Fils D'oudairies quickened up smartly to take the opener at Navan, the NavanRacecourse.ie Rated Novice Chase.

On the mark at Down Royal yesterday with Battle Of Actium, Joseph O'Brien and Donagh Meyler again successfully combined with this son of Saint Des Saints.

A winner over flights in his native France, the five-year-old gelding was in the processing of running a fine race on his Irish debut at Punchestown, when unseating two out in the race won by Colreevy.

Sent off a 7/1 chance this afternoon, the Mike Grech owned victor raced mainly in fifth, taking closer order on the approach to three out.

Pushed along in third from the next, he responded well for pressure and gained a narrow lead at the last, keeping on well from there, going on to prevail by three-and-a-quarter lengths. Braeside (10/3) ran on to take second under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott, while Yukon Lil (5/4f) faded from the last and was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Brendan Powell, assistant trainer, said afterwards: "It was a nice performance and a beautiful ride.

"Punchestown was only the fourth run of his life. He was too keen the last time and was taken on the whole way. It was a tired fall at the second last, he would have been second.

"Today Joseph was keen to get him dropped in and Donagh has done a lovely job.

"He travelled like a dream the whole way around and loved the ground. He's a big baby.

"He picked up and was going away at the line. His biggest asset is his jumping and he loves that ground.

"It's great for Mike Grech, and Henrietta Knight. That's our second winner now for Mike from two runners.

"I think he's a horse with a big future if everything goes right for him.

"It was nice for Donagh. It would have been JJ (Slevin's) ride but hopefully he'll be back at Christmas. He had a nasty fall and was lucky to get away with what he did."

STEWARDS REPORT

P.T. Enright, rider of Foxy Jacks trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the fourth last.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson