Tommy Treacy took the riding honours at Navan on Saturday when completing a 14 to 1 double, highlighted by the stylish victory of Delphi Lodge in the four-runner Fortria Handicap Chase.
The Tom Taaffe-trained grey was patiently ridden by Treacy in this Grade 3 event and, after Merry Gale dropped away in the straight, the eight-year-old readily accounted for the only remaining challenger Papillon by one and a half lengths.
Uneasy 2 to 1 favourite Jeffell was "never travelling" according to Conor O'Dwyer and, having been pulled up over half a mile out, was later found to be "clinically abnormal" on veterinary examination.
Taaffe nominated the First National Bank Handicap Chase at Ascot on November 21st as the next objective for Delphi Lodge, providing the gelding recovers from a gash sustained in this win.
Treacy followed up an hour later, and brought his seasonal tally to 13, when Siberian Gale justified favouritism in the Brookfield Beginners Chase (Division II). Paddy Mullins's charge was always travelling strongly, and Treacy oozed confidence in the straight to beat Total Success by six lengths.
Nomadic was all the rage for the Lismullen Hurdle but was unable to find any extra after the last when headed by Commanche Court, who stayed on well in the closing stages under Ruby Walsh to score by six lengths.
To Your Honour proved a popular order with punters in the For Auction Novice Hurdle, and appreciated the testing conditions when aggressively ridden by Fran Flood to beat Super High by six lengths.
