Nearly Nama'd left outguns Theatre Mill© Photo Healy Racing
< Nearly Nama'd picked up a nice prize for connections with a far-from-smooth victory in the feature Le Grande Chase at Navan.
Mark Walsh had his share of anxious moments on the Dessie Hughes-trained six-year-old as he was slipping a little and didn't jump with any fluency after being sent off the 4-9 favourite in the absence of Darwins Fox.< Blue Cannon took him on in mid-race but beat a hasty retreat in the straight, and it was the third runner Theatre Mill who threw down the gauntlet in the closing stages before Nearly Nama'd got it together to see him off by three and a quarter lengths.
The other event over the bigger obstacles was the Kells Beginners Chase and it went to Matthew Smith's Rawnaq (11-4), on whom Andrew Lynch established a commanding lead once his main rivals had departed the race, sauntering in by 20 lengths.
Jimmy Lambe's six-year-old Sang Tiger has made a promising start to his career over jumps and won for the second time in four starts when readily taking the Albany Hurdle in the hands of Adrian Heskin.
The 13-2 shot joined Well Tuned in the lead jumping the second-last flight and was narrowly in charge at the last, where several held a chance. He quickly asserted on the run-in to beat Grand Partner by two and three-quarter lengths.
Gordon Elliott has struck form and he posted another winner when 11-8 favourite Tom's Article runner-up in his last two starts, was driven ahead from the final flight by Paul Carberry to take the Troytown Bar Maiden Hurdle by a length and a quarter.
Neil McKnight's 9-1 shot Carmels Boy put up a gutsy front-running show under Richie Deegan to win the Navan Welcomes Owners Today Handicap Hurdle, finding plenty to see off the challenge of favourite Close One by a length and three-quarters.
John Nicholson's Dashing Lady (5-1 co-favourite) swept into the lead going to the last in the Racing Again Wednesday 8th October Handicap Hurdle, but Mark Enright then had to work hard to get her home and she only just held Battling Boru who was beaten a neck.
