Jockey Roger Loughran came in for the winning ride, for the injured Bryan Cooper, on the Dessie Hughes trained Captain Arceus in the opening Navan Maiden Hurdle at Navan today.

Loughran, himself partnering his first winner since last May, produced the son of Captain Rio to lead at the second last, before the pair stretched clear for an easy seven and a half lengths win over 2/1f Giant's Quest who looked somewhat outpaced before staying on from the last.

Afterwards Hughes revealed “Bryan (Cooper) hurt his shoulder at Ballinrobe and we're hoping he'll be back at Sligo on Wednesday - it's nice for Roger to get a winner though, he's a good lad.”

“Captain Arceus was impressive – he was very brave in his bumper win as the ground was very bad that day. He is really honest, travels and jumps well and we'll look for a winners of one somewhere now.”