HARVARD Guy completed a hat-trick of wins with a gutsy success in the Listed Navan Handicap Hurdle last Saturday.

The Telescope gelding, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, went to post a well-backed 7/4 favourite in the two-and-a-half mile contest after two previous course-and-distance wins.

Mark Walsh had to work on the J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old as he chased down the game front-runner Kilbree Warrior in the closing stages. Harvard Guy had to dig deep to reel in the leader on the run-in and record a three-quarters-of-a-length success.

“It was hard fought. In fairness to the second horse, I thought he had gone mad on the ground but nearly got there,” said Eddie Harty.

“I’d say that would rule him out of Leopardstown [for the Dublin Racing Festival], I don’t think you could turn out after that run on that ground. I don’t think he’ll recover enough to go three miles.

“He’s had a cracking season and if they said to me ‘that’ll do him for the year’ you couldn’t be disappointed with the season. He’s a lovely horse and he has a future over fences, he jumps very well.

“He’s improved physically and mentally from race to race. He’s becoming a racehorse now.”

Patience pays off

C’est Ta Chance was all the rage in the bumper but he lost out in a cracking finish to Barry Connell-trained newcomer William Munny.

The 8/13 favourite hit the front two and a half furlongs from home but was joined in the closing stages by the Westerner gelding, who just had his head in front close home for a short-head success at odds of 6/1.

Connell said: “We knew we’d win a bumper with him. He’s a six-year-old so he’s had loads of time. He was very keen last year and with the extra year, and a bit of maturity, he’s settling better.

“I think he’ll come on for it because he was very green. When Finny [Maguire] went to put him into the gap between the two favourites, he didn’t really know what he was at or where he was going.

“Eventually he got through it and they had to keep quickening. I don’t know how good he’s going to be down the line but he’s definitely a nice horse to have.”

MINELLA Cocooner put his name in the hat for Cheltenham after a cosy success in the Jack Kiernans 55 Years Beginners Chase.

Paul Townend went on after a few fences on the 11/10 favourite and David Bobbett’s Flemensfirth gelding skipped clear at the last to record an easy two-and-three-quarter-length win over Senior Chief.

Patrick Mullins was representing his father, Willie, after the race, and said: “It was a huge improvement from his first run but obviously he’d had a long time off with injuries. He jumped spectacularly there and seemed a lot more settled than he was in his hurdling days.

“He’s qualified now [for the National Hunt Chase], as he’s had two runs and been placed over three miles.

“You’d definitely have to put his name in the hat for that. There is the Brown Advisory as well, obviously he was second in the Albert Bartlett so he has plenty of class.”

Mullins had also struck in the opening Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle as Asian Master ran out an easy winner for the Costello family.

Thomas Costello did the steering on the 4/6 favourite and asked his mount to grab the lead before the final flight. The Shirocco gelding soon asserted to beat Better Days Ahead by 10 lengths.

The winning rider said: “I thought my horse travelled very sweet and I could see Jack Kennedy niggling his lad to stay in front. I thought he travelled way better than him everywhere and jumped better.

“I fancied him today and thought he’d win to be honest. His work at home was very good, he has a fantastic attitude and takes everything in his stride.

“We’re enjoying every day we have with him and fingers crossed, if he stays safe and lucky, we’ll have another few days out of him.”