Navan racing: mixed day for Mullins ahead of Cheltenham

Sambremont scored a surprise victory in a dramatic renewal of the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, Sambremont appeared to be out of the reckoning at the top of the straight with fellow Mullins runner Tell Us More and 8-11 favourite Ttebbob well clear.

Tell Us More looked booked for victory as Bryan Cooper kicked on with three to jump, with Ttebbob seemingly under pressure, but he crashed out at the penultimate fence, leaving Ttebbob in front and appearing a likely winner.

However, Walsh galvanised his mount on the run to the last and as Ttebbob floundered in the finish on testing ground, Sambremont poked his head in front on the line.

At 3.30 Snow Falcon (11-4) emerged best of the three runners in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle.

With Val De Ferbet and Prince Of Scars both taken out, just the Noel Meade-trained Snow Falcon and the Gigginstown-owned pair of Dedigout and Lieutenant Colonel went to post in the Grade Two heat.

Dedigout was sent off the 10-11 favourite despite having been off the track since last April and he was the first horse beaten, leaving Snow Falcon and Lieutenant Colonel to battle it out after the last.

Snow Falcon responded to Sean Flanagan’s every urging though, pulling clear at the line.

Meade said: “Our biggest problem was that he was jumping so badly, and he was practically losing a length at all his hurdles. He’s had a little back problem which has been causing him not to jump well.

“He was very sore for a while after he fell at Christmas. That’s why you didn’t see him for so long, but maybe that didn’t do him any harm as he’s better when he’s a bit fresher. If he jumps as well as he jumped today, he can go anywhere.

“He’ll take his chance in the World Hurdle now and go straight there. Hopefully he might jump a bit better. Three miles will be right up his alley. Monksland has more pace than him but this fella really stays.

“He’s probably a horse that we could try on the Flat at some stage over a trip. He has an Aga Khan pedigree behind him, and is a horse that could win those staying races on the Flat.”

Ladbrokes go 25-1 from 50s about Snow Falcon in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.Sambremont scored a surprise victory in a dramatic renewal of the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, Sambremont appeared to be out of the reckoning at the top of the straight with fellow Mullins runner Tell Us More and 8-11 favourite Ttebbob well clear.

Tell Us More looked booked for victory as Bryan Cooper kicked on with three to jump, with Ttebbob seemingly under pressure, but he crashed out at the penultimate fence, leaving Ttebbob in front and appearing a likely winner.

However, Walsh galvanised his mount on the run to the last and as Ttebbob floundered in the finish on testing ground, Sambremont poked his head in front on the line.

At 3.30 Snow Falcon (11-4) emerged best of the three runners in the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle.

With Val De Ferbet and Prince Of Scars both taken out, just the Noel Meade-trained Snow Falcon and the Gigginstown-owned pair of Dedigout and Lieutenant Colonel went to post in the Grade Two heat.

Dedigout was sent off the 10-11 favourite despite having been off the track since last April and he was the first horse beaten, leaving Snow Falcon and Lieutenant Colonel to battle it out after the last.

Snow Falcon responded to Sean Flanagan’s every urging though, pulling clear at the line.

Meade said: “Our biggest problem was that he was jumping so badly, and he was practically losing a length at all his hurdles. He’s had a little back problem which has been causing him not to jump well.

“He was very sore for a while after he fell at Christmas. That’s why you didn’t see him for so long, but maybe that didn’t do him any harm as he’s better when he’s a bit fresher. If he jumps as well as he jumped today, he can go anywhere.

“He’ll take his chance in the World Hurdle now and go straight there. Hopefully he might jump a bit better. Three miles will be right up his alley. Monksland has more pace than him but this fella really stays.

“He’s probably a horse that we could try on the Flat at some stage over a trip. He has an Aga Khan pedigree behind him, and is a horse that could win those staying races on the Flat.”

Ladbrokes go 25-1 from 50s about Snow Falcon in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

While Walsh benefited from a final-fence blunder earlier on the card, the roles were reversed in the Ten Up Novice Chase as Black Hercules crashed out at the last leaving Measureofmydreams to triumph.

Black Hercules was sent off the 4-11 favourite for Walsh and Mullins after winning each of his two chase starts to date, beating Sambremont on the first occasion at this track in December.

Walsh maintained a prominent position throughout the three-mile heat and as the likes of Sub Lieutenant and Pleasant Company began to race in earnest, Black Hercules appeared to be travelling best of all.

Walsh pushed on on the run to the last and he looked like sailing clear only to crash through the fence, leaving stablemate Measureofmydreams in the driving seat.

Paul Townend only had to keep him going on the run to the line to win by five lengths from Noble Endeavour with Pleasant Company a further 18 lengths back in third.