Chapeau De Soleil puts it all together under Townend

Chapeau De Soleil (10/11jf) made the best way home in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle to give Willie Mullins and Paul Townend a winner on Navan's card.

The other 10/11 joint favourite, Twoohthree had ground his way to the front approaching the final hurdle, but Chapeau De Soleil was switched out by Townend to close there.

Twoohthree blundered and dropped from first to third on the run-in as Chapeau De Soleil grabbed the initiative. The new leader stayed on to secure a four and a-quarter length victory from Twoohthree who got up for second by a neck.

Townend said: “His race was over after the first two hurdles the last day. He quickened nicely on that ground, which is a hard thing to do today, and impressed me.

“We hadn't gone quick and had a couple of lengths to make up off the bend but the thing was to get him to settle early today.

“He jumped more professionally and raced more professionally today.

“He'll be a fine horse to jump a fence as well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson