Barneys Honour has Chestnut Charlie beaten at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's battling five-year-old Cause Of Causes dug deep to get the better of Midnight Game in a thrilling finish to the Follow Navan On Facebook Hurdle at Navan.
Only three went to post for the two-mile contest and it was Midnight Game, sent off the 5-6 favourite, who took them along, with recent Ladbroke winner Cause Of Causes settled in second and Hisaabaat bringing up the rear.
Davy Russell looked to have the race in the bag in the straight as Midnight Game travelled sweetly, but Cause Of Causes (6-4) wouldn't go away and after jumping the last upsides, responded superbly to Davy Condon's driving to snatch the verdict by a short head.
Elliott also won with Barneys Honour (3-1 favourite), who sauntered to victory under a typically quiet ride from Paul Carberry in the Meath Handicap Hurdle, leading two out and stretching four lengths clear.
That completed a brace for the jockey, who delivered a late challenge on Noel Meade's 15-8 favourite Blissful Moment to sweep past Mr Cosmopolitan from the final flight and take the 2013 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle by three and three-quarter lengths.
Ruby Walsh had just the one ride on the card and needed all his strength to get Willie Mullins' 7-4 favourite Suntiep home in front by a length and three-quarters after a battle with Hard To Swallow in the stamina-sapping Navan Golf Course Maiden Hurdle.
Visibility was poor for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, but Tom Mullins' smart hurdler Alderwood (8-11 favourite) appeared from the gloom to break his duck over fences at the third attempt as Mark Walsh pushed him past Prima Vista on the run-in to score by a length and a half.
There were three in with a chance at the final fence in the Foxrock Handicap Chase and it went to Liz Doyle's Rich Revival (8-1), who was driven clear by Brian O'Connell and then held the charging Fever Pitch by a head, with favourite Saoirse Dun third.
