The always-prominent Midnight It Is got Gavin Cromwell's day off to a flyer in the opening handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

A trip of an extended two miles one furlong was on offer and it was Chainofconsequence and Midnight It Is who cut out the running with the latter holding a definite advantage after five out. Battle Of Ridgeway and Freddie Robdal attempted to close on him between the final two fences as the trio separated themselves from the remainder.

Midnight It Is and Sean Flanagan weren't for catching, though, and they kept up the gallop to come in by three and a-quarter lengths at 5/1.

Battle Of Ridgeway (18/5 favourite) picked up the runner-up prize and was two and a-half lengths ahead of easy-to-back Freddie Robdal (16/1).

Assistant trainer Garvan Donnelly said: “He's a grand horse, he's a seasoned campaigner.

"Hopefully, the handicapper won't be too hard on him and there might be another day in him.

“He loves to be out in front and he jumps from fence to fence.”

This was the eight-year-old gelding's third career success.

Cromwell is well represented today with runners in Fairyhouse, Cheltenham and Doncaster.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson