Gate open for return to Cheltenham after Navan success

James's Gate could have another Cheltenham Festival trip on his agenda after he overcame a final hurdle mistake to claim an eye-catching victory at Navan.

Third in the Champion Bumper at Prestbury Park back in 2022, he was off the track for the best part of two years before having two novice hurdle runs last term, notably finishing third to Mystical Power in the Moscow Flyer.

He returned from another 331-day absence with victory at Punchestown before Christmas and was sent off a 3-1 chance for the Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle.

The eight-year-old travelled well throughout for jockey Mark Walsh and it looked a matter of how far as he approached the last flight, but while he jumped the obstacle cleanly, his landing was awkward and he lost all momentum.

That allowed C’est Ta Chance to take the lead but once Walsh had James’s Gate back on an even keel, he rallied on the run to the line to win by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Martin Brassil will consider the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, for which James’s Gate is now a 12-1 shot with Paddy Power, although the novice heats are not completely ruled out.

He said: "He seemed to jump the hurdle perfectly but landed on his hind ones first, awkwardly.

"He jumped really well, it was the only hurdle that was any bit of a blip. We are very pleased with him.

"He’s a good traveller. He was a classy horse in his bumpers – third in a Cheltenham bumper and that was only his second run. He’s a horse with a bit of class.

"We might enter him for probably a Coral Cup or maybe even one of the novice races, we’ll see how he is."

Gordon Elliott has high hopes for Three Card Brag after he broke his duck over fences at the fifth time of asking in the QuinnBet Beginners Chase.

Out of luck in his initial