Balbriggan© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott added another big prize to his CV when the heavily backed lightweight Balbriggan led all the way under Kevin Sexton to take the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan.
Sent off the 4-1 favourite, the grey was winning for the fourth time since joining the County Meath handler in the summer, his last success having come in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield.< Owega Star arrived looking a big danger going to the second-last fence, but Balbriggan found plenty when required and went away to score by a length and three-quarters, with Groody Hill gaining ground at the finish to take third.
Elliott also won with the unbeaten Free Expression (11-10 favourite), who took the step up to Grade Two level for the 'Monksfield' Novice Hurdle in his stride under Mark Walsh, coming home a length and a quarter clear after Martello Tower fell two out.< Vautour looks sure to take high rank in the novice division this season judged by the professional way he went about the business of winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase on his fencing debut.
Unbeaten in five starts last season including the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Willie Mullins' 2-11 favourite was sent straight to the front by Ruby Walsh and took the fences in his stride to beat Clarcam by eight lengths without coming off the bridle.
Mullins' dual bumper winner Milsean (2-11 favourite) led all the way under Bryan Cooper in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, though he had to be driven along to win by a length and a half. The jockey picked up a four-day ban after interference between the final two flights.
The champion trainer sent out his third winner of the day and eighth of the weekend when 11-8 favourite Lyrical Theatre mopped up the Listed ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares INH Flat Race, cruising eight and a half lengths clear under Patrick Mullins.< Pencilhimin (20-1) found plenty from the front to hold favourite Gallant Oscar in the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle, while the well-backed Glenquest (11-2) stretched clear in the Navan Race Members
