THE featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase produced a cracking finish at Navan last Saturday as Bushmans Pass landed the lion’s share of the €60,000 pot.

Front-runner Ask Anything travelled strongly down to the second last in the two-mile-seven contest but was pressed over the last by Oliver McKiernan’s charge.

The two settled down to battle it out on the run-in with Bushmans Pass finding a bit more to secure a neck success.

It was a third win over fences this season for the Virtual gelding and McKiernan said afterwards: “It was a good battle. I love a good battle when I win it but I wouldn’t like to be second in a battle like that!”

“We were a bit concerned about the ground as it’s heavy and sticky but I knew this lad would stay.

“He has to have soft ground as he hasn’t great wheels under him. If the ground was soft at Punchestown there is a three-mile, six race and he’d definitely go there.”

Kennedy double

Title leader Jack Kennedy bagged a brace in his quest for a first jockeys’ championship.

He teamed up with boss Gordon Elliott in the opener as Rainbow Trail justified his short price in the Mongey Communications Maiden Hurdle.

The Gigginstown gelding was to the fore throughout and the 8/15 favourite kept on well when asked for an effort over the last flight to post a three-length win over Well Dressed.

“It’s a winner for Jack which is very important. We probably won’t do much more with him until next year when he goes chasing. He’s honest, jumps and stays,” said Elliott.

Kennedy doubled up later on the card when Hardwired landed his fourth win of the season in the Kilberry Handicap Chase.

Ted Walsh’s charge came to dispute turning for home in the two-mile-one contest but looked booked for second when headed by Dutch Schultz over the last.

The 15/2 shot answered gamely on the run-in to get up close home for a three-quarters of a length win in the colours of Zorka Wentworth.

Walsh said: “He stayed at it well. He looked beat going to the last but kept at it well. From being a frustrating horse, he’s now won four. He had a good pilot on board.”

FIVE-time champion jockey Paul Townend was on the scoresheet himself when partnering Chapeau De Soleil to success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding went to post 10/11 joint-favourite and was held up in rear in the two-mile-five contest.

Rich Ricci’s charge was coming to challenge when the other market leader, Twoohthree, blundered at the last and he led on the run-in to post a four-and-a-quarter-length win over that rival.

The winner had finished down the field in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle last time when jumping poorly early on and Townend said: “His race was over after the first two hurdles the last day. He quickened nicely on that ground, which is a hard thing to do today, and impressed me.

“He jumped more professionally and raced more professionally today. He’ll be a fine horse to jump a fence as well.”

Another for Emmet

Emmet Mullins looks to have found another smart prospect in Harbour Highway, who ran out an impressive winner of the concluding bumper.

The Youmzain gelding was picked up for £90,000 following a point-to-point win at Bartlemy last May and went to post a 9/5 shot on his track debut.

Patrick Mullins took the mount for his cousin and had the Paul Byrne-owned gelding to the fore throughout.

Galloped on

The 6/5 favourite Mywayofthinkin gave chase from a furlong out but never looked like pegging back Harbour Highway, who galloped on strongly to post a three and a half-length win.

The winning trainer said afterwards: “That was great. He had shown plenty at home and Patrick had a sit on him on an away day. He was very keen to stick with him wherever he was going to run.

“It was nice to get that done first time out. He was impressive and galloped through the line, hopefully he’ll go on to bigger and better things.

“It’s a few weeks to Punchestown still, there is the winners’ bumper there and maybe even the Champion Bumper. We’ll see how he comes out of it.

“He was a nice purchase at the Cheltenham sale last year. I think a few people knocked him on the day for a wart on his eye but thankfully he was able to see where he was going today!”

PUNCHESTOWN could also be on the cards for Iceberg Theory after he opened his account in the Wesco Electrical Maiden Hurdle.

The Paul Nolan-trained gelding was held up by Sean Flanagan before being produced to dispute at the final flight in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

He soon asserted and pulled clear late on to score by three and three-quarter lengths for owner John Brennan.

The 9/2 winner had been reluctant to leave the parade ring before the race and Nolan said afterwards: “We were a bit worried with the way he was carrying on but Sean said he was only acting the maggot.

“He did it well and maybe we’ll give him a stab at the auction final at Punchestown.”

Lady springs shock

Six went to post in the mares’ handicap hurdle and it was the outsider of the field, Influential Lady, who proved best at odds of 33/1.

The Doyen mare benefitted from a patient ride from Kieran Callaghan as she swooped on the run-in to record a three-and-a-half length success over 5/6 favourite Instant Tendance.

Winning trainer Jimmy Barcoe wasn’t present afterwards and Callaghan said: “She’s been off the track for a while and the plan today was to sneak around and try to pick up any prize money we could.

“It can kind of fell into her lap and she was very good. She was fit and ready and looked great in the paddock beforehand.”