Dream very much alive for Indiana after easy win

Indiana Dream looks a smart recruit to fences after taking what looked a competitive Durnin Workshop Beginners Chase in impressive fashion at Navan.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was bought after landing a bumper in France and was a wide margin winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on New Years Day.

The Cokoriko gelding maintained his unbeaten record here although he did make a significant mistake at the fourth fence.

His jumping was a lot more assured after that and the 5/2 shot headed Saint Felicien away from the second last and drew right away on the run-in under Mark Walsh to beat that tired rival by a very easy 13 lengths. Santonito was a further 13 lengths away in third.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins was completing a double on the day as he earlier won the featured €100,000 Bective Stud, Tea Rooms And Apartments Handicap Hurdle with We’llhavewan.

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said, "Mark was very happy with him there. He said he galloped through the last with a circuit to go and it sort of open his eyes and he was quite good after that.

“He handled the ground and he's a nice horse if he stays sound. He's a fine big horse and we're delighted with him.”

Paddy Power and Betfair cut the winner into 10/1 (from 40/1) for the Turners Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and 12/1 (from 33/1) for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase.

Quotes by Gary Carson