Champion Bumper favourite American Mike remains unbeaten with dominant victory

Saturday: Navan

With his stablemate and main market rival Harmonya Maker taken out, the Listed bumper looked a penalty kick for Champion Bumper favourite American Mike, who was going to have to do something spectacular for his Cheltenham price to come tumbling.

He put up a tour de force and made his rivals look statuesque in winning by an effortless 17 lengths under Jamie Codd, which in turn made Paddy Power cut him half a point to 3-1 favourite for the Cheltenham Grade 1.

Second favourite Battling Bessie under Barry O'Neill set a proper gallop, but the favourite just sauntered clear a furlong out.

Trainer Gordon Elliott said: "He did what we expected. He could go to the Dublin Racing Festival, but I would say he will go straight to Cheltenham. I think he's a proper horse. Jamie said it was a proper race and they went a proper gallop."

Earlier in the day, Elliott had been presented with a photographic montage in honour of his record-breaking seven-timer at the track two weeks ago, shortly after Davy Russell partnered Bective Stud's Au Fleuron to a narrow success in the two-mile maiden hurdle for four-year-olds.

Finegan and Ryan celebrate local winner

Trainer Hugh Finegan, based just ten minutes down the road at Nobber, had the biggest training success of his career when stable star Futurum Regem prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Grade B Tara Handicap Hurdle.

The trainer was only marginally outdone in terms of accolade by 7lb claiming jockey Neil Ryan, who was partnering his first winner over jumps

The only person more pleased than Finegan and Ryan will probably be handicapper Sandy Shaw, after the first five home were separated by a little over a length.

Futurum Regem and rider Neil Ryan return after winning the feature Tara Handicap Hurdle at NavanCredit: Caroline Norris

Favourite Folcano jumped the last in front, but such was the change in fortune on the climb to the finish that he was unable to finish in the first three.

Ryan drove the winner to the front in the last 50 yards, then had to hold off the fast-finishing runner-up Sassy Yet Classy by a neck with the slightly unlucky Bread And Butter a further neck away in third.

The 20-year-old jockey, whose only previous winner had come on the Noel Meade-trained Crassus in a Flat handicap at the Curragh in October, could not hide his delight.

"That's my first winner over hurdles and my first big ride," he said. "I work full time for Noel Meade, and luckily Hugh Finegan's nephew is in there too and helped me get the ride."

Finegan said: "He's a grand little horse and just seems to be improving the whole time. We have been lucky that the ground has stayed good and I think the ground and the light weight were key today. He's only a small horse."

Results, replays and analysis

Catch-up on Saturday’s action:

Long Walk: Options open for 'old friend' Champ as he stamps his class back over hurdles

Expert jury: How do you see the Stayers' Hurdle picture after Champ's Long Walk Hurdle win?

Lee Mottershead: 'He wanted a cuddle' - long week ends in Long Walk for emotional Henderson (Members’ Club)

Ascot: Tritonic puts the cherry on the Christmas cake for in-form owner Max McNeill

Haydock: 'If you get it wrong, you'll get it right next time' - Hammond gets it spot on

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