Panther Claw turned in a determined display under Barry Geraghty to claim the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final at Navan.
Last seen finishing an excellent third in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in late January, the Gigginstown-owned Panther Claw was a 6-1 chance for his latest assignment.
Paul Nolan's charge crept into contention heading down the back straight and was in front by the the time he tackled the third fence from the finish.
It was hard work in the testing conditions in the home straight, and Saoirse Dun made a real race of it after the last, but Panther Claw found enough towards the stands side to take the feature event by a length and three-quarters.
King Of The Refs was back in third, with favourite Wise Oscar last of just four finishers from the 16 runners.
Nolan said: "Everything went right for him, especially the ground. He really handles those conditions.
"He could sneak into the bottom of the Irish National. He usually comes out of his races well, although that was a real dour slog. Whatever happens that was a nice pot to win."
The most impressive winner of the afternoon was Dermot Weld's Some Tikket, who annihilated his rivals in the Liam Buggy Navan Golf Captain Maiden Hurdle.
A bumper winner at the track just over a fortnight ago, the 4-6 favourite hurdled fluently on his jumping bow and passed the post with 11 lengths in hand without being extended by Robbie McNamara.
Weld said: "He won the way you'd expect him to win and I think we'll have a crack at either the Grade Two at Fairyhouse or the Grade One at Punchestown over two and a half miles.
"He's a very nice horse and the way he's worked I'd say he wants much better ground. He's also capable of winning on the Flat."
