Found A Fifty capitalises on Marine Nationale absence to retain Fortria Chase

The middle leg of Elliott’s Monday treble, which returned a shade shy of 55-1, came courtesy of James Smith, riding Themanintheboots in the Lisadell Equine Hospital 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle.

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025 - 17:48

Tommy Lyons

Champion Chaser Marine Nationale was a significant absentee from the Grade Two Fortria Chase, the feature on Navan’s rescheduled meeting on Monday afternoon, and that left the way open for last year’s winner, Found A Fifty, to back up his 2024 success.

One of three winners on the afternoon and six over the course of the two-day festival for local trainer Gordon Elliott, he was to the fore throughout, and it was only when the patiently ridden Dinoblue posed a threat two out, that Jack Kennedy got serious. The response was good, and he stretched away to win with a nice bit in hand.

“Two miles on that ground is right up his alley, and probably two and a half miles on better ground,” said Elliott. “It was a good performance. We’ll pick and choose his races. I’m not sure where we are going to go, but we’ll see.”

The day began perfectly for Elliott and Kennedy when Classical Creek made a winning debut over timber in the Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle. A point to point winner, the five-year-old promises to be considerably better over obstacles than he was in bumpers, and this all-the-way victory, over Fillyoureye, was a sound first step in that direction.

Elliott provided the favourite for the Grade Two Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle but his 8-15 favourite, They Yellow Clay, had to settle for second place behind sprightly veteran Colonel Mustard, trained by Lorna Fowler.

In a race which turned into a war of attrition, the ten-year-old dug in incredibly deep to follow up a recent victory in Sligo. This was just the fourth victory in the career of the 146-rated hurdler, and it capped a fine weekend for jockey John Shinnick, who took Sunday’s Troytown Chase aboard Answer To Kayf.

“It is like buses, you wait four years and then two come at once,” said Fowler. “For whatever reason, he just comes back every year in great form. I don’t know what it is about this year, he’s just been in extra-special form.

“He enjoys it, and that’s the whole thing about it. He’s in a small yard, so he is the king of the castle. It really works for him.”

Declan Queally’s I’ll Sort That completed an early-season hat-trick by taking the Grade Three Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle in game fashion. Theflyingking looked to have taken his measure when leading over the last and going a length clear, but he carried his head awkwardly and was no help to his rider. I’ll Sort That, on the other hand, was a most willing partner for Queally and got back up close home to win by three parts of a length.

The Champion Chaser may not have been on view but I dare say, if you look hard enough, you’ll find a quote somewhere for Kopek Des Bordes winning that race at some stage after Willie Mullins’ horse took a positive first step on the chasing ladder by winning the Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners’ Chase.

Keeping a lid on his exuberance was the most difficult job for jockey Paul Townend as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner enthusiastically attacked each fence. As would be expected, he improved as the race progressed, and when there was a threat down over the last two, he picked up in the most effortless fashion to see off the promising Lovely Hurling.

For Mullins, it was a second winner at the meeting, following on from Final Demand’s runaway victory also on chasing debut a day earlier, and the two could hardly be more exciting prospects.

“I didn’t think he did a whole lot wrong,” Townend told RTV. “He had respect for his fences but, at the same time, when he’d see them, he’d want to attack them - without running at them stupid. I think he learned a lot today, but when I let him on, down the home straight, that was the most taking part.

“You’d have to rein yourself in on him. He takes a bit more riding than yer man yesterday (Final Demand) in that he’s a two-miler: he attacks and goes, but the engine is always going to be there.

“He’s trained by Willie Mullins, so he could be three-miler or a Breeders’ Cup horse, or anything, but I’d sure like to be on his back anywhere he goes.”

Of the winning owners, Monabeg Investments Limited, led by Charlie McCarthy, Townend added: “They’re associated with our family a long time, through horses, and living locally, at home. They’re great people and it’s great to see them get a horse like him, and enjoy him as much as they do.”

Balko d’Ange, trained by Philip Fenton, travelled best and won well under Brian Hayes, in the Hotel Park St Johann In Tirol, Austria Handicap Hurdle, while the bumper provided the day’s biggest upset as Oh My Word, trained by Thomas Cleary and ridden by Thomas Halford, swooped to land the spoils at odds of 33-1.