Latest Exhibition wore down the unbeaten Andy Dufresne on the dash to the line to spring a surprise in the Navan Novice Hurdle at the Co Meath course on Sunday.

Paul Nolan’s six-year-old had made a bad mistake down the back straight, but quickly got his jumping back on track.

In the meantime, Andy Dufresne was bowling along in front, but the 1/3 hotpot did not jump the third-last accurately and that let in Bryan Cooper to make his move on Latest Exhibition.

A fine leap two out put the 9/2 shot in with every chance and he asserted on the run-in to land the Grade 2 prize by two and a quarter lengths. Conflated was four and a half lengths away in third place, with Sixshooter last of the four.

Nolan said: “Brian said he nearly went down the back straight when he left his legs in a hurdle. It’s nice to be able to recover from that mistake and they went at it plenty early.

“He went up alongside turning in and stayed on well. Stamina is definitely his forte and that’s the way he’s bred as well.

“The plan going out was to keep it simple. We were hoping that one of them would make it and we’d just track them. I thought the last day it turned into a bit of a sprint and it didn’t suit him.”

Nolan has a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown as the next calling point for Latest Exhibition.

“He’s gutsy and hopefully he’ll kick on now. The Lawlor’s in Naas is probably coming a bit soon now and maybe he could go for the two-mile-six-furlong Grade 1 at Leopardstown,” said the Co Wexford handler.

“We probably ran him a bit quick the last day and it doesn’t work out. We’ll make a plan for him now, with the aim being Cheltenham. The Albert Bartlett could be the long-term aim. He probably learned a good bit from the last day as well. Rachael (Blackmore) said he was quite babyish and didn’t know how to race.

“It’s great for myself and Brian. He’s a multiple Grade 1-winning rider, but we all need ammunition. Everyone is in the same situation.”

DECISIVE SUCCESS

Alfa Mix came with a strong run in the centre of the course to record a decisive success in the Tara Handicap Hurdle.

Making his handicap debut, the Gavin Cromwell-trained four-year-old was produced with a well-timed challenge by Jonathan Moore to take the valuable two-and-a-half-mile prize.

Top Moon made a late bid, but was a length and three-quarters behind the 8/1 winner. Drumacco was half a length away in third place.

Cromwell said: “I thought he’d run a nice race and maybe finish fourth or fifth, but it was a big ask for a four-year-old in his first handicap. He’d a lovely weight on his back and jumped well.

“He’s a raw horse and is improving all the time. I think he can keep improving. He was a little bit keen early and we were handier than planned, but it worked out.

“I doubt if he will run at Christmas. He’s a big, raw horse and I’ll look after him.”

DRAMATIC FALL

Captain Guinness capitalised on the dramatic final-flight fall of hot favourite Blackbow to make a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Blackbow had things very much his own way in front, but the pack was closing when Willie Mullins’ charge crashed out.

Rachael Blackmore was bringing Captain Guinness (20/1) with a late run and Henry de Bromhead’s four-year-old scooted through rivals after jumping the last to score by seven lengths from Belfast Banter.

De Bromhead said: “He always worked well, but coming for his first run it was a bit of a surprise I suppose. He jumped well, but ours have generally needed their first run. Rachael said he picked up really well, so who knows what would have happened.”

Trainer Joseph O'Brien and owners Gigginstown House Stud continued their fine run of success in bumpers when Uhtred, with Tom Hamilton on board, justified favouritism by streaking away with the closing listed event.

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