Mr Mills sent local punters home happy at the end of a marathon eight-race card when staying on well under Robbie Colgan to take Division ll of the Navan Racing Festival November 18th & 19th Handicap.

A winner at Dundalk on the polytrack last December, the five-year-old coped admirably with the vastly different underfoot conditions here, travelling easily before quickening up when asked to go and win his race over a furlong out. Flier and Blackstone Cliff emerged out of the pack to throw down the final challenges but with the aid of the stands rail, the Elzaam gelding kept on in determined fashion close home.

Chris Timmons, “He was off a while and half missed the break at Leopardstown last time but he ran on well. He’s improved since and I was fairly confident coming here.

“He’s done it well and Robbie said he enjoyed the ground. He got a bit lonely in front but would have battled had something come to him.

“His trip is a mile and two but there was nothing for him when I wanted it last autumn and he ran here over a mile and six on heavy ground when he cantered into the straight and didn’t get home.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.