Trainer Matthew Smith received a timely boost at Navan today as his Bigz Belief made all the running to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for jockey Dillon Maxwell.

The son of Make Believe was clear of his rivals for most of the two-miles race and in the end held off runner-up Shakeytry by five and a half lengths.

Three weeks ago, Smith withdrew his last year's Cheltenham's Stayers Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump from next week's renewal of the race, due to a splint injury, and following today's win, reported “that was badly needed.

“That was the plan, I told him (Dillon Maxwell) to jump out and make it.

“I was a little bit worried about the ground. He gave him a good ride, steadied him up and then let him on again.

“His jumping was an awful lot better, he got in close to one but he jumped great. I'm delighted with that.

“He had good form in maiden hurdles and he learned a bit from his handicap debut against older horses last time.”

Quotes from Gary Carson