A campaign that started with a whimper over fences sparked right back to life for Hiddenvalley Lake in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle, as the unexposed seven-year-old rewarded strong market support to take out Navan’s Grade 2 feature for Robcour.

A Grade 3 novice hurdle winner who was the final finisher in last season’s Albert Bartlett, he didn’t jump like a complete natural over fences when sent chasing at this track in December and falling at the third last. This was much more like it from the Henry de Bromhead-trained youngster, though.

He picked up smartly under Darragh O’Keeffe and was always doing enough to hold Beacon Edge by three and a quarter lengths as 3/1 favourite.

In truth, it worked out an excellent opportunity for this improver, with leading fancies Blazing Khal (pulled up and clinically abnormal post race) and Ashdale Bob (weakened to be beaten 15 lengths in fifth) failing to fire, and Gordon Elliott’s top-rated runners Sire Du Berlais (last of seven finishers), Delta Work (safely held in sixth) and Galvin (an eyecatching fourth) building to spring targets.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “The plan was obviously to go chasing but it took him a little bit of time to recover from [falling on] his first start over fences. When it was getting a bit late in the season, we thought we’d come back over hurdles and then probably go chasing next season.

“He loves heavy ground and Darragh said the further he went the better he jumped. It’s great to win this. He stays three miles as well. We’ll have a look at all the big festivals and see what the options are.”

Dev delivers

There was also a happy return to Navan on the same card for Young Dev, who finished with a flourish to land the three-mile William Hill Extra Place Races Every Day Handicap Chase for Denis Hogan, Daniel King and Liam Mulryan.

The now seven-time winner had memorably won the same race back in 2021 when jockey Hugh Morgan’s right stirrup broke on his way to an unlikely success. Speaking after the three-and-three-quarter-length victory, King said: “He jumped savage and his jumping took me into it. He loves the ground and three miles, even further is better for him.”

Meade back in business

There was a local and welcome success for Noel Meade in the opening Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle when 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Helvic Dream got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles.

Sam Ewing had to be at his best aboard Finbar Cahill and Tom Hendron’s high-class campaigner after a mistake halted his momentum badly. However, he stayed on with purpose to collect by half a length, providing Meade with a first winner since late November.

“I’d say he will be better when he gets a little bit better ground,” said Meade. “He’s still novicey for anything big, so I would have thought we’ll try and get another run into him somewhere and then tip along.”