Verdant Place again shows his liking for Navan Verdant Place added to a course and distance win in December when justifying 4/1 favouritism in the William Hill Proper Prices Handicap Chase at Navan. The Pat Foley-trained gelding, who was recording his fourth career win, jumped into the lead at the penultimate fence but then appeared to idle in front. The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was driven out by Simon Torrens on the run-in to score by a length and a half from Low Style who finished best of all into second. Prince Palace travelled well early in the straight and kept on one paced a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third. Foley said, "He doesn't like it tacky, and it was a big worry coming here. He would be happier on ground that is getting softer rather than ground that is drying. "Simon said they weren't going that deep in it which was a big help. "Anything between soft and yielding he is fine on. It is great that he gets through it, and he loves it around here which is a big help. "Simon was a lot happier with the way he jumped. "We might come back here next month for the Listed race that he actually ran in last year. We'll see what the handicapper does with him and see what Frank (Berry) says. It looks like a good option for him. "This season has been going great with him. He was a bit disappointing last season, but this season he is really back to himself and we have got a clear run with him. He is running away as well as expected." Quotes by Michael Graham
