NORA’S GOING BATTY!
KILFENORA was the star of the show at Navan yesterday as he shrugged aside top weight in the €50,000 Navan Handicap Hurdle to look every inch a graded horse.
The Eddie Harty-trained eightyear-old was returning to action two months after winning the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas and looked to face a stiff assignment.
However, Mark Walsh’s mount was more than equal to the task as he defied a career high rating of 143 in style.
Kilfenora moved to the head of the field with three to jump and he found plenty in the closing stages to defeat the progressive Alfa Mix by a length and a quarter.
“He’s a smart horse. After this we may have to look at graded race options for him but we’ll enjoy today before making any plans,” reported a delighted Eddie Harty.
Later on the card the top class novice hurdler Minella Indo got off the mark over fences in the three mile beginners chase.
The Henry de Bromhead inmate was given a decent test by Captain Cj but after jumping and travelling well he ran out a length and a half winner under Rachael Blackmore.
There should be much more to come from this seven-year-old in the spring and he now heads straight to the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
Earlier Gordon Elliott took the wraps off a smart looking type in Floueur who won the rated novice hurdle.
The Davy Russell-ridden fiveyear-old justified strong support beforehand with a determined two and a quarter lengths victory over Cayd Boy.