FOUND A Fifty (11/4) emulated the mighty Big Zeb in becoming one of only a pair of triple winners of the Bar 1 Betting Fortria Chase (Grade 2), rediscovering his old spark to provide Gordon Elliott with a treble on day one of the Navan Racing Festival.

Ground-related withdrawals have been garnering plenty of attention at Cheltenham this weekend, but Navan, which raced on ground officially described as yielding, good to yielding places on the chase course, was not immune to the same challenges on Saturday. Most notably, Willie Mullins opted to make big-race favourite Majborough a non-runner in the Fortria (just as he did with Mighty Park in the beginners’ chase), and that withdrawal changed the shape of this race considerably.

Two-mile regular Solness, fit from a recent flat maiden win, tried to test the readiness of his rivals but Jack Kennedy delivered a confident ride on Bective Stud’s stalwart, who is closing in on his 10th birthday. Only By Night - the springer in the market as 6/4 favourite - attempted to throw down a challenge from off the pace but had no answer to the game winner, who finished a length and a half in front of eye-catching stablemate Touch Me Not.

Found A Fifty is now the winner of 10 races from 25 starts in his career and has been prolific at this level. He has collected on six of his nine appearances in Grade 2 company, and was only beaten a head by Corbetts Cross in another of those.

Elliott, now the most successful trainer in Fortria history on four wins, said: “He's some horse! He always gets us out of trouble, in fairness to him. I was a bit nervous before the race; I said he's not getting any younger, but Navan is Noel and Valerie Moran’s local track and we said we would target everything for it. We’re a little bit light this year and that one there is very important. That will make the week good now.

“He jumped a little bit right down the back straight and I was a bit worried, but I was sort of happy when Solness dropped out of it and there was nothing on his outside. In fairness to him, he was very, very gutsy. A great performance.

“Today was the plan and we have him in the Hilly Way. We’lll see what way the ground is. He won that race at Cork last year and he seems to be better early in the season than late on.

“We hope he wins plenty more this season but he has done us proud now. If he comes back and wins it next year, we will be delighted. He’s very good around here. Touch Me Not ran well too.”

The Cullentra handler opened his account for the day in the Grade 3 Bar 1 Betting For Auction Novice Hurdle with the improving Thinkitdontjinxit, who was dismounted as a precaution after the line but is reportedly absolutely fine since.

Elliott had another 1-2 in the Jimmy & Sheila Owens Irish EBF Beginners Chase as the experienced Wingmen edged out the returning Bleu De Vassy, who ran a big race in defeat and traded as short as 1/50 in-running.