Quatre Heures and Clopf were sent off the 7/4 joint favourites for their respective chasing debuts and unsurprisingly it was that pair who battled out proceedings well clear of their rivals. The pair jumped the second last together before Clopf and Andrew McNamara went on a few lengths clear before the final fence.
Having negotiated the last safely Clopf looked to be home and hosed but approaching the line he began to tire and a renewed effort from Quatre Heures saw just three parts of a length separate the pair.
'I was probably a bit easy on him since Christmas and my gallops have been flooded so he hasn't done much. He did have a gallop on Wednesday and he gave a good blow afterwards. They went a hell of a gallop today and I thought he jumped quite well. We may go to Naas for a winners chase in two weeks and take it from there,' said Edward O'Grady afterwards.
A battling performance from Larkwing saw him land the spoils in the Navan Gold Club Open For Membership Hurdle under Barry Geraghty. Geraghty oozed confidence approaching the second last before asking the seven-year-old for his effort and despite the best efforts of Boulavogue, Eric McNamara's 11/10 favourite held on for a one and a quarter length success.
'He winged his hurdles although he got a bit close to the last. He was always going to win and found plenty after the final flight,' revealed winning jockey Barry Geraghty.
McNamara who was at the sales in Cheltenham, was responsible for a double as Joe Holly aboard Dashing George won the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Holly had to be at his strongest to hold off the persistent challenge of top weight Gusda and Brian Byrnes but getting 17lbs from his fellow 11/2 joint favourite, Dashing George was able to battle on to pass the judge a neck in front.
Incidentally back in third was 33/1 shot Orimed Des Ifs and for those who got involved in that one on the Tote they would have reaped the rewards of a massive ?989.10 place dividend.
Longford based trainer Paul Flynn saddled his first winner on the track as Bronte Bay went one better than his last run at Limerick on St Stephens Day to yet again deny Deal Maker the opportunity of shrugging off his maiden tag.
Ridden by Tom Doyle, Bronte Bay joined Deal Maker at the third last as the pair began to go clear of their 28 rivals. The 14/1 shot jumped to the front at the second last before going on to score by two lengths.
A former jockey, Flynn had his finest days in the saddle with What's Up Boy's who he won a Coral Cup and Hennessy on.
Raise Your Heart, a winner of two races on the level in the summer, got off the mark over hurdles in the opening New Arkle Bar Maiden Hurdle. In the hands of Grand National winning jockey Robbie Power, the 5/1 shot just got up by a neck from the well fancied Sarteano.
The winner jumped the second last upsides favourite Copsiano and Sarteno before rallying after the last and getting up in the dying stages. He could be now set for a major step up in class according to winning trainer Joanna Morgan.
'He wants better ground and he is entered in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and I wouldn't be afraid to run him in it so we could go for that next.'
Twelve-year-old Alberoni made virtually all the running in the 2m4f Navan Membership Handicap Chase in the hands of Garreth Cotter for trainer Peter McCreery.
Off just 110st1lbs the winner bowled along at the head of affairs for most of the testing journey and held off Russian Buck who gave a renewed effort closer to the line but could never close the gap to deny the 20/1 shot.
By Niall Cronin
