Cockney Lad delighted trainer Noel Meade and jockey Barry Geraghty when beating hot favourite Theatreworld in the £15,000 Liz Mullen Hurdle at Navan on Saturday. Confidently ridden by 19year-old Geraghty, Cockney Lad appeared full of running going to the second last and, safely over the final flight, asserted his superiority to score by nine lengths.
Favourite backers also came unstuck in the Fortria Handicap Chase, in which the top weight Merry Gale faded out of contention from two out on his seasonal debut.
Arctic Weather, despite competing from 5lb out of the handicap, got the better of a spirited duel with Manhattan Castle from two out to land the spoils for trainer Michael O'Brien and stable jockey Tom Rudd.
Manhattan Castle's trainer Arthur Moore and jockey Conor O'Dwyer had better luck earlier when Grey Guy made an impressive debut over fences in the Brookfield Beginners Chase.
"That was the perfect introduction to steeplechasing for Grey Guy. We will keep him to two miles for the first half of the season, and he goes next to Tipperary," reported Moore.
Norman Williamson registered his first victory at Navan when taking the the For Auction Novice Hurdle on Edward O'Grady's Go Roger Go. After Go Roger Go had outpaced the favourite Aboriginal, a delighted Williamson explained: "I have now ridden a winner on every jumping track in Britain and Ireland."
Johnny Murtagh's pre-Christmas Hong Kong stint failed to get off on the right note with two unplaced efforts at Happy Valley on Saturday.
His mount in the opener, Godspeed, finished last of the 11 finishers in the Sunning Handicap after rearing as the gates opened.
Murtagh was 10th of 11 on Vintage in the Caroline Hill Handicap on his only other ride.
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