Tag Archive for: Naas

Caroline Street advertises Classic credentials at Naas

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Caroline Street led home a Joseph O’Brien one-two in the Al Shira’aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind Stakes at Naas.

The winner was sent off at 11-2 under Dylan Browne McMonagle her seasonal bow, with the No Nay Never three-year-old racing at the back of the field before finding space down the middle of the track to throw down a challenge.

Lumiere Rock, her fast-finishing stablemate, joined her in the final half furlong under a penalty but could not pass her and was beaten by half a length.

“It was a great result, they are two very nice fillies,” said O’Brien.

“I thought Lumiere Rock, carrying a penalty, hit the line really well and she looks like she’s crying out for a mile and a half.

“I was quite impressed with Caroline Street. When Dylan asked for a bit of gas at the bottom of the straight, he was nearly taking her back then again when he was waiting for room.

“It was a lovely ride, he was cool. We were going a mile and a quarter and she’s a No Nay Never, so we were riding her patiently and he gave her a lovely, confident ride.”

When it was put to him she would get further, he added: “She potentially would.

“We might look at the Pretty Polly and we’ll have a look at the Irish 1,000 Guineas. There is the Saratoga Oaks in the autumn that would be a nice target for her, over a mile and a quarter, but she will have to go somewhere between now and then.

“She’s handled soft so I think she’s pretty versatile ground wise.”

Devious made light work of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for Gavin Ryan and Donnacha O’Brien.

The Starspangledbanner two-year-old was making his debut and started as the 11-5 favourite for the contest, odds he justified with a convincing two-length success that could pave the way to Royal Ascot.

“He’s always worked like a fair one. He shouldn’t be that fast being that big and strong, I’d say he’s a proper one,” said O’Brien.

“I was thinking coming here today that we could look at the Coventry but showing the speed that he did, we could look at the Norfolk maybe instead.

“We have nothing that can take him off the bridle at home, he’s just natural.

“He’s got so much boot that the nice ground helps him, but he would get slower ground as well as he’s big and powerful.

“The two-year-olds are in good form and we’ve some nice older ones, so we’ve had a good start.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Johannes Brahms also made a winning debut under Seamie Heffernan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The Siyouni colt was the 5-6 favourite for the six-furlong contest and was a half-length winner.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a smashing colt, he’s got plenty of size about him and has a lot of class and speed.

“He showed a bit of greenness throughout, at home they haven’t been off the bridle, and the penny hasn’t dropped with this fella yet. There is a lot to like about him.

“Seamus thought he had plenty of gears for a horse his size and he cruises very well.

“We’ll try to get one more run into him before Ascot and he’s one to look forward to.”

Moss Tucker surprises Tenebrism at Naas

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Moss Tucker reversed recent form with Tenebrism to foil the odds-on favourite in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes at Naas.

A Group One winner at two and three, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Tenebrism looks set to be a big player in the all the top sprint contests this year and started off in winning form at Cork earlier this month.

Ken Condon’s Moss Tucker was back in fifth on that occasion, but proved really tough in front this time having looked like being swallowed up when Ryan Moore produced the 2-5 market leader for her effort.

A length and a half was the winning margin for the Billy Lee-ridden 9-2 chance.

Condon said: “On the face of it the last day was slightly disappointing, but Billy came back in and said put a line through that. He slightly missed the break and they went steady enough for two furlongs.

“That’s more his thing, a stiffer track. Ground seems to come the same to him but he’s a tough, honest relentless galloper. I’m very fond of horses like him.

“Donal and Geraldine (Spring) bred him and he’s given them so much enjoyment.”

He added: “He could look at races like the Greenlands and we could travel with him. We might go to Ascot and races like the Flying Five. He ran in the Abbaye last year and we might go there again.”

O’Brien had been looking at a King’s Stand-Platinum Jubilee double bid with Tenebrism, but may now concentrate on the latter.

“It was very tacky ground and the plan was to go to the Curragh (for the Greenlands) and then do the two races in Ascot,” he said.

“We might go to the Curragh and then just do the Diamond (Platinum) Jubilee. That’s the way we are thinking now.”

Boogie Woogie is set for an Oaks trial
Boogie Woogie is set for an Oaks trial (PA)

O’Brien and Moore did get on the scoresheet, courtesy of Boogie Woogie (1-2 favourite) in the 10-furlong Race & Stay Fillies Maiden.

