Carrigmartin was one of just two five-year-olds in the Thoroughbred County Novice Handicap Chase at Naas but he shrugged aside the burden of top-weight to score in good style under Mark Walsh.

Walsh was noted in the J P McManus silks travelling well from a fair way out and he always looked likely to contain runner-up Chellah on the run-in.

Winning trainer Eddie Harty said: "He handled the ground well and did it nicely. I had planned to give him a break thinking he wouldn't handle the ground but we'll have to have a rethink now.

"He is settling much better in his races now and hopefully it's onward and upwards from here."