevails in thriller

The Gordon Elliott-trained Casual Approach just got home in a thrilling finish to the Albany Hurdle at Navan this afternoon. Sang Tiger cut out the running in the 2m6f event but was strongly pressed from the third last.

1/2 favourite Snow Falcon loomed large as the front-runner came under pressure. There were three in a line over the last as Casual Approach joined the battle.

Snow Falcon was the first to cry enough and Casual Approach appeared to be coming to win his race on the run-in. He found a game rival in Sang Tiger, who battled back, and only gained a head success as they flashed past the post locked together.

The 6/1 winner was making his return to action having won a maiden hurdle at Limerick when last seen in April.

"We are going to bring him to Cheltenham next month as he's qualified to run in novice hurdles until the end of October," said Elliott.

"He's a grand, big horse. The plan was to drop him in and I think he'll come on from that."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)