Pont Alexandre wins at Navan

Pont Alexandre stamped himself a potential star in running out an all-the-way winner of the Navan Novice Hurdle as Don Cossack crashed out at the last when beaten.

Having had just one win in a maiden hurdle in France, the Willie Mullins-trained Pont Alexandre came into the race as something of an unknown quantity.

The same could not be said of Don Cossack, who was sent off the odds-on favourite.

Ruby Walsh set out to make every yard in the Grade One contest and the 3-1 chance never saw another rival.

Don Cossack did not jump that well and was in the process of being caught for second by Busty Brown when he came down after the final flight. It was Davy Russell’s third fall in three successive races on the card.

Mullins was recording his third win in the race in five years after Mikael D’Haguenet and Boston Bob.

The winner was inserted as the new 6-1 favourite for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Paddy Power.

Fahey said: ``He really deserved that. If you look back through his form he has never run a bad race.

“He’ll probably only have one or two more runs this season as I can’t wait for next year over fences – he’s a brilliant jumper.

“I’d say the plan will be to bring him back good and early over fences.

“Andrew gets on with him really well. He’s not the easiest horse to ride and can mess around and whip around at the start.

“This was our Derby day today.”