There's no stopping the Willie Mullins bandwagon at present and Kempes added another win to the handler's tally in the feature Navan Golf Club Open For Membership Hurdle.
Noel Meade's Oscar Looby was all the rage in the betting market prior to the event, but it was the 11-10 second favourite who readily landed the spoils.
Paul Townend was full of confidence as he left it late to make his move and after jumping the last well, Kempes responded impressively on the run-in to record a three-length triumph.
Mullins also took the concluding winningwaysracing.ie Flat Race as Skorcher lived up to his name with a 17-length win.< Deal Done had little trouble justifying 1-2 favouritism in division one of the Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle.
Dessie Hughes' five-year-old showed improved form when fourth at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and after making every yard of the running, Paddy Flood never had to get serious to see off 66-1 outsider Montan by four and a half lengths.
The second division went to another odds-on favourite, Jessica Harrington's Sibenek
Supporters of the Mark Bolger-ridden 2-7 chance would not have enjoyed a stress-free race, however, as 25-1 shot Majestic Oak put in a brave battle after the pair took the second-last flight together.
Sibenek got back on top coming to the last and ultimately did enough to repel his rival by four and a half lengths.< Telenor (9-2) maintained his improvement when getting off the mark in the www.navanracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Jim Dreaper's gelding was a creditable second at Down Royal on Boxing Day and went one better with a two-length success over Ten Fires < Carlas Dream (25-1) came from the clouds to land a surprise victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.< Bootlegger looked to have sealed it after seeing off the challenge of Got The Urge after jumping the last, but the Denis Murphy-trained winner stayed on best in the testing ground and got up to secure the spoils by two and a half lengths.
© www.irish-racing.com