O’Brien said: “She was green the first day and got beaten three times last year, but we always liked her.

“The plan was to come here and if everything went well she might go for the Oaks Trial at Lingfield. It would be a good education for her and she’d learn plenty there.”

Also notable was the victory of the Natalia Lupini-trained Blairmayne in the Best Of Luck To Our Neighbours Punchestown Ahead Of The 2023 Festival Handicap, as it brought up the 1,000th winner of Wayne Lordan’s career.

Lordan said: “I rode Winter and Hermosa to win the 1000 Guineas. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some good horses and plenty of Group Ones.

“Iridessa winning at the Breeders’ Cup was great. It’s a huge achievement to get one on a stage like that.

“I never thought that I would ride 1,000 winners. It’s a hard thing to do with the jockeys that we have here. It’s very competitive and I’m delighted.”

Bumper double takes Mullins over 200 Irish winners for the season

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Willie Mullins enjoyed a landmark afternoon as he registered an across-the-card bumper double at Limerick and Naas, bringing up his 200th winner of the season in Ireland in the process.

The horse to give the champion trainer the double century was Junta Marvel (85-40), who made a successful debut in the Storms The Stars @ Coolagown Stud Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race at Limerick.

JP McManus-owned point-to-point victor Bioluminescence was the 5-4 favourite, but Junta Marvel saw her off by two and half lengths in the hands of Patrick Mullins.

“It was a good performance,” said the record-breaking amateur.

“She was a little keen early on but we got to pick a nice strip of ground. Being by Masked Marvel, she loved the ground and while we hoped to have her ready for a Listed bumper, she could still make the Grade Three mares’ bumper at Punchestown next month.

“That’s 200 wins for the yard this season, our best was 212 so hopefully we can beat that.

“We’ve had a brilliant season and it’s not over yet with Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown ahead.”

It did not take long for the Mullins camp to make it 201, with Mirazur West justifying market confidence in the Nursery Of Champions INH Flat Race at Naas.

The Westerner gelding looked set to win a point-to-point at Dromahane in November when falling at the final fence under Derek O’Connor, who was again on board for his debut under rules.

Carrying the McManus silks, Mirazur West was all the rage as the 1-2 favourite, despite facing a point-to-point winner and £360,000 purchase in Henry de Bromhead’s Mahon’s Way, and made every yard of the running on his way to a two-and-a-half-length success.

He’s My Hero, who set his connections back £120,000 after finishing second in the point-to-point sphere, narrowly beat Mahon’s Way to the runner-up spot.

Paddington books Classic trial ticket

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Aidan O’Brien is eyeing a Classic trial as a next port of call for Paddington following an impressive display in the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan And Loretta O’Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.

Fifth on his Ascot debut in September before winning comfortably on his final juvenile start at the Curragh the following month, the Siyouni colt was the 6-4 favourite to make a successful reappearance over seven furlongs at Naas.

With Ryan Moore having hotfooted it back from Dubai to take the ride, Paddington travelled strongly for much of the contest and was pushed out to score by a length and three-quarters.

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien with Paddington at Naas
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien with Paddington at Naas (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien said: “I’m very happy with him. He won very nice the last day and handled an ease in the ground. He probably will stay further.

“He will go into a trial now, maybe one of the French trials, to give him more experience.”

The Ballydoyle handler doubled up in the Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, but it was his apparent second string Jackie Oh who claimed top honours.

Red Riding Hood, second at Ascot on her introduction, was all the rage under Moore as the 4-6 favourite, but newcomer Jackie Oh – a daughter of Galileo out of Jacqueline Quest – proved too strong.

Of the 4-1 winner, O’Brien added: “She’s a very well-bred filly and handled the ground. She had a few holds ups last year and didn’t get to run. You would have to be delighted with her.

“She will go for a trial and I’d say she will get a bit further as well.”

The Listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes went the way of 9-2 shot Visualisation for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh.

The five-year-old was last of seven when last seen in action in the Group Three International Stakes at the Curragh in June, but bounced back to form in some style on his return – with a length and three-quarters separating him and the runner-up Sunchart.

Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes
Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

The 2-1 favourite Martinstown finished last of eight.

“He loves heavy ground. Last year he didn’t get much of it and he had a little setback in the season as well,” said the winning trainer.

