Minella Indo puts in a great leap at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Gold Cup contender Minella Indo justified 2/11 favouritism with a facile success in the Grade 2 chase at Navan. Brahma Bull took the four-runner field along over the three-mile trip and was stalked throughout by Minella Indo in second.
The 'jolly' closed right up at the fourth last and the two main protagonists then proceeded to race track-width apart turning for home.
Minella Indo kept to the inner under Rachael Blackmore and led narrowly jumping the next.
Her mount eased clear of Brahma Bull after the second last and a good jump at the last sealed the deal as the pair came in by seven and a half lengths.
Henry de Bromhead said: “I'm delighted with that. He did everything good, it was a lovely race for him and I'm glad we've got it behind us now.
“You couldn't have asked him to do it any better. He jumped really well and did everything he had to do.
“I would imagine we'll aim towards the Savills Chase at Christmas, I think that will be our next one.
“He's had two nice races for second-season novices and now we have to go against the big lads and see how we fare there.”
When asked if he had the potential to be even better than Monalee, he responded: “It would be great if he is because Monalee is rated 171, so if he is I'll be very happy!
“He's probably achieved a little bit more in each division because he won his Albert Bartlett and Monalee was second, I don't know if it might have been a lesser race.
“He was only just chinned in an RSA and Monalee was well beaten - I don't know, it's unfair on Monalee, but we can't fault what he's doing at the moment.
“It's nice to have a possible Gold Cup contender like him but all along last year we thought Monalee had a great chance and thankfully he ran like he did.
“It's great and the more of these types you can have the better. We'll see how it all unfolds between now and then.
“At the moment we're thinking Monalee for the King George but if they end up having to run against each other they have to run against each other.
“Ideally you'd prefer not to, with the same owners.”
Paddy Power kept Minella Indo unchanged at 8/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
