Dreaper sets sights on Irish National with Cadogan

Veteran Cadogan, which belatedly got off the mark over fences on this track two weeks ago, made all to land the valuable Irish Stallion Farms Novice Handicap Chase at Navan yesterday, the second leg of a double for trainer Jim Dreaper.

Ridden by 3lb. claimer Keith Donoghue, who came tantalisingly close to Cheltenham Festival success on Toner D’Oudairies on Friday, the 12-year-old, whose career has been dogged by leg trouble, jumped superbly in front and kept going well to beat favourite Ballyburke (7/1 to 4/1) by two and a quarter lengths.

Dreaper declared: “I’m delighted for his owner (Jarlath Conway), who has been so patient. From day one, he just wanted to jump. Like most of the best jumpers, they just do it themselves. His half-brother Mely Moss was second in a Grand National (to Papillon in 2000). He was a natural too but, like this fellow, suffered from leg trouble.