“He’s come back in really good nick and Declan gave him a great ride. He said there was a strip of ground that he thought was the best of it when he got on it and that was a help.

“He’s in the Alleged Stakes and we’ll keep him busy while the ground is heavy. He’ll probably have a bit of time off in the summer and come back for the autumn.”

Michael O’Callaghan has high hopes for Red Letter Bray (2-1) following his victory in the Kuroshio At Compas Stallions Maiden.

Sixth behind the top-class Auguste Rodin on his only previous outing last summer, the son of New Bay confirmed that promise with a short head verdict over 11-8 favourite Run Ran Run – providing champion jockey Colin Keane with his first winner of the new turf season in Ireland.

“He’s a nice horse and we have always liked him,” said O’Callaghan.

“He’s pulled a shoe quite badly and Colin thinks he might have done it coming out of the gates and that’s why he was just a little bit awkward at the end.

“He’s pretty straightforward at home and Colin thought he’ll get an extra furlong. He was quite green and needed the company when he got it.

“I had in the back of my mind that he could be a horse for the seven-furlong Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but it might be a bit soon and he could need some time to get over today with the deep ground and everything. I can see him stepping up to that level.”

Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory
Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Aidan Howard-trained Magical Vision (6-1) picked up where she left off in the Compas Stallions Handicap.

The six-year-old, who did not make her debut until last season, won at Navan and Naas in the autumn and completed her hat-trick on her first start in almost five months, knuckling down to get the better of Mickey The Steel by a head under Chris Hayes.

Howard said: “She did what I was hoping she would do. She has loads of gears and loves the ground.

“We’ll probably look for something similar in a couple of weeks because she isn’t going to handle summer ground.”

Sendo Square justified 5-2 favouritism in the Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap for trainer Andrew Slattery and his son and rider of the same name, while Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee readily obliged as the 11-8 favourite in the King Of Change Handicap, with Mark Enright the winning jockey.

Espanito Bello tees Connell and O’Sullivan up perfectly for Cheltenham

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Espanito Bello was produced to perfection by Michael O’Sullivan to win the Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase in easy fashion at Naas.

Ahead of a big week for owner-trainer Barry Connell and his young jockey, the nine-year-old course specialist was sent off 7-2 for the afternoon’s feature handicap.

Travelling smoothly tracking the pace throughout he moved effortlessly into contention as the field rounded the final bend and O’Sullivan was still hanging on to plenty of horse as he hit the front jumping the last.

Espanito Bello simply had to be kept up to his work in the closing stages as he coasted to a seven-and-a-half-length victory and picked up the €59,000 first prize.

“That’s what he was here two years ago when he beat Coko Beach the length of the straight and it’s taken us a little while to get back to that,” said Connell.

“He loves the course and that’s his fourth win here. He won a bumper, a hurdle, a beginners chase and now a hundred grand handicap.

“He’s in the Irish National, but we would only run him if the ground came up soft. I ran him in it once before, but he wasn’t right and the ground was too quick.

“He’s going to go up a bit for that and is entitled to step back into Graded company at some stage as well.

“That’s a fantastic pot to win today and I’m thrilled.

“He finished fifth in the Thyestes the last day which was a good run considering it was his first run in a chase for over a year. He got a lot of confidence from that and travelled way sweeter today. He was a winner everywhere.”

Connell and O’Sullivan team up with leading Cheltenham contenders Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday and Good Land the following day in the Ballymore.

Michael O’Sullivan celebrates with Marine Nationale
Michael O’Sullivan celebrates with Marine Nationale (Brian Lawless/PA)

Connell added: “They are over there and were ridden out this morning. They couldn’t be in better form and everything is 100 per cent.”

When asked about ground conditions he added: “They are having a drying day over there today. The ground doesn’t matter to Good Land, but the other fella wouldn’t want it too soft.

“If it’s soft it will be English soft and it won’t be too bad.”

Nick Rockett had won a bumper in good style at Thurles last month and wasted little time opening his account over hurdles in the opening Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Multiples All Shops” Maiden Hurdle.

Although his jumping left little to be desired in stages, the 11-8 favourite proved far too good for the opposition in the hands of Paul Townend.

Nick Rockett wins at Naas (PA)
Nick Rockett wins at Naas (PA)

“His schooling yesterday left a bit to be desired and I think Paul was relieved to get around let alone win but there is definitely plenty of room for improvement,” said assistant trainer Patrick Mullins.

