Madden takes the honours

The Navan meeting on Saturday brought little Christmas cheer for punters, with Mark Madden partnering a 441 to 1 double aboard Coralpha and Shiny Bay.

Coralpha caused a major shock in the first of the maiden hurdles. The Pat Fahy-trained 33 to 1 chance, who paid a massive £916.40 for a win on the Tote, led on the run-in to beat Just Two by two lengths.

Madden, from Loughrea, Co Galway, produced Shiny Bay to lead at the penultimate flight in the Roast Turkey Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old was soon in command and held off Chase The Lightnin, who stayed on best, by two and a half lengths at the post.

David O'Leary, a 7lb claimer from Listowel, also had a day to remember when Keelaun Express gave him his first racecourse victory when taking the Reindeer Handicap Hurdle in fine style. The five-year-old mare was sent on before the last and held the late surge of Aerleon Pete by a length.

Alpha Blues, an odds-on failure at Punchestown earlier this month, again proved a friend to the bookmakers in the Carol Maiden Hurdle. The 8 to 13 market leader could find no extra from the home turn, finishing a soundly beaten sixth. Jason Titley moved on to the 30 winner mark for the campaign here when driving Shvera right out in the closing stages to hold off My Native Donegal by a fast-diminishing neck. The Jackpot pool of of £13,978 was sent forward to January 9th after the victory of Third Agenda in the EBF Beginners Chase.