GENTLEMAN De Mee (155+) made extremely light work of winning the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase with a second successive dominant performance of front running.
Since switching to making the running, the son of Saint Des Saints has looked a vastly improved model and posted a time-figure at Naas last Saturday which entitles him to a further step up in grade.
In truth, the race was never a contest as the six-year-old built up an unassailable lead by the end of the back straight and, although the chasing pack closed on the approach to the third last fence, it was only because Mark Walsh allowed his mount to slow down when seeing the distance back to Streets Of Doyen (137).
Grange Walk (139) closed to within around seven lengths at the second last before Walsh asked his partner to stretch again and he duly delivered, ensuring the gap widened again to 15 lengths for seemingly little effort.
Alohamora
(110) completed a double for James Nash in the concluding race on the Naas card and, while admittedly nowhere near Gentleman De Mee’s overall time, the eight-year-old posted a final circuit time just 2.5secs slower than the graded winner.
Having now won three of her last four starts over fences, the mare is worth noting if taking up an engagement at Fairyhouse where she boasts form figures of 41512, including winning on her sole chase start at the Co Meath track.
Fiveaftermidnight (110) finished to equally good effect and may well have prevailed with a better jump at either of the last two fences. A change of headgear reenergised Philip Rothwell’s mare who obviously likes Navan where she has yet to finish out of the places in three visits.
On the clock
Gavin Cromwell went a winner better than James Nash registering a treble on the card with the pick of them on the clock Vera Verto (126) who landed the opening maiden hurdle following a protracted battle with Douglas Dc (126).
The feature of the closing stages was how far clear the front two powered after jumping the last level with third-placed Only Sky (113). The closing sectionals were the fastest on the day over hurdles to confirm the visual impression.
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