Review NAVAN 9TH DEC

The Long Haul turned a competitive-looking PJ Walls Proudstown Handicap Hurdle into a procession at Navan on Saturday.

The Shane Broderick-trained gelding galloped his rivals into submission to record a 25-length verdict in the 32,000 event.

Conor Maxwell sent his mount straight to the lead. He was briefly headed by City Of Sails but asserted before four out to forge clear of his field. The Black Mouse came through to take second.

'I'm delighted with that - very very happy. I knew the way he stays that the trip would suit and he was well in at the weights with the 7lb claim,' said Broderick by phone.

'We took full advantage of that - jumped off in front and made all. They were never going to catch him today in that ground as he's as fit as a flea and a real tough honest horse who loves racing. Hopefully the handicapper won't be too harsh on him.'

Paul Carberry was seen at his confident best when Aitmatov ran out a cheeky winner of the Keogh McConnell Spence Novice Hurdle.

The 11/8f was delivered to challenge at the last and soon edged ahead with a motionless Carberry letting him cruise to a length-and-a-half verdict over Earth Magic.

'Paul said he hated the ground,' said trainer Noel Meade. 'It only hit me half way down the back that we hadn't a tongue tie on today but it worked out well.'

Meade doubled up in the bumper when Pompeius Magnus (2/1) made an impressive winning debut, leading a furlong out to score by five-and-a-half lengths under Jason McKeown.

'He's a real good horse,' said Meade. You wouldn't know how good he is. He has been doing things right and I was confident he would win to be honest. He could be a Cheltenham bumper horse.'

The well-backed Gripit N Tipit (7/4 to 1/1f) provided David Casey with a winning comeback ride when making all for a comfortable success in the opening division of the maiden hurdle.

The jockey, who suffered a crushed pelvis in a schooling fall almost 10 weeks ago, had an easy time on his return as the gelding beat My Auld Man by nine lengths.

It was also a welcome success for Charlie Swan, whose string have been under the weather lately: 'I haven't had a runner for three weeks - they've all been a bit sick so I thought the best thing to do was stop.'

Tex Morgan (11/10f) survived untidy leaps at the last two flights to claim the second division.

Barry Geraghty sent his mount to the lead before the turn and he had enough left, despite the two mistakes, to hold the late run of Head Held High by three-parts-of-a-length.

'He's a big baby,' said Taaffe. 'He gallops and his technique will get better in time. He won't be too busy this year. He's a big horse and needs time to grow into himself.'

Mickataine (6/4f) had to work to get past Will Jamie Run in the third division, jumping into the lead at the last before scoring by two-and-a-half lengths.