McDonagh steers Navigator Jack to family success

Cheltenham festival winning jockey Mark McDonagh registered a winner for his uncle owner Darragh McDonagh today, steering Navigator Jack (14/1 to 11s) to win Listowel's Mike Lawlee Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

McDonagh, who partnered Banbridge to win Cheltenham's Martin Pipe Hurdle in March, raced Navigator Jack prominently throughout and while strongly pressed by Gringo D'ainay jumping the last, found more on the run-in and won by a length and three parts.

Afterwards winning trainer Eoin Griffin said “he had a very promising run in a bumper here first time out and just was a bit disappointing after that. It took a bit of time for the penny to drop over hurdles and even there he wasn't the most fluent at some of his hurdles.

“He hadn't been settling in his races all along and I said to Mark there was no use in fighting with him and to let him bounce out and be positive. In fairness Mark gave him a nice ride and got a breather into him and he hung on.

“We'll see what the handicapper does now and he''ll jump a fence in time.

“Dominic Murphy and his friend Darragh McDonagh, who is Mark's uncle, own him.”