Sam storms clear in the Navan mud

Sam Red confirmed the promise of his Irish debut third at Gowran Park just over a fortnight ago when taking the opening four-year-old maiden hurdle in runaway fashion on very testing ground at Navan.

The Alan Fleming-trained gelding was sent off the well-backed evens favourite, and took over from chief market rival Crystal Pearl three out.

Favourite backers had their only anxious moment at the last when Adrian Heskin's mount made a mistake and stumbled on landing.

However he was soon back on an even keel and stretched right away on the run-in to beat The Living Beauty by all of 26 lengths. Skilled was a further five lengths away in third.

Fleming said, "Really happy with him. He loved the ground and he (Adrian) had loads of horse at the finish. I'm very pleased.

"We'll wait for Fairyhouse for the festival. If the ground is soft he'll go there."

Owner Barry Connell also had news of Cheltenham Festival plans for Gwencily Berbas saying, "He's been given a nice mark for the Fred Winter so that's where we're going to go."

(GC & AM)