Clopf survives late drama

Racing : Edward O'Grady's one-time Champion Hurdle hope Clopf made a successful start to his chasing career with a narrow success…

Racing: Edward O'Grady's one-time Champion Hurdle hope Clopf made a successful start to his chasing career with a narrow success in the Happy Days Beginners Chase at Navan.

Quatre Heures made a bold bid from the front but a mistake three out allowed the smooth-travelling Clopf to draw alongside the leader and go clear after the second-last under Andrew McNamara.

However, the 7-4 joint-favourite stopped dramatically on the run to the line, allowing Quatre Heures to get back in contention, but the post came in time for Clopf, who held on by three-quarters of a length.

Paddy Power cut the seven-year-old to 16-1 from 20s for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Cashmans going 20s from 33s.

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O'Grady said: "I was probably a bit easy on him since Christmas, the gallops were flooded and he's not done much. But he galloped on Wednesday and gave a big blow afterwards.

"They went a hell of a gallop and I thought he jumped quite well. We may go to Naas for a winners race in two weeks' time and take it from there."

Larkwing notched his second success over hurdles when outgunning Boulavogue to land the Navan Golf Club Open For Membership Hurdle.

Eric McNamara's charge travelled supremely well throughout under Barry Geraghty, cruising just behind the leaders before joining Boulavogue in front two from home.

Asked to assert after the last, the 11-10 favourite couldn't fully shake off Boulavogue, who went down fighting by a length and a quarter.

Geraghty said: "He winged his hurdles, although he got a bit close to the last. But he was always going to win and he found plenty after the last."

Joanna Morgan revealed that Raise Your Heart could go for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 10 following his victory in the opening New Arkle Bar Maiden Hurdle.