Mozoltov (Davy Russell) leads Irish Thistle (Andrew Lynch) over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Davy Russell scuppered the hopes of odds-on backers earlier when winning aboard 33/1 chance Baby King and he made it two for the day at Navan when 4/7 shot Mozoltov achieved the expected win in the navanracecourse.ie Novice Chase.
The Kayf Tara has had his jumping issues before but in this two mile one furlong event he was good in that department and that helped as he slugged it out best on the run-in to see off Irish Thistle by two lengths.
The pair left Pageboy and second favourite Mount Colah eighteen lengths and a half a length behind.
Russell commented on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Willie Mullins-trained victor: "We probably went a bit quicker than I would have liked.
"I didn't want Mount Colah getting to the front but he settled better than he has done in the past.
"He jumped very well bar the fifth last. He was after jumping so well that I gave him a squeeze but he was cleverer than I was.
"He liked the ground there." (GC & EM)
