Riaan battled on gamely to fend off the odds-on favourite Spanish Harlem in the Leugh Rated Novice Hurdle.

A half-brother to 10-time winner Ball D'arc, the Gordon Elliott trained bay made the breakthrough at Cork in November but since disappointed in a Grade B contest at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

In novice company for the first time this afternoon, the Diamond Boy gelding was sent off an easy-to-back 8/1 chance, from 4s early.

In a share of the lead early on, the Philip Reynolds owned bay gained an outright advantage after the fourth. He was strongly pressed by Spanish Harlem from two out but kept finding on the run-in to see off that rival by half-a-length.

The runner-up was returned the 8/11 favourite under Paul Townend, while Eye Van (16/5) was three-parts of a length back in third.

"He's a very straightforward horse and it's lovely for him to do that," said Gainford.

"We were hoping for a nice run and he loved it there today. There wasn't much speed and he was very professional and coming to the line he was only doing enough.

"I would have loved a lead but I didn't think it would have suited him in the end so we tipped on and he jumped well.

"Paul (Townend) was sitting on me the whole way and it was ideal really. When I jumped the first two in front I knew then he was going about his business well. He handled the ground really well."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Raceday Stewards requested a report from Gordon Elliott, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Riaan, placed first, as compared with its previous run in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown on the 31st December when finishing sixteenth of seventeen finishers to the winner San Salvador. Camilla Sharples, Authorised representative for Gordon Elliott, reported that their charge got no run during the race at Punchestown. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson