Doctor Steinberg highlighted a Navan treble for Willie and Danny Mullins by securing the featured Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Navan Novice Hurdle.
Ridden with great success by Danny Mullins, Doctor Steinberg (3-1) had to fight to run into the penultimate flight but was ultimately on top at the final obstacle and came home four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Thedeviluno with Kovanis back in third.
Port Authority was sent off the even favorite, but he finished last of the four runners.
Danny Mullins said: “I’d say the usual story, just a really good horse. He jumped well, went and galloped, and was very tough.”
“Even when I went to the penultimate, I was aware that I was getting lower in the saddle and letting him roll up the hill.
“He put him to bed nicely from the back of the last one.”
Paddy Power gives Doctor Steinberg a 16-1 chance from 33s in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and when asked if that race would be suitable, Mullins said: “You’d imagine so, but if you win over two and a half miles here he’s not lacking that bit of speed either.
“He is a horse that continues to surprise us and goes one step further, which is a great quality.”
The same trainer-jockey duo had previously struck with Saint Baco (5-6 favourite) in the Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle and Predators Gold (11-2) brought up the hat-trick in the Watch Danny’s Diary @ToteRacing Beginners Chase.
Last seen finishing third to Ballyburn at the 2024 Punchestown Festival, Predators Gold proved incredibly good in fending off Grade One-winning hurdler Slade Steel by one and a half lengths, with the pair 10 lengths ahead of the third-place favorite Wingmen.
The winning rider said: “That is a serious achievement, he is a very good horse.
“I had ridden him at Cheltenham (fifth) and he disappointed. Patrick (Mullins) rode him back at Punchestown as a first year and finished third.
“That’s a Willie Mullins masterpiece – almost a year and a half off the track and he comes back to win a race like that, Slade Steel and Wingmen there.
“It’s a fair chase for beginners and we continued on the straight.
“As you would imagine (a big season for Predators Gold), that’s a great starting point there. He was competitive as a novice hurdler in the Grade Ones and you would imagine that the way he jumped around there today he should be able to do the same and get over fences.”
Gordon Elliott took both Listed heats on the card, steering Down Memory Lane (7-2) to win the Download The Tote App Foxrock Handicap Chase, while Gringo d’Aubrelle (6-1) landed the Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle.
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