Easca Peasca delights Hamilton in Navan

Handicap debutant Easca Peasca rewarded his backers in race four at Navan.

He built upon a maiden hurdle victory in Gowran Park last month with this game effort over two miles.

The 6/1 shot was a close third under Shane Fitzgerald at the third last and progressed to second at the next obstacle.

He was ridden to get on terms with Brides Hill at the last and touched down in a narrow lead.

The four-year-old gelding kept on well to foil a staying-on Cotteemcavennigoal (8/1) by a head. Brides Hill, the 3/1 favourite, gave best in third.

Trainer Brian Hamilton said: “He stayed at it well and he jumped really well.

“I was a bit concerned that he might be a bit novicey on his first run in a handicap but Shane got him into a lovely rhythm and he jumped beautifully for him the whole way.

“We'll have to sit down, take a look, and see where we go now. He might step up and try and get a little bit of black-type with him at some stage.

“He's tough out and a lovely horse to work with. John Oxx sold him to us and what he said about him was 100 per cent right. He told us he was a lovely little horse with great character, and that's exactly what he is, he's a wee superstar of a horse.

“Winning the last day helped him and he's a great horse for a small trainer like me to have as he never runs a bad race.

“The syndicate are a good bunch of lads, including the chairman of Downpatrick racecourse, and they are local to me in Downpatrick.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson