Prince crowned Naas king

Dermot Weld’s Prince Erik (6-1) emerged the victor after a tough battle with Montan in the Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase.

The grey seven-year-old ran in the 2007 Irish Derby and finished second in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last March.

A trip to the Festival could again be on the cards after he fought off Tony Martin’s 5-4 favourite to win by a neck.

He holds entries in the Kim Muir and the Centenary Novices’ Handicap and, in this form, the Davy Condon-ridden winner will have plenty of followers.