The Colm Murphy trained The Hard Hat got up in the dying strides to just defeat Knocklayde Euro by the minimum margin in what was a thrilling finish to the www.navanracecourse.ie Handicap Chase.

Knocklayde Euro ridden by Eddie O’Connell looked set for victory approaching the last however The Hard Hat ran on stoutly under a perfectly timed run by Robbie Power to get up on the line with Burnt Oil Babe sixteen lengths back in third.

Colm Murphy said of the Shane Harrington owned 7yo "We’ll see if we can get another little handicap for him on nicer ground. He seems to be improving. He had been disappointing. Hopefully he is going the right way now."

"He lost his way after his maiden hurdle, hopefully nice ground might rejuvenate him."