‘Fantastic’ Final Demand looks the part on fencing bow at Navan

Final Demand passed his first chasing test with flying colours to take the Race And Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Navan.

Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was a real talent over hurdles, landing the Nathaniel Lacy at Leopardstown before finishing third in the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival and then winning the Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle by 16 lengths in May.

Carrying the colours of Bryan Drew sported at Cheltenham on Saturday by Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Panic Attack, he was the 2-7 favourite to transfer his form across to fences under Paul Townend and always looked likely to do so, with a neat round of jumping that eventually led to an easy 13-length triumph from Wingmen.

Mullins said: “He was just so natural, wasn’t he? Jumping down the back watching him taking fences in his stride.

“I got a little worried coming to the third-last that he was getting a little tired and I thought Jack (Kennedy, on Wingmen) was getting a little closer.

“When they were over the third-last, Paul just gave him a squeeze and a shake, and next thing he just started opening up again. His jumping was so natural, it was fantastic.

“That is just a beginners’ chase, but it was still a deep enough beginners’ chase. I’m hoping there is still plenty of improvement in him. He wouldn’t have been wound up for today or anything.

“On to Christmas maybe, (then) the Dublin Racing Festival and fingers crossed after that.”