SPACE Cadet looks set to be targeted at the Ladbrokes Troytown Chase at Navan following his somewhat unorthodox preparation for a tilt at the valuable handicap, with victory in the open lightweight for novice riders.

Formerly with Gordon Elliott, the nine-year-old was having his first outing for former point-to-point rider Gearóid O’Loughlin when sent off as a 6/1 shot for his first run since pulling-up in Punchestown’s Grand National Trial in February.

Space Cadet with Owner Chris and Robert Jones, Trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin and Jockey Ben Harvey after winning the Open Lightweight Race \ Healy Racing

With 18-year-old Ben Harvey in the plate, the pair narrowly got the better of the reigning Barbour Cup winner, Some Are Lucky, by a length.

“He won’t be staying point-to-point, he is probably a year too young I’d say, and we will go for the Troytown now hopefully,” said O’Loughlin of the Chris Jones-owned son of Flemensfirth, who is one of seven horses that he has in training.

“This is the first year that I have trained him, and I just wanted to put a smile on his face and get him to win again. He might have another run before the Troytown at The Pigeons in a fortnight.”

Worth while trip For Rita

The trip from Banteer in Cork proved to be a fruitful one for Louis Archdeacon, as he sent out For Rita (6-7/1) to spring something of a shock in the mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Doyen had been unable to better her close fourth at Borris House last December in four subsequent outings during the 2018/19 campaign, but with a change of tactics employed, which saw Cal Shine steer her to an all-the-way success, she gamely defeated Sani Pass by a length and a half.

For Rita travelled from Cork to win the 5 and 6YO Mares Maiden race with Cal Shine \ Healy Racing

The winning handler, who has five horses in training for the autumn out of a team of 14, will keep his wife Michelle’s six-year-old between the flags.