Better Days Ahead saw off the late surge of stablemate Stellar Story to emerge triumphant in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase at Navan under Sam Ewing.
Trainer Gordon Elliott saddled three runners in the Grade Two contest, with Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story joined by Three Card Brag.
The latter cut out much of the running in the three-mile event, but made one or two errors in the jumping department and 1-2 favourite Better Days Ahead took over early in the home straight.
Stellar Story, who was also far from fluent over his obstacles, was coaxed into contention by Danny Gilligan and was produced with his challenge on the run-in.
But try as he might, Stellar Story could not reel in Better Days Ahead, with a neck separating the pair at the line. Three Card Brag rounded off an Elliott one-two-three.
Both horses were victorious at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, with Better Days Ahead landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and Stellar Story claiming the Albert Bartlett, and appear on course for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase this time around.
Better Days Ahead holds off Stellar Story to land the Grade 2 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase for Sam Ewing and Gordon Elliott@WillHillRacing pic.twitter.com/3b67YkhHtc
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) February 9, 2025
Elliott said: "Better Days Ahead wasn’t doing a stroke in front. It wasn’t ideal, he needs something to make it. Jordan (Gainford on Three Card Brag) took him along for as long as he could and probably ran a good race in his own right, Jordan’s lad.
"I was thrilled with Stellar Story. He keeps guessing at his fences and I told Danny to try and get him around and try to get a bit of confidence into him. He gave him a brilliant ride – probably a bit unlucky. Number one, we had to try and get him around.
"I’d imagine it will be the Brown Advisory for Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story could go Brown Advisory as well.
"Three Card Brag needed that run to qualify for the Aintree Grand National."
Maxxum knuckled down to provide Elliott with a fifth victory in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Boyne Hurdle.
The eight-year-old had failed to trouble the judge in four previous starts this season, most recently having his stamina limitations exposed over an extended three miles in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park less than three weeks ago.
Stepping back in trip for this two-mile-six-furlong Grade Two, 4-1 shot Maxxum was sent straight to the lead by Gilligan and while he was strongly challenged by 15-8 favourite Thedevilscoachman approaching the final flight, Gilligan's mount kicked four lengths clear on the run-in.
Thedevilscoachman, winner of the 2022 Boyne Hurdle, finished a clear second ahead of Maxxum’s stablemate Farren Glory in third.
Maxxum wins the Grade 2 William Hill Top Price Guarantee Boyne Hurdle in great style for Danny Gilligan and Gordon Elliott@WillHillRacing pic.twitter.com/rU2tB6dSfQ
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) February 9, 2025
"He had a good run in Gowran the last day over three miles, probably didn’t get home," said Elliott, whose four previous winners of this race include dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll.
"We thought coming back to that trip today, if he got a soft enough lead, it would work well.
"Danny gave him a very clever ride and it was great.
"He did (battle well) – he picked up well, but he got a breather at the right time."
Maxxum is likely to be on Elliott’s squad for next month’s Cheltenham Festival, with the trainer adding: "We will probably go Coral Cup now, I’d say."
Honesty Policy provided the first leg of an Elliott treble in the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle.
Second in a point-to-point and on his hurdling debut at Naas last month, the five-year-old was a 6-4 favourite to go one better and picked up well to score by eight lengths under Ewing.
"He's a nice horse. The further he goes, I’d say the better he will be," said Elliott.
"He had a good run the last day in Naas and he followed up there today.
"We have no real plan, but I’d imagine he is going in the right direction. He will be a nice chaser down the road."
Tareze may have earned herself a place on Henry de Bromhead's Cheltenham Festival team sheet with an impressive victory in the Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle.
A runaway winner at Clonmel in October, the six-year-old was last seen finishing second to the Willie Mullins-trained Hey Sunshine in a Listed event at Punchestown.
Tareze was a 15-8 shot for another Listed assignment in County Meath and after travelling strongly in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe, she powered clear on the run-in to score by eight lengths from Blue Mosque, with 7-4 favourite Just For Love back in third.
"She’s improving all the time," said de Bromhead’s representative Robbie Power.
"She’s a fine, big mare and I thought that was a very good performance. She travelled very sweetly behind the pace and, when Darragh gave her a squeeze, she picked up well.
"She jumped super – she is a very, very good jumper.
"She could go to Cheltenham or Fairyhouse, but I think Sally (Rowley-Williams, owner) would be quite keen to go to Cheltenham (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle). She’s probably entitled to go after that."
The Willie Mullins-trained Copacabana entered the Champion Bumper reckoning after making a successful start to his career in the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
A 9-4 favourite in the hands of Patrick Mullins, the son of Blue Bresil moved through the race strongly and was powerful at the finish as he passed the post with five lengths in hand.
Willie Mullins said: "I think we'll have to buy the ticket now! He’s a lovely, big, chasing type and I was looking forward to bringing him up here on this track. I thought he would show himself off well and he did.
"There was so much talk about so many horses before the race. It looked a very deep race and I’m very pleased for his owners. It looks like we will have to book a ticket for them for March.
"He is a big unit and it has taken me plenty of time to get him right. Every time we asked him a question, he gave the right answers. We were getting very tight to qualifying for Cheltenham. He just answered that question nicely.
"He loved that type of ground. With his size and everything, I wouldn’t like to campaign him on good ground for a while yet. He looks a horse that would need a nice dig in it."