“It’s great for Stewart (Andrew, owner) who flew over from Leeds today. His wife Sadie passed away recently and this was her horse so he’s obviously delighted that he’s won.

“He looks a horse that could go on and be a nice novice for the spring and could even stay in for nice ground over the summer.

“He won a point to point and will jump fences in time.”

Thomas Gibney’s Wee Charlie (4-1) had enough in hand to hold on in the closing stages of the Bar One Racing “Price Boosts All 28 Favourites At Cheltenham” Handicap Hurdle, while Stuart Crawford’s Carnfunnock (7-2) showed plenty of fight to reel in Lucky Max in a mighty finish to the Bar One Racing “Mobile Betting At Cheltenham” Handicap Hurdle.

“The ground probably blunted his speed a bit,” said winning rider JJ Slevin.

“It was a good performance and we thought he was reasonably well treated off a mark of 116. It was nice to get his head in front.

“He tried hard and his jumping is coming on as he did jump a bit big. He got a bit more cover today and it was a smoother run through.”

In the concluding bumper there was no joy for odds-on favourite Fancy Girl as John Gleeson tuned up for his Champion Bumper ride aboard A Dream To Share by steering John Queally’s Gaillimh A Run (11-4) to victory.

Robcour colours to the fore at Naas, ahead of big runners at Cheltenham

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Irish Point put his top-table experience to good use as owners Robcour warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival with a big-race double at Naas on Sunday.

The five-year-old has campaigned respectably at Grade One level since scoring at Cork on debut for Gordon Elliott in November.

He followed that winning bow by finishing a head second to Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, before picking up another silver medal in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle shortly after the festive period.

Fourth at the Dublin Racing Festival, he proved far superior dropping back in class for the Grade Three Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Overnight Prices” Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle – making most in the hands of Davy Russell to justify 1-4 favouritism.

“They went slow and he was able to do his own thing,” said Ian ‘Busty’ Amond, Elliott’s assistant trainer.

“He wasn’t doing much in front but Davy said he wants that type of ground.

“He was stepping down in grade and it was straightforward for him. It was a bit of a sprint from the second-last.

“He’ll probably go to Aintree and could run over two miles or two and a half.”

Owner Brian Acheson (centre) enjoyed a double at Naas on Sunday
Owner Brian Acheson (centre) enjoyed a double at Naas on Sunday (Brian Lawless/PA)

Brian Acheson will hope to see his colours carried to victory by Irish Point’s stablemates Gerri Colombe and Teahupoo at Prestbury Park next week and promising novice chaser Journey With Me kept up the Robcour momentum when adding the Bar One Racing “Extra Places At Cheltenham” Directors Plate Novice Chase to their Naas haul.

Henry de Bromhead’s seven-year-old – who had opened his fences account over course and distance earlier in the term – was sent off the 8-13 favourite and was given a confident ride by Rachael Blackmore.

Allowed to stride on, he was far from stopping at the back of the last and proved his quality to pull out extra in the closing stages – three lengths clear of runner-up Limerick Lace at the winning post.

“It was a good performance, it wasn’t ideal having to make his own running,” said stable representative Robbie Power.

Journey With Me wins at Naas
Journey With Me wins at Naas (PA)

He’s a bit lairy and didn’t jump as well as he can. I think he was doing too much looking around him.

“When the second horse came to him at the second-last he picked up well and I think he’s a horse that will stay further.

“He’ll either go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 1 novice over two and a half miles or he could go to Aintree or Punchestown for a three-mile Grade One. He’s entitled to take his chance in a Grade One.”

Corbetts Cross claims Grade Two honours in Naas thriller

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Corbetts Cross made a winning debut for Emmet Mullins when landing the Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas.

The six-year-old was previously trained to point-to-point and hurdle success by Eugene O’Sullivan before joining Mullins earlier in the year.

A 7-4 chance on his first run for the stable, Corbetts Cross travelled well under Donagh Meyler and took on Found A Fifty, the 11-10 favourite, in the home straight.

The two locked horns all the way to the line, with Mullins’ runner just prevailing by a head in the end to take Grade Two honours.

“It was a nice performance. I’d say it was a good race, two nice horses and he’s a very nice horse,” said Mullins.

“He showed a great attitude but I suppose it’s nothing we didn’t know. He’s been a very good horse all season for Maxine and Eugene (O’Sullivan).

