Navan is Elliott's Place with graded double

It wouldn't surprise anyone to note that 4/6 chance Sutton Place matched at odds of over 4/1 in running on the betting exchanges. However he ultimately convincingly prevailed under Barry Geraghty in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Sutton Place was bringing up a graded race double for trainer Gordon Elliott after his success half-an-hour earlier with the Bryan Copper-ridden Ball D'Arc in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase.

Barry Geraghty had to stoke up J P McManus' Sutton Place from early in the straight, but he went into overdrive on the run-in to comfortably 'take care' of his stable companion, De Plotting Shed by three and three parts of a length.

Slow starting second favourite Renneti flattered to deceive when travelling up well at the second last. He soon flattened out and he came home in third place, two and a half lengths back.

"He's a nice horse and he's a big chaser in the making really. I'd say that ground just wasn't ideal for him but he showed his class," said Elliott.

"We were riding him maybe a little negatively with the trip. Barry said he's a horse that you'd be better off grabbing a hold of and riding a race. He was a bit sloppy with his jumping because we wanted him relaxed.

"Chasing will be his game and whatever he does this year will be a bonus.

"There isn't a whole lot for him and we might look at the race in Fairyhouse for him (Grade 2 Ballybin Hurdle)."

When asked if he could be supplemented for one of the races in Cheltenham the Cullentra House handler answered:- "No definitely not."

Sutton Place leaves it late and picks up well to win the Boyne Hurdle at @NavanRacecourse under @BarryJGeraghty... pic.twitter.com/YNsTw8yCnx

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 19, 2017

The Stewards received a report from Ms Inge D'Haese, Turf Club Veterinary Officer, stating that Renneti (FR) was found to be lame post race.

(GC & EM)