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Michael Graham
Nearly Nama'd too good in Le Grande Chase
Nearly Nama'd left outguns Theatre Mill
© Photo Healy Racing
Nearly Nama’d took the featured Le Grande Chase in Navan by three and a quarter lengths for Dessie Hughes, Mark Walsh and JP McManus.
A mile from home and Nearly Nam’d was headed by Blue Cannon however, on the run to the third last he assumed the lead and was kept up to his work to fend off Theatre Mill who closed into second and attempted to hunt the winner down. Theatre Mill was ridden by Mikey Fogarty on his first ride back since fracturing two vertebrae in a fall at Aintree on April 4th.
Only three went to post in this two and a half mile contest as Darwins Fox was taken out due to being off feed. Nealy Nama’d landed the odds of 4/9 while Theatre Mill was returned at 9/2.
Frank Berry said: “Mark said he was skidding a bit on the ground, and that didn't help his jumping. It's nice to get that one, and the ground is as quick as he'd want.”
Nearly Nama’d suffered a hairy moment when he slipped on the bend after jumping the sixth fence.
Blue Cannon finished 28 lengths adrift of Theatre Mill in third.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee