Stattler battles to take Grade 3 opener at Naas

Stattler dug deep to get the better of Farouk D'alene in a thrilling duel for the opening Grade 3 Novice Chase at Naas this afternoon.

Seven went to post for the three-miler but it boiled down to a battle between the eventual winner and runner-up from before the final fence.

Farouk D'alene had come to dispute with the ridden along Vanillier entering the straight and was a narrow leader when making a slight mistake two from home.

11/10 favourite Stattler had been pulled wide by Paul Townend turning for home but switched back inside Farouk D'alene to launch his challenge at the penultimate fence.

There was little between the pair jumping the last and Stattler just found a bit more in the closing stages to gain a hard-fought length-and-a-quarter success.

The Willie Mullins-trained winner was making it two from two over fences having won his beginners chase at Fairyhouse last month.

Mullins said:- “I was hoping he’d jump better. He was a bit novicey but I suppose it was a big step up in class from his first win (over fences) and it told there.

“He’ll learn a lot and with the way he jumped he needed the three miles and will probably have no trouble going further.

“It was a fight the whole way up the straight and he only asserted in the last 100 yards but I’m happy he did that.

“I’d imagine that will probably put him into the National Hunt Chase in Cheltenham. A longer trip going a bit steadier will suit him."

Paddy Power and Betfair both made the winner 3/1 (from 9/2) for the National Hunt Chase.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)