BALL D’ARC LANDED the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Naas this afternoon, rubberstamping the credentials of Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Min in the process.
Gordon Elliot’s five-year-old beat Moon over Germany by two lengths, with the fancied favourite Don’t Touch It (13/8) a further 13 lengths back in third.
Willie Mullins’ Au Quart de Tour, sent off the 4/1 second favourite in the hands of Ruby Walsh, finished fourth.
Ball D’Arc was cut to 33/1 for the Cheltenham opener, but his win also bolstered the position of ante-post favourite Min who beat him by over 10 lengths when the two clashed at Punchestown last month.
Earlier, Dermot Weld’s Vigil finally broke his duck and landed the two-mile maiden hurdle, beating Couer Joyeux by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
And Days Hotel was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Chase ahead of Twinlight and Simply Ned.
Naas – Sunday’s results
- 13.50 — 1. Vigil (2/9 fav) 2. Couer Joyeux (11/2) 3. Gars Bar Dine (20/1)
- 14.20 — 1. Conright Boy (16/1) 2. Ice Cool (8/1) 3. Swamp Fox (11/2 2fav)
- 14.55 — 1. Marlbrook (2/1 fav) 2. Vicangelome (6/1 j2fav) 3. Captain von Trappe (8/1)
- 15.30 — 1. Ball D’Arc (5/1) 2. Moon Over Germany (7/1) 3. Don’t Touch It (13/8 fav)
- 16.05 — 1. Days Hotel (7/2 2fav) 2. Twinlight (9/2) 3. Simply Ned (11/10 fav)
- 16.35 — 1. Fergiethelegend (8/1) 2. Tooreen (12/1) 3. White Arm (11/8 fav)
- 17.10 — 1. Avenir D’Une Vie (8/11 fav) 2. Tamlough Boy (5/4 2fav) 3. Virtual Insanity (25/1)
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