Statue Of Dreams kept on stoutly to reward his backers at 3/1 in the five furlongs handicap at Navan with Chris Hayes in the plate for trainer James Bernard McCabe.

The six-year-old had run fourth over course and distance six days ago on soft ground and showed the benefit of that outing when scoring by a length and a half tonight.

His market rivals Amour Fou (3/1) and Little Village (9/4 favourite) completed the placings in the ten-runner contest.

Owner Maurice Flynn, originally from Kildare but living in Offaly, was in attendance and said: “He wants it a bit loose but not sticky. I’m very pleased. He has improved and is at the top of his game.

“I have only the one horse and we’ll go for something similar with him.”

The winner had been as big as 11/2 in the morning and was also backed in from 4/1 on course. Third placed Little Village was popular from 6/1 in the morning and an opening show of 7/2 at the track down to an SP of 9/4.

Michael Graham