SENECIA served up a major shock when the 50/1 outsider landed the Grade 2 BoyleSports Webster Cup Chase over an extended two miles and four furlongs on Saturday.

Phillip Enright made all on the eight-year-old gelding and try as 4/11 favourite El Fabiolo did from two out, he was unable to pass the game leader. Enright drove Vincent Halley’s charge home by a length and a quarter in this feature.

Owner Laurence Halley said: “Wonderful, wonderful! A brave horse and he’s a great jumper. Navan has been a lucky place for me, I won the Fortria with Arctic Skipper and Sean Flanagan in 2016. We got home a short head from all the big boys again! I’d say it will be Fairyhouse next or Punchestown.”

Champ Kiely was a straightforward winner of the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Steeplechase. The 30/100 favourite faced three rivals and Paul Townend had him in front from flagfall.

His main rival, Jeannot Lapin, stayed with him for a long time, but was outgunned between the final two fences. Once Champ Kiely cleared the last, he came in by a comfortable eight lengths for Margaret Masterson.

Willie Mullins said: “He put in a good round of jumping and galloped to the line. Coming back to two miles wasn’t any harm to him, so I’m very pleased with him. He could go to the WillowWarm (Gold Cup) at Fairyhouse over two and a half miles.”

Swinging home

Gordon Elliott’s Swing Davis was left clear at the last to scoop the first prize in the Pick Your Places At BoyleSports Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

She was tussling with stablemate Speculatrix at the final flight, but the latter took a fall there to allow Swing Davis and Sam Ewing to oblige by eight and a half lengths at 15/8 for Robcour.

Elliott said: “Sam thought he might have had Danny (Gilligan on Speculatrix) covered, no doubt Danny will say the same when I talk to him! We will see where we go with Swing Davis, we will see if we can get a bit of blacktype with her. She has it in bumpers.”

Elliott, Ewing and Robcour doubled up with 1/2 favourite Sermandzarak in the Navan Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles and six furlongs.

He enjoyed the step up in trip as he picked off Bossofthebrownies before the last and stayed on well to open up by four and a half lengths.

The trainer said: “He galloped out well there, good attitude. I’d say up in trip definitely suited him, he’s tough and he stays galloping.”

O’Callaghan on cloud nine

MICHAEL O’Callaghan was on hand to saddle a rare National Hunt runner in Positive Energy who justified 2/1 favouritism in the Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle.

Sean Flanagan brought him to challenge Raydamann after the penultimate flight and he got the better of that rival before the last. Flanagan kept him up to his work along the run-in to see off Springhill Warrior by a length and a half for owner M.J. Smith.

This was Positive Energy’s stable debut and jumping bow after eight runs on the flat for Willie McCreery that saw him win a handicap at Navan in October.

O’Callaghan said: “It was a good effort on that ground because heavy jumping ground is different to heavy flat ground. We bought him as a dual-purpose horse for a bit of fun. We will see where we go now. He might have a few runs on the flat and there might be a novice hurdle for him in Galway in the summer.”

A change of scenery saw Dunboyne win for the first time in more than two years in the BoyleSports Money Back On Every Race At Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle.

The 10-year-old gelding’s last piece of meaningful form was a fourth place in the Troytown at Navan in 2023 which saw him go off 66/1 on this first assignment for Ian Donoghue.

He tracked the leaders for James Smith and disputed the lead after four out. He led narrowly after the next, but was joined by Chosen Diamond after the penultimate obstacle. The veteran dug deep to shake off that rival before the last and powered home by six lengths.

Donoghue said: “We have had horses for Stephen (O’Connor, owner) the last three or four years. I was actually at him last year when he was pulling up in those runs to get him as an open horse.

“When he pulled up in Leopardstown over Christmas, he said he would try a change of scenery.

“We said we would give him a go over hurdles just to sweeten him up. The Ulster National is next now.”

Prince takes the crown jewels

PRINCE Palace (7/2) won a good pot for the Thethreeofus Syndicate in the Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old gelding was noted making headway for Harry Sexton three out and the pair improved to second racing to the next.

They took over in jumping and beat Shantreusse by three lengths in this €45,000 contest. Trainer Pat Fahy said: “He never won anything before, but he has been coming nicely.

“I was hoping that a top rider would come in, a young lad that would work. He doesn’t care what sort of work it takes to get going, he will work. He can ride into the bargain and is willing to listen.”

Lilian Bland (9/2) wasn’t winning out of turn in the NavanRacecourse.ie Mares Handicap Chase over the extended two and a half miles.

She was always close to the pace and took over after the third-last fence. She didn’t relent on the run-in as she drew six lengths clear for Richie Deegan.

Owner/trainer Niall Hennessy said: “She’s not winning out of turn, she has been to every rodeo this year. There’s a handicap chase in Thurles, that she won last year, in two weeks time and I would imagine that is where we will go.”