THE Yellow Clay was the feature leg of a Gordon Elliott four-timer at Navan on Saturday, but the 4/11 favourite certainly left it late in a thrilling finish to the Grade 2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle.

He tracked Fleur In The Park throughout and came under pressure in his pursuit of the leader approaching the last flight.

Fleur In The Park kept finding for Cian Quirke on the run-in, but was worn down by The Yellow Clay and Sam Ewing, who used every yard of this two-and-a-half-mile trip to get up by a neck for Bective Stud.

Elliott said: “He had his head in front at the right time, which is always a good sign in a horse. I’d say the second horse got a good ride, he got the fractions right and he kicked at the right time.

“He is winning, so that is all that matters. He’s learning how to race.”

Boum works her magic

Magic Boum (10/1) was another for Elliott, Ewing and Bective Stud in Division 1 of the Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle.

The whole complexion of this race changed when 1/3 favourite, and leader, Kaid d’Authie departed at the fifth flight.

This left Magic Boum at the head of affairs and she dictated for the remainder of the race. A mistake at the last did her no favours, but she saw it out by three-parts of a length for Bective Stud.

Elliott said: “I thought she would run a nice race there and maybe go back for a bumper but, with the favourite falling, the race was there.

“Being in front so long probably didn’t suit her. After the mistake at the last, she was tough.”

In the nick of time

Ewing and Bective Stud secured their trebles through Elliott’s Sa Fureur in the Listed Timeless Sash Windows Foxrock Handicap Steeplechase.

This 143-rated chaser raced in mid-division and made good progress from three out. He got on terms at the next and took over in jumping the last. From there, the 9/4 favourite stayed on stoutly to score by three and three-quarter lengths.

Elliott said: “He stays well and he’s a grand horse. He could end up being a Galway Plate horse. We’ll see, maybe the Dublin Racing Festival (next).”

Favourite obliges

He Can’t Dance was workmanlike in landing the odds for Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in the Skryne GAA Day Out At Navan Racecourse Flat Race over two miles.

The 2/9 favourite made all under Harry Swan and saw off a persistent Coyote Spirit by three and a half lengths, with the front pair finishing clear of the remainder.

“He’s better than that, they just didn’t go much of a gallop. He will be a nice horse,” said Elliott.

“He’s probably more of a jumper than anything, more of a two and a half miler, but we will take our time with him this year. He mightn’t have to do a whole lot this year.”

ILE Atlantique made an impressive transition to fences in the QuinnBet Beginners Steeplechase over an extended two and a half miles.

Willie Mullins’ Coastal Path gelding was Grade 1-placed over hurdles and showed that he has plenty of scope for fences.

He made all under Paul Townend and jumped notably well, before moving clear racing to the final fence. The 5/4 favourite was far from troubled in coming home by nine lengths for owner Tony Bloom.

Townend said: “He does (have a cut at his fences) and I just let him learn today on it as well - he had to figure it out a bit himself. We could have gone out and winged everything, but he would learn more if he could do it himself.

“He rides a stronger horse this year. There were question marks about him seeing out his races before, but I think he has just needed all the time. A fence will help him with that as well, and maturity.”

Grade 1 bumper winner returns

Mullins and Townend were on the scoresheet earlier with Jasmin De Vaux (1/3f) in the Headfort Arms Hotel Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The five-year-old gelding, in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, was always in the front rank in this big field.

He led over the last, where he made a slight mistake, and climbed the rising ground well to draw four and a quarter lengths clear of The Enabler in second.

Townend said: “The engine is there, but the jumping needs work. He’ll get confidence - a bit more practice is what he needs.

“It is a lot harder to put an engine in one than teach him to jump.”

MARK Fahey and Swords Bloodstock Limited picked up a valuable prize in the €100,000 Listed Bective Stud, Tea Rooms and Apartments Handicap Hurdle.

In-form five-year-old gelding Flicker Of Hope came into the race having won three of his last four starts. Partnered by five-pound conditional Aidan Kelly, he won a three-way thrust for the line by a short head and rewarded his backers at 8/1.

Fahey said: “Aidan was brilliant on him, mighty on him! He knows him well.

“He probably won’t go at Christmas time, we will try and see what is after Christmas for him. If there is something there at the Dublin Racing Festival, we will go there.

“I’ve won a couple of Grade 3 races and Listed races, but pot-wise this is the biggest pot I’ve won.”

Smart prospect

Point-to-point winner Goraibhmaithagat showed an aptitude for hurdling on rules debut in Division 2 of the Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle.

Colm Murphy’s charge closed after the penultimate flight and was on terms with Autoportrait at the last. Simon Torrens soon sent him on and the duo took the honours by two lengths at 16/1.

Frank Berry, racing manager to J.P. McManus, said: “He did it nicely and jumped well and everything - delighted with him. They mightn’t have gone mad in the race, but you’d like the way he picked them up and stayed on.