Wonder Laish has the race in the bag at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Wonder Laish was all the rage for the two mile handicap hurdle in Navan and punters were rewarded with a decisive victory.
The 9/10 favourite was last seen running on strongly for third in the valuable November Handicap on the Flat at Naas last Sunday.
He moved well in second in his pursuit of Folly Dat over the penultimate flight.
The six-year-old gelding travelled powerfully as he overwhelmed Folly Dat approaching the last and readily drew clear by seven and a half lengths. Like An Open Book got up for second at 10/1 ahead of third-placed Folly Dat (14/1 from 25/1).
Trainer Charles Byrnes said: “He jumped better than I thought he would and he won well. It was a great run last week.
“What the opposition was like, I don't know, but to look at the betting market there wasn't a whole lot fancied.
“He couldn't do any more than he did. He'll just tip away in handicaps now and we'll see how far he can go.
“He jumped better than we thought he would. Davy was a bit concerned about his jumping and he jumped better than we expected.
“He has his Flat mark going forward. A race like the Chester Cup would maybe be possible if he got softish ground. He doesn't want it any better than what's out there.”
Davy Russell added: "That's the pleasing thing about it, he jumped really well. Obviously they did a lot of work on him at home on his jumping.
"He (Charles Byrnes) has always been very good to me and he is an exceptional trainer. He has been with me from the very start - it is a long time ago since I was riding bumpers for him."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
