Facile Vega wins on chasing debut© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins' Facile Vega was widely expected to make a winning start over fences in the beginners' chase at Navan and so it proved as he tanked home at 8/15.
He travelled for Paul Townend with the pair picking up the lead after three out. The six-year-old Walk In The Park gelding made the best way home, on the bridle, to score by three and a-quarter lengths with the second-last a particularly notable jump.
Grade 1 hurdle winner Inthepocket (15/8) kept at it in the latter stages to come through for second without threatening the winner. Saint Felicien (9/1) gave his backers a place dividend in third, beaten nine and a-quarter lengths by the winner.
Facile Vega has four Grade One successes in the book - two in bumpers and a pair of hurdles - and it will be fascinating to see if reaches the heights over fences.
“He galloped into the first, he just wasn't really concentrating. It was a messy race to ride in, Jack's (Kennedy on Saint Felicien) was going left. We would have liked to have a bit more company or to follow one,” said Townend.
“He popped away grand and when we started racing down the straight I loved what he did at the second last, he stood off it and landed a big distance on the far side of it.
“He was clever at the last, the first day went well anyway. His class kicked in down the straight.
“All of ours are coming on for a run. To win, doing that, I thought was good. When I did ask him he stood off for me and that's what you'd be expecting him to do.
“Throughout the race he was actually very well behaved for him. I'd say he's maturing and growing up because he had every opportunity to start acting the eejit a bit, but he didn't and was more professional. When I wanted him he was there.
“He's matured physically and mentally.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
