Davy Condon gave Prince Erik a great ride to beat the favourite Montan in the opening Naas Directors Plate Novice Steeplechase.

Just a week on from an ordinary effort at Leopardstown, the grey raced with plenty of enthusiasm here and when pressed by Montan on the run-in the victorious Indian Ridge gelding found plenty to prevail by a neck.

Sixth in the Irish Derby back in 2007 and runner-up in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last March, Prince Erik has been a good servant to Dr Ronan Lambe and Dermot Weld and the latter commented: "He's a very fit horse and he did it well.

"He's been running pretty consistent over fences. We'll play it by ear now and see where we'll go – we have no definite plans.

"He's in two of the handicaps at Cheltenham but I thought he had too much weight and I'd say he won't run.

"He battled away there today and he loves to get things his own way. He jumped very well.

"I don't know whether he'd be good enough for the likes of the Irish National, we'll see."