DEATH Duty went a long way to cementing his position as the country’s pre-eminent staying novice hurdler with a display of some quality in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle and on a day when Gordon Elliott ran riot with a four-timer.

Now unbeaten in three starts over timber, Death Duty has more than earned a shot at the big time early next month with a comprehensive success in what looked a cracking edition of this two and a half-mile contest.

Even with the defection of Baltazar D’Allier and Labaik’s refusal to race, this was still a quality affair and Invitation Only promised to provide Death Duty with a stern test of his credentials. However, Invitation Only could only manage third as Death Duty took this latest rise in class in his stride.

Fresh from a maiden win at Roscommon and a Grade 3 triumph over this course and distance last month the Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Shantou oozed class at all stages under Bryan Cooper. He jumped and travelled well in second while after three out it was clear that a labouring Invitation Only would struggle to land a telling blow.

The front-running Monalee provided the stiffest resistence to Death Duty but he gave best nearing the last as the 6/4 second favourite asserted in commanding fashion. At the line, Elliott’s charge had three and three-quarter lengths to spare with Invitation Only a further length and a half back.

“He’s a nice horse,” reflected a typically understated Elliott. “We do like him a lot and I felt he’d improved since the last day and Bryan said that he felt a lot more on the ball today. The plan is to go for the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas on January 8th. At this stage I’d say he’s more of an Albert Bartlett type.”

MASTERCLASS

Cooper then gave a masterclass on Elliott’s Automated in the €50,000 Tara Handicap Hurdle.

This five-year-old had shown up well in a couple of decent handicaps in recent weeks but this two and half-mile trip represented something of an unknown, with the result that Cooper bided his time at the rear.

Even as the runners turned for home, Automated was last but the well-backed 8/1 chance cruised up to emerge as the biggest threat to Scoir Mear coming away from the last. The front two left the remainder for dead as they sprinted for home and Automated picked up best to score by a length and a quarter. There was a gap of 20 lengths back to the third-placed Gurteen.

“Bryan gave him a peach of a ride,” said Elliott of the David Spratt-owned gelding. “He doesn’t do much when he gets there and Bryan timed it just right on him. He’s won a good pot there so I’d say we will leave him until the New Year.

The four-timer was completed by the very promising Samcro, who followed in the footsteps of Don Cossack and Death Duty by taking the Listed Future Champions Flat Race. A smooth debut win at Punchestown meant that the Jamie Codd-ridden and Gigginstown-owned son of Germany headed the market at 1/3. The race itself turned into something of sprint and the front-running Samcro never came under maximum pressure, but Jamie Codd did need to get quite animated for the four-year-old to account for Good Thyne Tara by half a length.

“He’s a horse we do like a lot. It was a cat and mouse race and he’d probably have done more at home but Jamie never had to hit him,” declared Elliott. “I’d say he’ll have one more run this season either at Fairyhouse at Easter or at the Punchestown Festival.”

Elliott’s third winner of the day came courtesy of the J.P. McManus-owned Glenloe in the John Lynch Carpets Maiden Hurdle. The 118-rated son of Kayf Tara was returned a very well-backed 6/4 favourite but he was all out to deny Call The Taxie. Indeed, it was only by a neck that Glenloe scrambled home in this near three-mile contest. The second favourite and former multiple Group 3-placed German import Madurai was reported to be lame after finishing a remote and never-nearer fifth.

“It was a weak enough race and he was a bit keen but he’s a grand horse and is bred to be a staying chaser,” stated Elliott. Cilaos Emery (5/4) began his jumping career in style in the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle to build on the substantial promise of his debut win in a Punchestown bumper last April. The Califet gelding made much of the running and had plenty in reserve to deal with the favourite Joey Sasa in the closing stages. Following an assured round of jumping, Ruby Walsh’s mount was particularly quick at the last, which settled the outcome. At the line, the Luke McMahon-owned four-year-old had half a dozen lengths in hand.

“He looked good in his bumper and showed that again today. I thought it was a brave effort from the front and hopefully he’s one that will improve through the season. We’ll look for a novice hurdle in the new year,” declared Willie Mullins.

HUGHES DOUBLE

Sandra Hughes made it an across-the-card double as Total Recall bagged the two and a half-mile rated novice chase where he delivered on his penultimate fourth to Anibale Fly. Roger Loughran had the 9/2 chance showing in front from the third last and the pair were always holding Crest, who went down by seven lengths. The winner carries the colours of the Slaneyville Syndicate, stalwart supporters of the Hughes yard.

The locally trained pair of Effernock Lad (11/2) and Flemenstorm (12/1) served up a tremendous finale in the Round O Pub & Restaurant Handicap Chase after which the pair were inseparable.

Gerry Keane’s Effernock Lad, who was ridden by Mark Flanagan, had to fight hard on the run-in to hold off Flemenstorm and the heavily-backed favourite Coolaghknock Glebe.

On his first run since April, the latter could do no more and it was left to Flemenstorm, who Sean Flanagan rode for Eddie Cawley, to force a dead-heat as he made his first appearance in 10 months.

Suspension

The errant Labaik was handed a 42-day ban from racing after refusing to race in the Grade 2 novice hurdle.

Rachel Blackmore was given a three-day suspension for her efforts on Call The Taxie, who lost out to Glenloe in the maiden hurdle.

Sean Flanagan picked up a one-day ban after weighing in a 1.8lbs overweight on High Expectations in the featured handicap hurdle.

ACTING STEWARDS

T. Hunt, Mrs. R. Ross, S. Power, R. Dore, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

ARVICO BLEU (H. de Bromhead): A dual runner-up in points, this gelding finished a very respectable third to Cilaos Emery when making his racecourse debut in the maiden hurdle. A similar contest can fall his way before long.