Gift Of Dgab overcame a bout of seconditis to win the Nobber Maiden Hurdle at Navan today, scoring for trainer Tony Martin and jockey Davy Russell.

The son of Winged Love, second on his last four starts, raced prominently but needed to dig deep from the second last flight to eventually see off the challenges of Popcorn and He’s Our Man.

Afterwards Martin, a capable gaelic footballer some years ago, said “he has been unlucky and has hit the goalposts a few times. I thought at the final flight that he was going to burst it off the cross bar again!”

“If ever a horse deserved it, it was him today. I think he may be better on better ground but I don’t think he’d like summer ground. He’d get a trip too and is a nice prospect – I am delighted for his owners (Gigginstown House Stud) who are obviously excellent owners to have.”

Thomas Weekes