“Paul (Byrne, owner) said that has possibly opened up a few more avenues and he said he’s open to some supplementary entries.”

Coral make Corbetts Cross the 5-1 co-favourite for the Albert Bartlett and when asked if that race would be on the cards, Mullins added: “That’s just one option, Paul is very keen to explore all avenues.

“He could go anywhere and he might not even go to Cheltenham if the ground didn’t come up right. He’ll be given every option and we’ll take it from there. He’s versatile.

“Once it’s safe ground, he’s a big horse and is still a novice. The way we are thinking, there are going to be plenty more big days ahead of us and we won’t run him on fast ground this season.”

When asked about dropping back in trip, Mullins added: “He’s shown gears and he jumped straight into it at home from the word go.

“He’s just a very good horse, that’s what we were told we were buying when we were getting him. It’s been good business.

“It shows the quality of horse that we are dealing with, to be able to mix over three miles the last day and two miles on faster ground today.

“He’s a high quality animal and it’s very exciting looking forward to the future.

“They didn’t hang about there, they went a good gallop the whole way. He’s no slouch.

“It was a fair performance and the second is held in high regard.”

On the long term prospect of the horse being even better over fences, he said: “It’s the old cliche and half the time it never materialises.

“He has point-to-point form and comes from a good school in the O’Sullivans. Eugene’s are all old-fashioned chasers and he has plenty of jumping done over fences.

“That’s what he was bought for and hopefully next season could be a big season for him.”

Rebel strikes Newlands Gold at Naas

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Rebel Gold claimed a hard-fought success for trainer Patrick Foley in the Newlands Chase at Naas.

A 5-2 chance under Denis O’Regan, the 10-year-old was stepping up to Grade Three level after some good handicap efforts of late – including a nine-length victory in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.

After running prominently, the gelding jumped the last in the lead but was headed by 1-2 favourite Coeur Sublime on the approach to the last.

The two horses jumped the final obstacle almost in unison, but it was Rebel Gold who then toughed it out to cross the line a neck to the good.

“That’s brilliant, I’m absolutely delighted with him,” said Foley.

“Denis said he probably even improved and he was more impressed with him today than he was in the Dan Moore.

“Not having to make it (the running) today, for a while, was a big help to him. He doesn’t mind making it but it’s easier when you have something to fire at.

“He beat him (Coeur Sublime) off level weights today, if the ground had been soft I would have been more confident to take him on.

“I thought he might have done us for gears on that ground but Denis said he was fine on that today. It might open more options for us.

“The Grade Two at Fairyhouse at Easter, over two-three, is a realistic option for him now. Our handicap days were finished after the Dan Moore anyway and we wanted to step him up in class and see.

“The owners are brilliant to leave things to me and I’d be happy to go for the Grade Two and then maybe let him off.

“The horse will tell us, he’s taking his races super but I do want to give him a little bit of a break now after having a few runs in a short space of time.

“I’ll give him a few weeks, get him spot on for Fairyhouse and then make our minds up then. We got a Grade Three today and I couldn’t be happier with that.”

Willie Mullins has both Flat and jumps engagements in mind for Bialystok (2-1 joint-favourite) after he got off the mark for the yard in the Expert Air Farewell Antoinette Maiden Hurdle.

A three-times winner in France for Jean-Claude Rouget, Bialystok had performed with credit in two previous hurdle runs but produced late by Paul Townend, he edged victory by a head.

“We completely changed tactics, he has a lot of speed and I said to Paul to lock him up and don’t let him out until near the last. As it was I think he appeared in front too soon and was probably lucky to hold on in the end,” said Mullins.

“It was a good tactical ride from Paul at the end of the day.

“I’m looking forward to going back on the Flat with him. I got him from Jean-Claude Rouget and he was very sorry to lose him.

“As the ground gets better in the spring time, he’ll find it easier to get that trip, so there will be a nice race in him over hurdles as well.”

The Mullins team were denied a double in the closing Nursery Of Champions as 2-5 favourite Ile Atlantique was headed in the final stride by Gordon Elliott’s Stellar Story (100-30).

Chacun in the frame for Newlands Chase task

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Chacun Pour Soi could bid to get back to winning ways in Sunday’s Newlands Chase at Naas.

Willie Mullins’ multiple Grade One winner is now 11 and has struggled to recapture his former glories this season, coming home a well-beaten third on each of his two starts.

