Navan report: The Ted Walsh-trained Jack High secured the plaudits, and the biggest pay day of his career, with a comprehensive success in yesterday's Stanleybet Troytown Chase at Navan.
Sent to the front by jockey Garrett Cotter at the fourth last, those who made Jack High a 5 to 1 favourite for the €85,000, had few worries in the straight as the winner powered six lengths clear of Jaquoille, with Golden Storm in third.
Only eight days previously Jack High's run in a two-and-a-quarter mile race at Punchestown resulted in a running and riding enquiry by the stewards who ended up "noting" the explanations from connections.
Walsh nominated the Paddy Power Chase and the Thyestes as possible future targets for Jack High, who was previously trained by Willie Rock in Co Antrim.
The Troytown finish was a lot more straightforward than the eight-runner Monksfield Novice Hurdle, which saw Sweet Kiln battle back from a difficult position to overhaul Petertheknot.
Sweet Kiln is the lastest star from the James Bowe camp and she has clearly inherited the "tough gene" after a bad mistake at the second last appeared to hand the contest to Petertheknot.
The latter idled noticeably in the lead but there was still much to admire in the way the mare came back to earn a 20 to 1 SunAlliance Hurdle quote from Cashmans.
"I think she has won friends today. That kind of bravery is rare in a horse. She didn't meet any of the last three hurdles right but soft ground and an uphill finish suited her. I suppose it's typical of a Bowe horse!" said Bowe's son, Michael.
"People thought I was mad throwing her in at the deep end here but she's an exceptional mare," he added.
Significantly, Sweet Kiln's time was over nine seconds faster than the later handicap winner Quintet over the same course and distance.
Cashmans were also working after Monsieur Monet justified substantial market support in the maiden hurdle, making the Shane Donohoe trained horse a 33 to 1 shot for the SunAlliance.
"The dream is still alive and we'll see about Cheltenham after he runs at Leopardstown over Christmas," said Donohoe of the half brother to the Gold Cup runner up Sir Rembrandt.
Fota Island might not be a chasing natural but he had more than enough class to win the Beginners' Chase from Zum See. The latter's good jump at the last briefly saw him lead but Conor O'Dwyer did not have to get serious to win.
"I don't know yet if he's up to the Dennys (now the Durkan Homes Chase) but he needs experience and that will do him good. He is not a natural leaper," said JP McManus's representative, Frank Berry.
Leading Run's winning debut in the last resulted in a 33 to 1 quote for the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham.
