Carbon King continues to stay a step ahead of the handicapper and made it three wins from his last four starts when taking the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in decisive fashion at Navan.

The Declan Queally-trained gelding has gone up a total of 29lb for those previous two wins but shrugged that aside in this two-mile event.

The well-backed 2/1 favourite jumped to the front at the penultimate flight and asserted early on the run-in for Shane Fitzgerald to beat the staying on By Your Side by a comfortable length and a half. Pont Audemer was a further four lengths away in third.

Fitzgerald said, “He got a lot of weight (from the handicapper), it was a fair hike.

“We jumped off there and went a good gallop and, to be fair, turning in I knew I had a bit there. I was just trying to sit and wait for as long as I could, I was happy enough everywhere. He was good, he was impressive.

“He jumped brilliant and I don't know what the plan will be, but he is still a grand, fun horse to have.

“He's declared to run tomorrow (in a claiming hurdle Clonmel), but I doubt that would happen.”

Quotes by Michael Graham