Luke Dempsey sealed a brace at Navan when The Big Lense toughed it out best of all in the two and a half mile handicap chase.

The 6/1 shot fought a battle with 4/1 joint favourite Ask Nile before the last, and got the better of him in the closing stages. Carrigready stayed on to split the pair, close home, in second at 12/1.

After his charge prevailed by half a length, Gordon Elliott said: “He was a disappointing horse but he's starting to go the right way now.

“Hopefully he's on a winning curve and he might keep going."

“He didn't mind the ground, he seemed to like it okay. It's good ground but the boys say it's safe.”

Bookmakers couldn't give The Big Lense away as he drifted out from 9/4 in the morning.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson