Iceberg Theory got to grips with Karacole on the run-in to strike for the first time in the 2m4f maiden hurdle at Navan.

Karacole and Darragh O'Keeffe put in a good shift off the front and the only horse able to go after him was Iceberg Theory on the run to the last.

The leader did nothing wrong there, but the closing pursuer landed full of running for Sean Flanagan and collared her in the closing stages.

Iceberg Theory forged on well, in the first-time cheekpieces, to come in by three and three-quarter lengths at 9/2 from the nicely backed 15/2 runner-up.

The winner wasn't scoring out of turn having been placed in his previous three maiden hurdles.

Trainer Paul Nolan said: “He was good today. We were a bit disappointed in Limerick where he jinked a little bit when Gavin's horse (Now Is The Hour) fell.

“We put cheekpieces on him today as we were worried the last day that he might be a bit of a divil, so we put them on today to make him concentrate.

“We were a bit worried with the way he was carrying on here in the parade ring, but Sean said he was only acting the maggot.

“He did it well and maybe we'll give him a stab at the auction final in Punchestown.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson