Art Lord (Keith Donoghue) jumps the last clear of Crowded Room © Photo Healy Racing
David Harvey sent out his first winner since Schwartzhalle landed the Grade 2 Flyingbolt Novice Chase at this venue in February 2003 as Art Lord defied top-weight in the 2m4f handicap chase.
The seven-year-old gelding was always up with the pace, and asserted approaching the last for Keith Donoghue.
The 14/1 winner (paid €22.50 on the Tote) needed to be ridden out on the run-in but had little difficulty beating Crowded Room by two and a half lengths. Killeenmore was a further seven lengths back in third.
Harvey said, “He did it well. I thought he’d run well but I was a bit afraid of the ground, although he seemed to go through it.
“He likes Navan and won his maiden hurdle here (for Peter Casey). We have him entered at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve and we’ll see how he is.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
