The featured Noreside Catering Handicap Chase at Gowran park was reduced to four runners with the defections of Grange Walk and A Mere Bagatelle, and it was The Big Chap who made the best way home.

Paul Flynn 's charge carried top-weight of 11-10 and came under a squeeze from Danny Gilligan in second as the pair chased Gaelic towards three out.

The seven-year-old responded well to the urgings as he led narrowly over that fence. Gaelic Arc was less than fluent which did him no favours and he soon came off the bridle in second.

The Big Chap put in another good leap at the penultimate fence and once he cleared the last, the job was done.

He strode in for a comfortable four-and-a-quarter-length success at 5/2 from runner-up Gaelic Arc, the 13/8 favourite.

Gilligan said: “He is a good horse when things go his way. He jumps for fun.

“Even though I won on him the last day (at Limerick in October), I was in front plenty soon again today. He was just (doing) the bare minimum, so hopefully there is still a bit of fun to be had. My lad probably keeps a bit up his sleeve the whole time as well.

"I won over two-and-a-half on him and it was back to two miles today, so I knew he'd stay galloping to the line and thankfully it worked out.

“It's lovely safe ground. He's probably not a real winter horse so, once the weather stays the way it is, hopefully there is plenty of fun to be had with him yet.”

This was The Big Chap's seventh win across chasing and hurdling.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson