Invitation Only is back on track over fences

Invitation Only got his chasing career back on track when taking the Mervyn Gray Construstion Beginners Chase at Navan.

The Flemensfirth gelding was held in very high regard before things unravelled a bit in the last 12 months, and the point-to-point winner fell when sent chasing at Punchestown last month.

However Paul Townend popped him out in front in this 2m4f event, and the 2/1 chance jumped well to make all.

Willie Mullins’ charge was challenged early in the straight by well-backed 10/11 favourite Any Second Now but shrugged off that rival before the final fence.

He kept on strongly on the run-in to score by four and a quarter lengths, with Moulin A Vent plugging on a further five and a half lengths adrift in third.

A much talked about novice hurdler last season - Invitation Only easily accounts for Any Second Now over fences at @NavanRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/OxnC4Z1eQn

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 9, 2017

Mullins said, “He was very impressive and jumped great. He might be back to what we thought he could have been two years ago.

“His jumping is his forte. He could go three miles, whether that will be Christmas or later, we'll have to see if Christmas comes too soon.”

Townend said, “There was no-one anxious to go on so I said I'd let him pop away. He jumped spectacular, I thought, down the straight from the fourth last home. He had a good look early on and learned from his mistake the last day. That's what you like to see with novices.

“They can all fall. His schooling had been good and it probably just opened his eyes for him.

“We got racing good and early and were quickening the whole way down the straight. I was very impressed with him. I didn't think we hung around and I quickened up smarter than I thought we would in that ground. It rode a nice race.

“I don't think three miles would be a problem to him but on that ground two-and-a-half is far enough.”

(GC & AM)