Tombstone and Jack Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
Tombstone is now a Grade 3 winner both over hurdles and fences after taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase at Navan.
The Gigginstown-owned gelding lowered the colours of Jezki in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park earlier this year, and also took a beginners’ chase in good style at Down Royal last month before finding Woodlands Opera just too good in a Grade 2 at Punchestown.
Jack Kennedy made most of the running on the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old, although he was headed by marginal favourite Jett (10/11) approaching the straight.
The evens chance was back in front at the second last, and asserted from before the last to beat that rival by three and three quarter lengths. Inis Meain kept on one paced a further three and a half lengths away in third.
Kennedy said, “He was hanging and looking around a bit. Maybe it was being in front but he jumped away grand and he won it anyway so he can't have done too much wrong.
“Paul's lad stays so he was trying to push on a bit. My lad is not slow and he stays going as well, he's a grand horse.
“It would have been nice if he had just gone around and stayed straight but I'd say it was just a bit of idling in front.”
(GC & AM)
