Mustard too hot for Port Navas close home

Port Navas appeared to have built an unassailable lead in the novice handicap hurdle at Fontwell and was backed down to 1.05 on Betfair. But he hung into the rail on the run-in, allowing Magic Mustard to grind out an unlikely victory after trading at 250.

Labaik took a while to pick up in the Grade 3 hurdle at Navan but was helped by the stiff finish and wore down Mick Jazz (1.31), having been backed at 50. There was a similar finish to the following Grade 2 hurdle, in which De Plotting Shed (1.19) failed to hold off Snow Falcon.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, Paul Townend always looked confident about getting up on The Jazz Singer (34) in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Navan and it was a surprise to find runner-up Futuramic done at 1.07.