Call Me Pj and Mark Enright deliver in Navan © Photo Healy Racing
Mark Enright bided his time in the two mile maiden hurdle at Navan and it reaped dividends as the favourite Call Me Pj took charge close home.
Bryan Cooper sent Utmost Zeal into a clear lead and three out it looked like the favourite would struggle to catch him let alone win the race.
At the second last Enright pushed Call Me Pj into a clear second and the pair started to try and reel the front-runner in.
Coming to the last Utmost Zeal's work began to tell on him as his stride pattern shortened. Meanwhile, Call Me Pj had hit top gear. With 150 yards to go the favourite moved past his opponent and put the race to bed as he powered up the hill to justify 5/4 odds by six lengths. Lisa's Legacy was 16 lengths adrift of runner-up Utmost Zeal in third.
Trainer Oliver McKiernan said: "It worked out well in the end, but I wasn't sure during the race what would happen with the other horse being so far clear.
"He needs a bit of cover and it was his first time running on that kind of ground so we weren't sure how he would perform.
"He jumped well and travelled well and we're happy enough. He could head to Fairyhouse for either a handicap or a novice.
"He got a bang before he was due to run at Leopardstown in January and was very sore for a week or ten days. We were worried enough, but thank god it cleared up.
"He's a horse that wasn't settling and was desperate free. He's settling now and is a different horse, hopefully it stays like that.
"He likes good ground and will go back on the Flat during the summer."
Call Me Pj was popular this morning with punters who snapped up the 6/4 and 13/8 available. However, at the track it was all about Utmost Zeal (9/4 to 13/8).
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
