MONBEG Notorious followed up his Thyestes Chase success with a narrow call over stablemate Mossback in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan.

The Gordon Elliott-trained pair had the four-runner affair between them in the closing stages and it was Monbeg Notorious who led home a one-two for owners Gigginstown House Stud.

Moulin A Vent set out to make all but was a sitting duck for the Elliott duo, who pounced with two fences left. Monbeg Notorious (5/4 favourite) led before the last, but in the end was all out under Jack Kennedy to prevail by half a length. Moulin A Vent was left 19 lengths away in third.

Monbeg Notorious was cut to 6/1 from 10/1 for the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham with Paddy Power.

Elliott said: "They are two grand, honest, galloping horses - big staying chasers. They are both in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and we'll see what happens. They wouldn't want firm ground."

It was a Grade 2 one-two double for Elliott after Diamond Cauchois' win over Lieutenant Colonel in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle.

Rank outsider Maggio took them along in the two-mile, five-furlong contest but was tackled on either side by Diamond Cauchois and Bapaume as they turned for home.

Elliott's 4/6 favourite mastered Bapaume after jumping two out, with Willie Mullins' runner stopping quite quickly, and Diamond Cauchois stormed home to score by nine lengths, in the hands of Davy Russell, with his stable companion Lieutenant Colonel catching Bapaume for second.

Elliott said: "He's a grand horse and loves that soft ground. The ground will probably decide where we go with him but he's won two good pots for us this year so we are very happy."

Elliott's third winner of the day was a second on the card for Russell. The 5/4 favourite Lackaneen Leader took the P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Mares Handicap Hurdle by three and a half lengths from the James Barcoe-trained Allez Kal.

Then Lisa O'Neill brought up the trainer's four-timer with victory in the Flower Hill (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. She partnered Master Of Tara who won by two and a quarter lengths and at odds of 5/2.

This win also added to the tally of that gelding's owner Gigginstown House Stud, making it a treble on the card for that operation following the wins of Monbeg Notorious and Dis Donc. The latter registered a deserved victory in the Get Your 2018 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle.

Noel Meade's French recruit hit the crossbar on his previous three outings, but in good company, and raced towards the head of the chasing pack as Justice Ears blazed a trail in the testing conditions.

The leader's race was over when he was swamped three out, with Dis Donc and Antey going on.

Avellino wasn't far away until a slight error at the last put paid to her chance, and Dis Donc (4/1) kept going well to repel the late rally of Antey by a neck. They came close together on the run to the line but the stewards decided not to amend the result.

Meade said: "He looked like he was going to win a minute and then he was lucky to win in the end. He might not like to be in front too long, but I think he might like better ground as well. When he won in France, it was on fast ground."

HARD-FOUGHT

Drumconnor Lad broke his duck over fences with a hard-fought triumph in the Race Displays Event Signage Rated Novice Chase.

Despite having just the two previous starts in this sphere under his belt, Adrian Keatley's eight-year-old was sent off the 4/6 favourite in a four-runner field that was taken along by the considerably more experienced Robin Des Mana.

Drumconnor Lad progressed to touch down over three out in a share of the lead, only for Robin Des Mana to go on again, but as stamina came into it, Drumconnor Lad battled back and passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good.

Keatley said: "I'm happy with that. The trip was a little bit short for him but when we saw the race, we couldn't turn away the opportunity. The conditions suited him as he hadn't got a rating yet.

"We'll be looking forward to him when the ground gets a bit nicer. It was slow-motion stuff out there today and when they crossed the line, they nearly stopped to a standstill.

"I'm delighted to get him to win and hopefully there is a good pot in him in the spring."

Teenager De Benno continues to roll back the years and proved too strong for his Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle opponents.

James Grace's grey has been performing well in competitive handicap chases but is nearly 30lbs better off over the smaller obstacles, and Trevor Ryan set out to make all.

Supporters of Fruits Of Glory, Wings Of Arion and Admiral Brian will have had cause for optimism at some point early in the straight, but De Benno had plenty more to offer and stretched away again to dispose of Admiral Brian by five lengths.

Grace said of the 3/1 joint-favourite: "I said during the week with the form he was in over fences and the weight he had that he was a certainty, and he's done it really well. He pings hurdles and doesn't jump them big like he does fences.

"There is a Grade B (Shamrock) handicap chase over two-mile-two at Gowran in three weeks' time and that's where he'll head for."

Read the full Navan report in next weekend's edition of The Irish Field