Death Duty passes Grade 2 test

Death Duty made it three from three over flights, as he ran out a good winner of the feature at Navan this afternoon, the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle.

Successful on his debut over hurdles at Roscommon in October, the son of Shantou then won the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle over the course and distance last month.

Sent off the 6/4 second favourite this afternoon he was settled in second by Bryan Cooper. He improved to challenge the leader Monalee (7/1) three out, and he was pushed along to lead after the next.

He stretched clear under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by three and three parts of a length from the aforementioned Monalee in second under David Mullins for Henry De Bromhead. Invitation Only was sent off the evens favourite and he was another length and a half back in third under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins.

Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "He's done it well and we like him a lot. I thought he'd improved a bit from the last day, and Bryan said he was on the bridle more today.

"He will go now for the Grade 1 (Lawlors Hotel) Novice Hurdle at Naas (January 8th). He looks an Albert Bartlett type."

Bryan Cooper added: "His jumping kills other horses, and he gets four lengths at a hurdle when another might get 2.

"Shane McCann rides him in all his work, and he told me this morning that he has more gears than you think. He's not as slow as we think, and he has plenty of options."

Impressive from Death Duty who strides clear to land the Navan Novice Hurdle: https://t.co/MbWWqUR7UZ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 18, 2016

Paddy Power make Death Duty the 5/2 favourite (from 6's) for the Albert Bartlett.

Boylesports also go 5/2 about Death Duty for the Albert Bartlett, while he is available at 8/1 for the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee