Review navan 28th Mar Royal County Star won a thrilling renewal of the Irish Form Book An Uaimh Chase at Navan.Glenfinn Captain was sent off the 1-2 favourite and appeared to have only Watson Lake to repel as they raced down the straight, but the pack closed on the pair after the last fence.It was anyone's guess who might grab the prize as they came well inside the final furlong, and David Casey just got Royal County Star (14-1) home by a head from the market leader to end a lean spell for Tony Martin.Aran Concerto's absence dimmed the interest in the Kilberry Novice Chase, but there was no denying the authority with which Deutschland dismissed the opposition.The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old, following up a Leopardstown victory, jumped the second-last in company with Turtle Time Lucky and Lazio, but soon asserted in the hands of Ruby Walsh.The 4-9 favourite had plenty in the tank and went clear on the run-in to win easily.Fosters Cross finished third to Cheltenham Festival hero Mikael D'Haguenet on his last run and found the opposition much easier in the N.I. Hospice Maiden Hurdle.Davy Russell sent the 4-5 favourite to the front at the second-last and he bounded clear to score by a comfortable nine lengths from Osborn.End Of The Affair, twice a winner on the Flat, made her jumps debut a winning one in the Slane Mares Maiden Hurdle.Andrew Lynch produced the 16-1 shot to lead approaching the last flight and she stayed on best of all to beat Pistol Flash by two and a half lengths.Blood Diamond (10-1) won the Kells Handicap Hurdle as he liked, easing into the lead approaching the second-last under Emmet Mullins and clearing away to score by 12 lengths.Lisabbey Lord (5-1) was another to make it look easy, taking over entering the straight and cruising clear to win the Oldcastle Handicap Hurdle by eight lengths for Sean Flanagan, while the Headfort Handicap Chase went to 7-1 chance Old Si, who defied top-weight to win by two and a half lengths.© www.irish-racing.com
