English/Ire
James Du Berlais bags Webster Cup
James Du Berlais took down some formidable opposition to come home in front in the Grade 2 BOYLE Sports Webster Cup Chase at Navan.
A former four-time winner when trained in France, James Du Berlais, who now carries the colours of Isaac Souede and Simon Munir and is trained by Willie Mullins, had been running well in defeat this season but was still looking for a first success of the year having finished third behind Grand National favourite Iroko before bumping into the recently retired Appreciate It in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase.
Despite facing some classy opposition, including Gordon Elliott's pair of Found A Fifty and Better Days Ahead, James Du Berlais, who was held-up for much of the race, cruised into contention approaching the second last before powering away to win by two and a quarter lengths under J J Slevin.
Better Days Ahead finished runner-up, with Saint Sam second and Found A Fifty completing in fourth.
Slevin said: "I thought they went a good gallop; it is very heavy ground down the back. I'm a hostage to fortune with my horse, I have to ride him like that. There wasn't a whole lot left in the tank at the back of the last. I was worried about the ground.
"He's a great horse and I'm delighted to win on him. I really enjoy riding him.
"He's a real talented horse when the scenario sets up for him. He ran in a Champion Hurdle one time, and he was second in a Topham and fifth in it last year."
Earlier on the card, Jacob's Ladder continued his progressive ways over fences with a ready triumph in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
A winner over fences at Fairyhouse in December, the Gordon Elliott-trained Mount Nelson gelding suffered defeat to the hands of Kappa Jy Pyke when upped in grade for the Sky Bet Super Sub Novice Chase, but it didn't take him long to return to the winners' circle when claiming the Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase at Leopardstown earlier in the month.
Back into novice company, he always looked in command under Jack Kennedy and after hitting the front on the way to the second last, he kept on strongly to see off the running-on Lovely Hurling by a length and a quarter.
Port Joulain finished four and a half lengths further back in third.
Gordon Elliott revealed that Jacob's Ladder would swerve the Cheltenham Festival, with alternative spring targets on the agenda.
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