GEAROID O’Loughlin gave a positive report on stable star Jeannot Lapin ahead of his run in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan today.

Bought for just £3,000 after three starts in point-to-points, the imposing chesnut defied odds of 150/1 when winning a beginners chase on rules debut at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Pitched at Grade 1 level next time out in the Irish Arkle, the Dominic Jones-owned gelding finished a creditable fourth, with five lengths separating him from the third horse, Firefox.

“We were delighted with him, we thought it was a very good run,” O’Loughlin reflected when speaking to The Irish Field. “He’s probably a little bit unlucky in that they’re a very good bunch of novices this year.”

While today’s race marks a drop down in grade, Jeannot Lapin faces a formidable rival in Champ Kiely. A Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, Willie Mullins’ charge impressed on his chasing debut, before finishing fourth to Ballyburn in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

On today’s chances, O’Loughlin commented: “When you’re taking on a Grade 1 hurdler, it’s never going to be easy, but our lad is in very good form and we’re happy to take our chance.

“He likes Navan – he’s been there once or twice schooling. The ground is a little bit of an unknown, I just hope it doesn’t get too gluey.”

Jeannot Lapin and Champ Kiely currently head the market, followed by Gordon Elliott’s What’s Up Darling, who finished second to O’Loughlin’s representative at Leopardstown.