Review NAVAN 29TH SEP

Charlie Swan saddled a 1-2 in the featured Le Grande Chase but the result was not as most would have predicted with Sorry Al beating the 7/4 favourite Oodachee.

The field was restricted to six after Pacolet and Manilou were non-runners and Ursumman spoiled his chance with some poor jumping.

Sorry Al was never far off the pace under Denis Hogan and kept on well from the last to beat his stable-companion by a length and three quarters.

'That was a good result although David (Casey) - rider of Oodachee - said it was very slippy out there. Sorry Al loves that ground, the faster the better for him,' said Swan.

Nobody was as surprised as trainer Colm Murphy after Megans Joy was called the winner following a photo-finish to division two of the maiden hurdle.

The 4/5 favourite was patiently ridden by Davy Russell and, to the astonishment of the majority at the track, just got up in the last stride to pip Oronoco Flow.

'I was gutted going past the line as I thought she was beat. I was very afraid running her on fast ground on her first hurdle run. She was very novicey and really I just wanted her to get around in one piece.'

'We'll look for a little winners race and we'll start her off small and hopefully she can progress,' said Murphy of the dual bumper winner.

Stephen Mahon was full of praise for Keith Bowens after the latter had his claim reduced from 7lb to 5lb when partnering his 15th winner aboard Will Jamie Run in division one.

The six-year-old gelding answered every call from Bowens to collar Kellsboro in the final strides prompting Mahon to say, 'He's a right good rider and a big asset to me.'

'Nobody gives him outside rides and I can't understand it. This horse wants two and a half miles and soft ground and will probably go over fences soon,' he added.

There was another cracking finish to the mares maiden hurdle where the Andrew Leigh-ridden Bootsandslippers just prevailed by a head from Native Royal.

'She kicked a wall so hard after running at Killarney earlier this year that she suffered a hairline fracture of a hind pastern. She's a top of the ground filly,' said the in-form Jessica Harrington.

Davorin headed Earth Magic after the last in the 2m6f conditions hurdle, and stayed on gamely up the hill for Barry Geraghty to score by 3/4L.

'We were able to give him a chance to settle in over this trip and not have to bustle him along. Barry said two and a half miles to 2m6f suits him,' said trainer Robbie Burns.

Mister Lucky benefited from a patient ride by Paul Carberry in the 2m6f handicap hurdle, coming from well off the pace in the straight to beat The Lask by a length and a half.

'He won two point-to-points but we decided to drop him out over this trip and it worked well,' said trainer Brian Hamilton, who reports Amstecos on course to reappear over hurdles at Thurles next month.

A number of riders took falls on the day including Niall Madden and Davy Russell in this race, and 'Slippers' will require an xray on an injured knee.

Russell is expected to be okay after taking a knock on an arm, while David Flannery was suffering from chest pains and will also go for xrays.

Carberry later completed a 142/1 double when the Noel Meade-trained Mr Robert was prominent throughout in an incident packed beginners chase to beat Ballyhoctor by 3 1/2L.

Meade completed a quick double in the bumper when the well-backed 5/4 favourite Mr Muji responded under strong pressure from Nina Carberry to beat Imperator Rex by 1 3/4L.

Alan Magee