The large attendance witnessed exciting national hunt racing at Navan on Day, with Found A Fifty winning the Bar 1 Fortria Chase (Grade2).The best horse won the top event on the day, always well placed in the two mile chase, and when asked to go and win by Jack Kennedy. He looked in control and won by  and 1 and 1/2 lengths to stable partner Touch Me Not to  give Gordon Elliott a treble,with Found A Fifty also winning the Fortria for a third time too. 

Favourite backers were out in the cold but local trainers obliged with five winners on the card. Noel Meade fresh from his 3000th winner won the bumper at 16/1 with Noble Indulgence coming like an express train to win by a head from Crawford’s Nine Toes Trim (11/2),  who looked to have sealed the victory, it was another great finish and the racing fans were treated to some great national hunt racing on Day 1 of the Navan Festival.

14-11-26, Navan Races -The winning connections in the parade ring after Bective Stud owned FOUND A FIFTY won the BAR 1 Betting Fortria Chase at Navan, above Found A Fifty clears the last fence on his way to victory. Photos: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net

Wingmen (11/4) got up on the line to nail Bleu De Vassy (5/6 Fav) by a neck when Kennedy thought he done enough to see off the rest of the field but the Bective Stud owned 8 year old came late too to oblige for connections and land a back to back double for the Moran family. It was a great ride by Sam Ewing to find the extra turn off foot in the race for the post. Thinkitdontjinxit (5/2) got Kennedy off the mark for Elliott on the stables way to a hattrick winning by six lengths to State Pension (7/1).

Outofafrica (4/1) picked up the first race for Gavin Cromwell in the first race with Beckistine (7/2 jf) for trainer M A Molloy ridden by Mark Walsh denied Elliott’s Dairy Force (12/1) y a 1/2 length in race 2. De Dromhead’s (10/1) also denied the Gordon Elliott trained Arch Enemy (17/20) by a head in another close finish in the third race before hitting the three winners in a row. 

He came with a strong hand today and tomorrow may see more winners for the Culltrena based stable. First race is off at 11.40, there should be another big turnout for the Bar 1 Betting Troytown Handicap Chase (grade3) over the testing 3 mile.Â