He is one of eight entries in the two-mile Grade Three, with Gordon Elliott responsible for Battleoverdoyen and the novice, Hollow Games.

“Hollow Games is the young horse in the line-up and is still a novice, but we are going to target the spring festivals with him and we decided to give him an entry for this race to give us the option,” said Elliott.

Hollow Games needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Christmas
Hollow Games needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Christmas (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He was very good when he won his beginners’ chase but disappointed us a bit at Christmas, so we’ve freshened him up and he’s ready to go now again. The stiff two miles should play into his strengths, but it looks a good race so we’ll make a call later in the week.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Coeur Sublime is also among the eight entries.

Elliott could also run Found A Fifty in the Grade Two Johnstown Novice Hurdle, which has the potential to be very informative.

“Found A Fifty couldn’t have done any more the last day and we’ve been happy with him since,” said Elliott.

“He is a horse we’re hoping to target at the big festivals this spring, so hopefully he’ll give a good account of himself this weekend and we’ll take it from there.”

Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross, the Mullins-trained Tactical Move and Stuart Crawford’s Lily Du Berlais all hold claims.

As does John McConnell’s Jackpot De Choisel, a wide-margin winner at Ayr when last seen.

“We were delighted with his win at Ayr earlier this month,” said McConnell.

“The plan is to run him in the Grade Two at Naas on Sunday to get another run into him which will be good experience for a young horse. Sunday will be against older and more experienced horses as well, so hopefully that should stand to him and we’ll go to Cheltenham then, all being well.

“He has an entry in the Triumph Hurdle and Sunday should give us a steer towards there or the Boodles at Cheltenham. This will only be his third run, so hopefully there’s more to come from him.”

Magic Daze casts her spell for De Bromhead and Blackmore

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Magic Daze was a welcome winner of the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore at Naas.

The big-race duo have found winners hard to come by since the turn of the year, but Magic Daze (9-4) responded to every one of Blackmore’s urgings.

She put in some great leaps at the head of affairs and while she was tracked throughout by Dinoblue, her excellent jumping meant she was always holding an advantage, which she retained by three and three-quarter lengths.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “We’re delighted with that. She just likes to get on with things and Rachael gave her a brilliant ride.

“She had a nice break after Fairyhouse with a spring campaign in mind so she came in here fresh and well. I’d imagine she’ll go to the mares’ chase at Cheltenham now.

“I rode her before and I don’t think two miles will inconvenience her. She just has her own way of going. She’s not a quick two-miler, she stays well as well. She has a high cruising speed and stays galloping.”

Elimay, chasing a third straight win in the race, could only finish fourth but her Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Billaway did win the Naas Farm Machinery Hunters Chase for the fourth successive year – albeit not in the manner expected of a 2-7 favourite.

Patrick Mullins will be hoping Billaway can repeat his Cheltenham win of last year in March
Patrick Mullins will be hoping Billaway can repeat his Cheltenham win of last year in March (Tim Goode/PA)

The Cheltenham Festival hero made several jumping errors under Patrick Mullins and had to be hard ridden to beat Le Malin.

Mullins said: “He makes life hard for himself, as usual. What can we say, he got the job done but that’s all.

“He needs to improve a bit, I think, to retain his championship in England but we’ll hope for the best.”

The Jim Nolan Transport Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle has produced three of the last four winners of the Boodles (Fred Winter) Hurdle at Cheltenham, so Andy Slattery’s Sir Allen (100-30) has plenty to live up to.

He looked beaten when Morning Soldier quickened clear after the last, but responded gamely to Adam Ryan’s urgings to win by a length.

“He probably jumped a bit sticky today, Adam said he was looking at the horses around him,” said Slattery.

“We gave him a little break after Punchestown and hopefully he’ll improve out of that now.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does and see if we go for the Boodles, there is also a Grade Three in Fairyhouse next Saturday. We’ll see how he is during the week. I think he needs another run for his jumping, he’s a good jumper but I just think he’s ‘starey’.

“The Boodles is run on the inside track and he has stamina, he’d stay two miles on the Flat. A stamina test would suit him, but we’ll see.

“We’ve never had a runner in Cheltenham before so we’ll see. We’ll enjoy today and take it from there. The handicapper can’t be too hard on us because we were all kind of in a bunch there.”