For the second time this season, the mother-and-son partnership of trainer Mags and jockey Danny Mullins combined to win a €50,000 handicap hurdle over two and a half miles at Navan.

Salty Boy gave the pair a valuable win at the Meath track in December and on Saturday it was the improving mare Agusta Gold who emerged best in the Grade B Navan Handicap Hurdle. Sent off 7/1, the consistent six-year-old took it up just before the last and was game in front to hold off the challenge of Chatham Street Lad.

The winning trainer said: “Agusta Gold is a smashing mare and when the top few came out of this race we said we’d take our chance rather than in the other handicap on the card. She’s a galloper and a good stayer just like Salty Boy.

“We’ll stay over hurdles and see what there is for her in the coming weeks.”

On Sunday, Thurles hosted a classy card, headlined by the newly branded Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, formerly known as the Kinloch Brae Chase. The Grade 2 event was won by Tout Est Permis who got up late to get the better of fellow Gigginstown runner Sub Lieutenant. Noel Meade’s gelding looks a strong stayer and was last seen winning the Troytown Chase at Navan. He did well to win here on fast ground and back over the two-and-a-half mile trip, and he could be a live Ryanair Chase candidate now.

Over at Ascot on Saturday, Jessica Harrington’s improving Magic Of Light added another valuable race to her CV when too good for rivals in the OLBG.com Mares Hurdle. Ridden by Robbie Power, the eight-year-old stayed on strongly and was well in command by the finish. Kate Harrington reported that Magic Of Light could go for the Irish Grand National later in the season.

Today the Goffs Thyestes Chase takes centre stage at Gowran Park. Cleverly branded as “the race that stops a county”, the three-mile handicap chase will as always be an ultra competitive affair with a €100,000 prize fund up for grabs.