St Denis's Well again shows his liking for Navan St Denis’s Well landed the Gaeil Colmcille GAA Kella Handicap Hurdle for a second time when making all under James Smith at Navan. The Ian Donoghue-trained gelding won this event at 40/1 under Caragh Monaghan in 2023 and also filled the runner-up spot in the race 12 months ago. The well-supported 3/1 joint favourite, gaining a sixth career win here, was strongly pressed by fellow market leader Cowper Hall at the final flight but stayed on strongly inside the final 100 yards to beat that rival by four and a quarter lengths. Stormy Jenn was a further five lengths back in third with Westoftignes completing the places in fourth. Donoghue said, “I wouldn't have minded which of them won really! Harley Street (finished 12th) probably just didn't handle the ground, but Denis was good - we knew he would handle it. "He's back down in that grade. He hasn't been able to win out of a 0-100 over hurdles, but he did it there today anyway. "This has been the plan since he came back in. The handicapper probably really has him, so we said go back to where we know he runs well. "He's (rated) 120 over fences, so hopefully he can still run away. He's obviously just a better chaser. "He's gawky in front and you're happy his ears are pricked and he's not killing himself. "The Ladies National at Fairyhouse in two weeks' time, I'd say that is where we will go next. He was second in that a couple of years ago as well." Quotes by Michael Graham
